The Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) designation is for those persons who possess competency in the field of Mental Health adult and family peer-to-peer recovery. For the purpose of this credential, the applicant must be a true peer. This means that the applicant is a consumer of private or public mental health services and a first degree relative or a primary caregiver of a child diagnosed with a mental illness before his or her 24th birthday. A CRPS provides peer mentoring and support to families that include at least one child diagnosed with a mental illness before his or her 24th birthday. It is important to understand that the "age" requirement is directly related to the age of the individual upon diagnosis. A family does not "age-out" of services because the child is now over the age of 23. A CRPS provides peer mentoring and support to an individual who is a consumer of private or public mental health services. The CRPS assists the consumer to navigate the mental health services systems and achieve resiliency and recovery as defined by the individual consumer. The CRPS must be a true peer: this means that the peer specialist is also a consumer of private or public mental health services. The CRPS assists families by teaching them how to navigate the mental health services systems to achieve resiliency and recovery as defined by the family itself. .