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Pacific Clinics employees, clients and families we serve have been impacted by the Southern California fires. For ways to give, click here: Donate to Pacific Clinics Assistance Fund

877-PC-CARES (722-2737)

Main Services Area

Behavioral Health

Pacific Clinics delivers high-quality behavioral health and social services to advance health equity and well-being for children, adults and families. Learn more about our life-affirming services offered on-site, at home, virtual and in the community.

Los Angeles

Educational Programs

Educational Programs provide students with the skills they need to live successful lives. Our robust programs include early childhood development, classroom consultations in partnership with school districts, adult continuing education programs and parent workshops.

Up to Age 5

Head Start

Ages 6–18

Hollygrove
Pacific Clinics Bloom and Soar

Ages 18+

Recovery Education Institute (REI)
Pacific Clinics Training Institute (PCTI)
Hollygrove
Parent Institute

Support Services

Support Services offer various programs to address social determinants of health, including housing and employment coaching and placement, among other critically needed services.

Peer Support Training and Placement

Turn your lived experience into a career in behavioral health.

A no-cost program for San Diego County residents in recovery. Get certified as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, land a job with an approved employer, and keep a Learning Partner by your side for six months after you are hired.

ELEVATE Behavioral Health Workforce Fund

Now enrolling

Cohort 27

Enroll in Part 1 byDec 21, 2026
Finish Part 1 byJan 4, 2027
Live Zoom trainingJan 11 to 29, 2027
ScheduleMon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Cost to you$0
Submit Interest Form

$0

Fully grant funded, including one certification application and exam

80 hrs

State-approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist training

6 mo

Job placement help plus six months of retention support

$1,000

Up to this amount in stipends for certification and retention milestones*

About the program

Support from day one through your first six months on the job

Pacific Clinics' ELEVATE Peer Support Training and Placement Program provides no-cost training, certification support, and job placement assistance for San Diego County residents with lived experience in recovery. Each participant is paired with a Learning Partner who guides them through certification, employment, and six months of on-the-job support, so peers enter the behavioral health workforce with the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

In their words

Hear from ELEVATE participants

As a former incarcerated person trying to rebuild their life, the ELEVATE Peer Support Program offered me more than training. It gave me hope, direction and the belief that my lived experience could help others. Through the program, I learned valuable recovery principles, communication skills and how to support people facing their own challenges with compassion and understanding.

Kevin S.

ELEVATE participant

The idea that I could take my personal experience navigating trauma, the mental health system, and recovery (all of the pain and confusion) and turn it into something beautiful and productive felt, for a long time, like a dream ... that Pacific Clinics made a reality. For anyone who has ever considered becoming a Peer Support Specialist, I want you to know that not only does the path exist, but Pacific Clinics will be there with you every step of the way.

Emily M.

ELEVATE participant

How to enroll

Seven steps from interest to enrollment

  1. Step 1: Complete the Interest Form

  2. Step 2: View and complete the Orientation Course

  3. Step 3: Complete the Reflection Activity

  4. Step 4: Submit your CA Driver's License or ID and school transcripts

  5. Step 5: Application reviewReviewed weekly. You will get an email with next steps.

  6. Step 6: If approved, schedule your enrollment interview

  7. Step 7: Complete your interview and commit to the full 80-hour training and ELEVATE Placement Program

Ready to begin? Step 1 takes just a few minutes.

Start the Interest Form

Program details

What to know before you apply

Benefits

No cost. This training is fully grant funded. The grant covers the complete training and one certification application and exam. Participants receive:

  • Career counseling and job readiness coaching
  • 80-hour Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (MCPSS) training
  • State certification guidance
  • Vouchers covering application and exam fees
  • Job placement assistance and six months of retention support
  • Ongoing peer mentorship and professional development
  • Up to $1,000 in incentive stipends for certification milestones and job retention (exceptions may apply)

Eligibility

To qualify, participants must:

  • Be 18 years or older to join Part 2 Live Training
  • Reside in San Diego County
  • Have a high school diploma, GED, or higher education (transcripts readily available)
  • Identify as a peer with lived experience as a consumer, family member, or caregiver of behavioral health or SUD services
  • Have a laptop or computer (with microphone and camera) and internet access to actively participate in live virtual training
  • Be dedicated to entering the behavioral health workforce with one of the Eligible Employers on the ELEVATE List

Commitment

To stay eligible for the program, participants agree to:

  1. Complete the full 80-hour state-approved training
  2. Apply for state certification and take the certification exam within 30 days of completing training
  3. Actively apply for and secure a peer support role with an approved employer
  4. Communicate promptly with your assigned Learning Partner and complete each program phase in a timely manner

Training format

The 80-hour training includes:

Part 1Self-paced

31 online modules, 39 hours, rolling enrollment

Part 2Live on Zoom

14 instructor-led sessions, 41 hours, 3 hours each

Deadline to know: enroll by the cohort deadline and complete Part 1 at least 5 days before Part 2 begins to be eligible to join.

Questions?

Email the peer certification team:

Download flyer (PDF)

ADA accommodations: disability-related accommodations, language interpretation, and materials in alternative languages are available on request. Submit requests at least 72 hours ahead to ELEVATE@thinkpic.org or call 619-468-5228.

Additional resources

San Diego Workforce Partnership

Become an ELEVATE Partner

San Diego employers and agencies can support training with participant referrals or job placement after training.

Submit Partner Interest Form

Funded and supported by

Funded by the County of San Diego, with the Policy and Innovation Center and strategic partner Trailhead Strategies
LET’S WORK TOGETHER

Find out how we can partner with you. Schedule a call.