E-News for Peer Recovery Professionals
ASAP-NYCB | March 2021
Headline Stories
  • ASAP Exam Prep workshop - now online 24/7
  • Meet Cathie Gifford of the ASAP-NYCB Certification Team
  • Certemy FAQs - read here first
  • Christal Montague joins ASAP-NYCB Board
  • TODAY - John Coppola introduces Sober St. Patrick's Day, March 17th
NOW ONLINE 24/7
ASAP Peer Recovery (PR)
Exam-Prep w/shop
Wherever you are in the certification process, you are invited to access our popular exam-prep workshop. This (optional) workshop is a self-directed review of the IC&RC Peer Recovery Exam and its content, including a sample test in real time. You have to pass the test to become CRPA (not CRPA-Provisional)

Originally offered in the community, the workshop pivoted to Zoom in 2020. To meet current levels of demand, we've adapted December's Zoom recording for our online learning management system.

Your lifetime access fee of $10 covers the cash costs to ASAP of providing this product and platform.
Meet Cathie Gifford
ASAP-NYCB Program Associate
"I’m really glad I’m doing what I’m doing!," says Cathie Gifford, who joined the ASAP-NYCB Certification Team in July 2017 and has become a familiar voice to so many applicants since then.

Cathie is responsible for customer service, processing applications, maintaining departmental financial records and providing other staff support.

"It’s my job to be there for those who need the explanation, the phone call, a positive word of encouragement. I’m a happy camper when I know someone has their problem solved, understand something better, and ultimately get certified."
ASAP-NYCB Certification Team
NEW! Certemy FAQs
"It's been 3 months since we transitioned our application process online using Certemy, and we hope it has been beneficial for our current certified professionals, as well as for new applicants," says Elisabeth Kranson, ASAP-NYCB Director of Certification. "As Cathie says in her interview, it has been a learning curve for everyone - for applicants and for us!" 

Elisabeth and Cathie have developed this list of answers to the most common questions coming from certification applicants since the launch, and they hope this document will help applicants effectively navigate the application process. 
Click here to download Certemy FAQs.

Christal Montague joins the ASAP-NYCB Board
Christal Montague, Chief Strategy Officer at Outreach.
"I'm absolutely committed to growing the peer workforce," says Christal. "And I want to be part of the tremendous level of advocacy and support ASAP is providing." In addition to her multi-disciplinary teams experience with substance use disorder, Christal is experienced with affordable housing, and HIV/AIDS programs.

"We're thrilled she's joining us," says Roy Kearse, ASAP-NYCB Board President.

Read more about Christal Montague here
ASAP's John Coppola introduces Sober St. Patrick's Day
Sober St. Patrick's Day marks its 10th anniversary on March 17 with a Global Virtual Celebration. ASAP's Executive Director, John Coppola, will be there in an official role. Recipient of the event's 2018 Emerald Spirit Award honoring professionals working with families in recovery, he has served as Board Treasurer ever since.

Founder, William Spencer Reilly, explains the event's purpose as being "to reclaim the true spirit of St. Patrick's Day by changing the perception ​and experience from an occasion for binge drinking and other misuse of alcohol to a celebration of the richness of Irish culture and the legacy of St. Patrick."​

For more information, visit: https://www.soberstpatricksday.org/