Peer Specialist for Veterans

LMU Extension is an approved CalMHSA training provider, and the course meets the educational requirements necessary for applicants seeking to take the state certification exam to become a California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist. This 80-hour, instructor-led course covers a wide range of topics, including recovery principles, psychiatric rehabilitation, professional boundaries, and defined practices. It also focuses on critical skills such as group facilitation, conflict resolution, and preparing for employment in the behavioral health field. Participants will gain the tools necessary for effective service delivery and helping others navigating additional support services, all while emphasizing career readiness and industry standards.

Courses are facilitated by Veterans and trained industry experts

Kevin Benitez, MSW, CPSS, US Army

Kevin has spent nearly 20 years dedicated to supporting Veterans in Southern California. He earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work with a focus on Military Veterans and Families from the University of Southern California. Kevin’s extensive experience spans program management, clinical supervision, care coordination, academic counseling, grant management, and peer support. He joined LMU Extension’s Vet2Peer program in 2020, bringing his skills as an educator and counselor with a strong background in higher education, having worked at Long Beach City College, USC, and Santa Monica College. Kevin currently serves as a full-time Tenure Track Faculty at Santa Monica College, where he leads the Veterans Success Center. As a Combat Veteran who served from 2000-2005 in the United States Army with deployments to the Pentagon, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kuwait, and Iraq, Kevin understands the challenges Veterans and their families face during transition. In his free time, Kevin enjoys soccer, fantasy football, and spending time with his wife Elizabeth and his service dog Smoky.

Mayra Plascencia, MPPA, U.S. Marine Corps

Mayra served in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Her military service taught her resilience, discipline, and teamwork. During her deployment in Iraq, she was part of the Lioness Team, which deepened her understanding of the complexities of combat operations. After her military service, Mayra transitioned to civilian life and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Northridge, followed by a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) from California Lutheran University. Mayra’s professional career centers on serving the Veteran community. She currently serves as the Operations Manager for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, where she leads a team working to prevent Veteran homelessness and secure stable housing for Veterans and their families. Mayra is deeply committed to improving the lives of those who have served by ensuring they receive the resources and support they deserve.

Adam Castillo, DBSA, MSW, LCSW, U.S. Marine Corps

Adam Castillo is a retired Master Sergeant who served in the Marine Corps from 1994 to 2014, completing two combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. During his service, Adam held critical leadership roles, including Drill Instructor, Chief Instructor, and Battalion Field Artillery Chief. After transitioning to civilian life, Adam faced significant challenges finding meaningful work, which ultimately led him to his current role as a Psychiatric Social Worker II at the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. Adam is also part of the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN), focusing on helping Veterans navigate mental health challenges, homelessness, education, disability benefits, and crisis intervention. A licensed clinical social worker, Adam specializes in PTSD, anxiety, depression, and veteran transition. He holds a Bachelor of Sociology from California State University - Dominguez Hills, a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, and a Veteran Peer Support certificate from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

Raymond Espinoza, CPSS, HVCES CEC, US Army

Raymond “Ray” Espinoza is an Army Combat Veteran and the Community Employment Coordinator (CEC) at VA Loma Linda. He has more than seven years of experience as a Certified Peer Support Specialist in the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program, where he has helped Veterans with employment and housing challenges. Ray also serves as a Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) trainer, providing training to VA staff on how to de-escalate potentially disruptive situations. Ray works with community partners to lead federal résumé and interview workshops for Veterans seeking federal employment. Ray’s commitment to helping others extends beyond his professional life; he is a living organ donor, having donated a portion of his liver to a stranger in need. Ray continues to raise awareness for organ donation in partnership with the Mayo Clinic.

John Gutierrez, MBA, MSLM, CWDP, CMPSS, U.S. Marine Corps

John has made it his mission to support Veterans and military families during their transition from military service. As the Director of Workforce Development and Veteran Services, he leads programs for the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) and oversees multiple Veteran-serving initiatives at JVS SoCal. These include managing Los Angeles County’s two largest Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) districts, providing resource navigation for Veterans and their families. John served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 15 years before transitioning to civilian life in 2015. His personal transition experience drives his passion to help others navigate this challenging time. John is a certified Peer Support Specialist through LMU Extension’s Vet2Peer Program, a Master Trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST), and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California.

Alex Ortega, CPSS, US Army

Alex Ortega is a Higher Education Professional and a U.S. Army Veteran with a Master’s degree in Social Work at California State University, Fullerton. With over 10 years of experience in higher education and peer support, Alex is dedicated to providing educational access and peer support to individuals transitioning from military to civilian life. As a certified Peer Support Specialist and LMU Extension Educator for the Vet2Peer program, Alex has a strong track record of developing workshops, managing programs, and supervising teams. In his current role as Access & Engagement Coordinator at CSUF, Alex plays a key role in guiding prospective students and coordinating the Student Ambassador program. Having served in the United States Army and led teams during multiple deployments to Iraq, Alex combines his experience in student services, peer support, and leadership to help others achieve their educational and vocational goals.

SUMMER 2025 SCHEDULE COMING SOON

The Vet2Peer program is open to all Veterans and those closely associated with Veterans with lived experience and engaged in their own recovery. The program prepares Veterans for paid and volunteer positions in behavioral health settings and the Public Mental Health System (PMHS). LMU is an approved training provider through CalMHSA for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification training.

Full Scholarships are available for California residents* through a fully funded program by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) with no out-of-pocket costs for tuition or materials. Scholarship includes the cost of tuition, career counseling, job placement assistance and post-program support for six (6) months.

Interested individuals can complete a Peer Specialist Scholarship Application. 

To request a hard copy of the application, email elizabeth.tobias@lmu.edu or call 310.338.5813

*Partial scholarships may be available to out-of-state residents. Contact our office for more information. 

Veteran Peer Support Specialists provide peer support services in many mental health and behavioral health settings.  Examples include:

• VA Peer Specialist *

• Inpatient mental health programs

• Outpatient mental health clinics

• Psychosocial Rehabilitation Recovery Centers

• Mental Health Intensive Case Management programs

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment programs

• Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment programs

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services

• Homelessness programs

• Primary Care Patient Care Aligned Teams and other specialty clinics

Approved by CalMHSA, the Vet2Peer Program offers peer specialist training at no cost. This training meets the training requirements for the California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification and provides a full-service peer training program that offers career planning and employment services.  Employment and placement services are made available in coordination with JVS SoCal.

*BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR VA PEER SPECIALISTS

a. Statutory Requirements. Section 405 of Public Law 110-387, as codified in 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13), established that to be eligible to receive appointment to a Peer Specialist position, a person must: (1) be a veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition; and(2) be certified by -(a) a not-for-profit entity engaged in peer specialist training as having met such criteria as the Secretary shall establish for a peer specialist position; or(b) a State as having satisfied relevant State requirements for a peer specialist position.. Length of Experience as a Consumer of Mental Health Recovery Services. Veterans eligible under 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13) must have spent a minimum of 1 year in personal recovery from a mental health condition.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F-3 Peer Support Apprentice/Peer Specialist Qualification Standard. 

For more information about the Vet2Peer program, please contact:

Elizabeth Tobias at 310-338-5813 or elizabeth.tobias@lmu.edu