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Digital Certified Older Adult Peer Support Specialists (D-COAPS)

The 12-hour Digital Certified Older Adult Peer Support Specialists (D-COAPS) is designed to promote rapid uptake of digital peer support and is designed specifically to address the needs of older adults. This certificate does not assess a person’s ability to use technology such as Zoom, but rather incorporates the latest scientific evidence to offer digital peer support to older adults. D-COAPS has been provided to home healthcare workers, social workers, care managers, caregivers of people with dementia, and certified peer support specialists. 

D-COAPS supports recovery-oriented practice, is evidence-based, and has been shown scientifically to increase the capacity of older adults to access and engage with technologies– leading to better mental health, physical health, and social health outcomes. D-COAPS meets SAMHSA’s criteria for recovery-based practice, the core competencies of peer support, and requirements for the Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist (COAPS) endorsement. 

The certification includes 12 clock hours that can be submitted to certification boards.

Digital Certified Older Adult Peer Support Specialists recertify each year to ensure high-quality delivery of digital peer support. Recertification allows for the continued use to incorporate digital peer support tools in your work, access to the Digital Certified Older Adult Peer Support Specialists community, and ongoing consultation with D-COAPS experts.  The annual recertification fee is $50, and requires reviewing the state-of-the-science of digital peer support and passing a digital peer support multiple choice exam with an 80% or higher.

What's the Evidence?
Write Us to Become a D-COAPS

D-COAPS Train the Trainer

Individuals who have been certified as Digital Peer Support Specialists are eligible to become D-COAPS  Master Trainer.

D-COAPS Master Trainer can: 

Recruit and train their own cohort of new D-COAPS in their state

  1. The ability to develop their own pricing model for their trainings
  2. Access to DPS tools to support learning 
  3. On-going access to our library of resources and support from DPS staff