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CCWF graduates first Peer Support Specialist cohort

August 26, 2024

The history-making first cohort to graduate the Peer Support Specialist Program at CCWF.

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) recently made history, marking the first graduating cohort of the Peer Support Specialist Program.

Watch the video (story continues below):

CCWF in Chowchilla celebrated 36 Peer Support Specialist Program (PSSP) graduates on July 24.

These participants were the first PSSP graduating cohort in any prison, worldwide.

“Instead of being ashamed of our pasts, we use it to give hope to others,” said one of the graduates. “We show people they are not alone.”

A graduate receives her certificate at CCWF.

The program allows CDCR/CCHCS to train incarcerated people to use their lived experiences to provide valuable and trusted recovery and rehabilitative support to their peers. When Peer Support Specialists return to the community, they can use this experience to earn a livable wage.,

“For me, becoming a peer support specialist is really what I’ve been doing for years now. Only now I have a title and an amazing team to work with,” said one graduate.

Graduates at CCWF have completed training, internship hours, and only need to pass required testing to receive their PSSP certification. CCWF incarcerated people, staff, and administrators from across the state attended the ceremony to congratulate these pioneers.

“Today you are making history, and what you are doing today is going to transcend beyond these walls. It doesn’t get any better than this,” said CCHCS Chief Nurse Executive Affie Tamuno-Koko.

Video by Ashton Harris, information officer
Office of Public and Employee Communications

Learn more about the California Model on the CDCR website.