Vision Statement
PARfessionals will serve as a model to implement a cohesive and comprehensive unification of mental health and addiction resources while ameliorating current health disparities within our communities.
Mission Statement
PARfessionals mission is to provide affordable resources and training through education and skill development in a culturally sensitive manner to those that are interested in becoming state or nationally certified Addiction Recovery Coaches and Peer Recovery Support Specialists. We value the life experiences and educational pursuits that help define recovery and advocacy. By recognizing these as foundational tools we are able to challenge the stigma and barriers associated with addiction and mental health by encouraging and facilitating recovery for all with proficiency and compassion.
About Us
In 2011, PARfessionals was founded by a 32-year-old peer with lived experience while she completed an internship at MHMR of Tarrant County (TX). She coined "PARfessional" while sitting on her living room floor.
The word "PARfessionals" is used to describe mental health and substance abuse professionals as well as healthcare providers. All from a variety of disciplines but united under a system of care, representing a critical stage component needed to effectively reduce substance abuse by prevention, addictions treatment or recovery.A PARfessional can be a MD, Psy.D, Ph.D, MSW, QMHP, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, LMHC, SAP, LCDC, PsychRN, AODC, CPS, CCJP, CAC, CPRP, NCPT or CI, and includes a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist and a Recovery Coach. The list is endless.
In 2012, PARfessionals decided to develop the first peer-based ONLINE recovery coach training program designed for those interested in mentoring individuals into and through long-term recovery from co-occurring disorders and other addictions and addictive behaviors.
In 2013, PARfessionals developed the FIRST Peer Recovery/Addiction Recovery Coach Study Guide, a FREE Peer Recovery/Addiction Recovery Coach Curriculum Guide, a FREE Peer Recovery/Addiction Recovery Coach Practicum Guide and an online Peer Recovery/Addiction Recovery Coach Train the Trainers course.
In 2014, PARfessionals developed the first FREE Peer Recovery Support Specialist/Addiction Recovery Coach classroom curriculum, home study course, correctional curriculum kit, research journal, universal Code of Ethics and an international certification board.
PARfessionals is a peer run company that is operated, managed and supported by the SJM Family. We are proud to be the only Peer Recovery Support Specialist and Addictions Recovery Coach training program in the WORLD to hold an extensive list of approvals from many state, national and international credentialing boards before creating the first peer run certification board, International Certification Board of Recovery Professionals and its globally recognized peer recovery credential, National Certified Peer Recovery Professional (NCPRP).
The SJM Family, who is instrumental in developing and financing the PARfessionals™ product brand and the NCPRP™ credential, has generously provided free and low-cost training to the international recovery community through their nonprofit organization, PARfessionals: Peer Advocates for Recovery, for the past three years. However, the family has decided to move towards a more sensible and feasible way of doing business which also includes "owning" their brand through the formation of a limited liability company, PARfessionals, LLC.
Dissolution of PARfessionals: Peer Advocates for Recovery, Inc. and the International Certification Board of Recovery Professionals (ICBRP) was filed and the organizations has re-emerge as PARfessionals, LLC, a limited liability company, to preserve the ownership of ideas, trademarks, servicemarks, products and services that were developed and personally financed by individual family members of the SJM Family.
The SJM Family is passionate about innovation and education and will continue to provide affordable and accessible education services to all. The family has an extensive background in business, workforce development, healthcare, military, ministry, information technology, social services, financial securities, insurance, organizational management, criminal justice, hospitality, marketing, human resources and customer service. Additionally, individual family members have worked for many companies in a wide range of industries including the U.S. Military, Dallas Cowboys, IBM, Texas Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Workforce Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Fannie Mae, Dallas ISD, Irving ISD, Tenet Healthcare, and the Dallas County Community College District.
