ASPIN Community Health Worker Program History

How We Got Started

In 2009, with funding from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, under the Family and Social Services Administration, Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana, Inc. (ASPIN) became the designated agency to develop and administer the Certified Recovery Specialist Program for the State of Indiana. With support from additional statewide partners such as NAMI, MHAI, and the Key Consumer Organization.

In 2013, The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and the Indiana State Department of Health jointly approved a training and certification process for Indiana’s Community Health Workers and their specialty designations. For eight years Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana (ASPIN) was the sole state selected vendor to provide these services. ASPIN is certified to provide training for both the CHW and CHW/CRS programs.

Key Timeline Details

CHW/Peer History
2009 Peers – Certification Curriculum Created & Implemented
2010 Added SA Designation
2011 Added GAM Designation
2012 1st Curriculum Revision
CRS/CHW BH/PC Integrated
Grandfathering Peers
2013 Certified Regional Trainers
Trained Providers on Integrated Care Models
2014 Implemented Revised CHW Training and Grandfathering Case Managers
2016 2nd Curriculum Revision
2017 Implemented New Training & Worksite Visits
2018 Launched Online CHW Training
2019 Opioid Treatment Training Created & Implemented
2020 Chronic Care Paraprofessional Training Created & Implemented
3rd Curriculum Revision
2021 Opioid Impacted Family Support Training Created & Implemented
2022 Domestic Violence Training Created & Implemented
2024 4th Curriculum Revision
2025 Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist Training Created & Implemented
Youth Mental Health Literacy Created & Implemented