MHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Practice Exam

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What is the PSS's role in medication management?
• Why is ongoing training in cultural competence important for PSS practice?
• In the context of peer support, what is the role of lived experience?
• Which statement best describes a valid certificate in the context of professional credentials?
• Which term refers to a set of guidelines a certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist adheres to around their roles and responsibilities and levels of responsibility in which they function professionally?
• What strategy would a Peer Support Specialist use to help a consumer get involved in the community?
• How should a PSS handle dual relationships to avoid conflicts of interest?
• Which term describes the education a professional receives to further develop their professional knowledge around best practices, updated laws and/or specialized training?
• What is the recommended practice regarding sharing crisis planning information with supports?
• Which term is used to describe California's Medicaid health care program?
• What is the purpose of a Peer Support Specialist self-disclosing their lived experience in an inpatient psychiatric unit?
• Which term indicates CalMHSA, the organization selected by California counties, with a plan approved by the Department of Health Care Services, to certify Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists and approve training providers?
• Which practice aligns with the core competency about sharing information and resources with the consumer?
• Which term describes an organization that has received approval from the certifying entity to provide training for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program?
• Which term indicates that an individual has met the certification standards for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist?
• What is a primary purpose of peer support in behavioral health services?
• How does a PSS participate in care coordination without giving medical advice?
• Which entity is approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to certify Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists and approve training providers?
• Which action best demonstrates resource linkage in supporting a consumer to engage with community resources?
• Which practices protect client privacy in notes and records?
• If a nutrition concern arises that the Peer Support Specialist cannot address directly, what is an appropriate course of action?
• What is the main purpose of resource linkage in peer support?
• Which term describes the organization selected by California counties, with a plan approved by the Department of Health Care Services, to certify Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists?
• How do you balance confidentiality with safety concerns?
• What is a 'warm handoff' and why is it important?
• Should a PSS screen for trauma, and how should questions be asked?
• Which statement best captures the difference between wellness planning and clinical treatment planning?
• Which element is NOT typically included in a safety plan for a client at risk?
• Which situations require mandated reporting by a Peer Support Specialist in California?
• What describes trauma-informed screening best?
• Which statement best describes how a safety plan should be developed?
• A consumer is seeking assistance in combating stigma through self-advocacy. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take?
• A consumer tells you they have situational stress that is not a result of their diagnosis. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take in supporting the consumer?
• A Peer Support Specialist is working with a consumer with serious mental illness who has been in inpatient treatment for several months. Prior to a treatment team meeting, the consumer says, 'I don't know why I'm even going. They are just going to keep me here anyway.' Which action would the Peer Support Specialist take to encourage self-advocacy?
• Which approach aligns with empowering a consumer to speak up for themselves in systems and services?
• Who should contribute to the safety plan to ensure it is meaningful and tailored to the individual?
• What characterizes the overall approach a Peer Support Specialist should use in crisis or safety planning?
• In crisis situations, what is the role of the Peer Support Specialist?
• Which term best describes individuals acting as allies to support patients and caregivers in navigating the healthcare system?
• Which indicators would prompt a safety plan and higher-level intervention?
• Why is self-care essential for peer specialists?
• If a consumer suggests a gift as a sign of appreciation, which alternative is often suggested?
• Which term describes the process by which an individual employed as a Peer on January 1, 2022, or prior to that date, is eligible to seek certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist so long as they meet the eligibility criteria and successfully pass the state-approved exam (ended 6/30/2023)?
• When developing a safety plan, what is the best approach for a Peer Support Specialist to support the consumer?
• In which settings might an MHSA PSS operate, and how might roles vary?
• Which ethical principles guide non-discrimination in service delivery?
• Which term represents the foundational knowledge set required to perform Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist duties?
• Progress notes serve to protect privacy while enabling continuity of care.
• Which statement accurately reflects the concept of multiple pathways to recovery?
• Which statement describes goals of harm reduction in peer support?
• What is the purpose of supervision for a Peer Support Specialist?
• During a behavioral health crisis, what should the Peer Support Specialist do to assist the consumer?
• When navigating multiple service providers, which approach best supports a consumer's practical management of tasks?
• Which barrier is commonly faced when accessing Medi-Cal, and how can a PSS assist?
• Which statement best describes the role of a Peer Support Specialist in Medi-Cal service delivery?
• A consumer discharged from treatment is living in a sober living home and reports roommates using drugs. What action should the Peer Support Specialist take to assist?
• A consumer thinks their diet may have a negative impact on their mental health. What action can the Peer Support Specialist take to help?
• How should a client's right to refuse services be handled?
• What strategies ensure language access in peer services?
• What is an appropriate first step when a consumer reports discrimination in employment due to disability?
• A peer asks their Peer Support Specialist whether a particular treatment program worked for the specialist. Which response is most appropriate?
• Which statement about ROI is true?
• A consumer received notice Medi-Cal may be cancelled due to non-response. What action can the Peer Support Specialist take to support the consumer?
• What action demonstrates informed consent in service planning?
• Which action demonstrates compliance with HIPAA confidentiality regarding handwritten notes?
• In crisis planning, what is the purpose of a wellness toolbox?
• In Medi-Cal Peer Support practice, which term refers to providing patients and caregivers with the necessary support and education to empower them to make informed healthcare decisions?
• How should a Peer Support Specialist handle sharing personal experiences to avoid crossing professional boundaries?
• Which approach demonstrates respect for the consumer and avoids coercion in discussions about quitting?
• Which term describes the process for an applicant to become certified as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist for the first time?
• What is harm reduction in the context of peer support practice?
• Which practice should be avoided when helping a consumer create a safety plan?
• What identifying information should be included in client records to ensure accurate service delivery?
• Which term describes services that are individualized and conducted by a certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, including prevention services, support, coaching, facilitation or education?
• Which factor most guides disclosure in safety-related situations?
• If a consumer's diet concerns mental health and is outside the Peer Support Specialist's scope, what is an appropriate next step?
• A consumer says they were not hired at a job because of their disability. What actions should the Peer Support Specialist take?
• Which approach promotes culturally respectful supports?
• Why is timely documentation emphasized in peer support practice?
• Which action would be inappropriate for a PSS when coordinating care?
• A consumer wants to use their experience with managing their mental illness to help others. How can the Peer Support Specialist help the consumer to accomplish this goal?
• A consumer expressed feeling overwhelmed with the requirements of their probation officer and service providers. How can a Peer Support Specialist assist the consumer with navigating the expectations?
• What action is a primary duty of a Peer Support Specialist in assisting a consumer in the community?
• Which term describes culturally appropriate services that promote engagement, socialization, recovery, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, development of natural supports and identification of strengths, including prevention services, support, coaching, facilitation or education that is individualized and is conducted by a certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist?
• Which term describes the ability to communicate, convey, negotiate or assert one's own interests, desires, needs and rights; it involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions?
• Which term best describes the personal connections to an individual's community that enhance their quality of life and support recovery?
• Which term refers to California's Medicaid health care program that includes a variety of medical services for children and adults with a qualifying income or medical condition?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of the wellness model described?
• What term describes an individual who receives peer services through a Medi-Cal program?
• A new Peer Support Specialist wants to better understand how peer coaching can support a consumer's wellness and recovery. They are curious about the various approaches used to empower consumers to make decisions about their own lives. What is the importance of these approaches?
• Which term denotes the process of aligning engagement with the cultural beliefs and practices of the individual served?
• What is a key first step in de-escalating a crisis with a client?
• Why is it important to avoid dependency when sharing recovery experiences?
• How should a Peer Support Specialist engage with the care team while respecting confidentiality?
• Which action supports professional boundaries and privacy in digital communication?
• Which practice best describes the Peer Support Specialist's approach to community involvement?
• Which response is least appropriate during an acute behavioral health crisis?
• Which term describes a non-English language identified by the California Department of Health Care Services as a threshold language under Medi-Cal programs?
• A consumer is frustrated because several different service providers are not communicating well when it comes to their care. How can the Peer Support Specialist support this consumer?
• Which statement best describes a safe plan?
• In a meeting with a consumer's care team about the consumer's progress toward goals, what action would best support the consumer?
• A consumer explains that it is taboo for someone to share their struggles with family members in their culture. How would the Peer Support Specialist support the consumer?
• How should a PSS handle digital communication with clients?
• What is a key consideration when a Peer Support Specialist shares personal experiences with a consumer?
• What element differentiates a crisis safety plan from a general wellness plan?
• If handwritten notes from a check-in cannot be entered into the electronic file immediately, how should the Peer Support Specialist handle them?
• How do HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 interact in the context of a Peer Support Specialist?
• What does person-centered planning entail for service goals?
• The term 'Peer' is used interchangeably with which designation in this program?
• A consumer wants to share their recovery journey but recognizes self-stigma is holding them back. How would the Peer Support Specialist support the consumer?
• Which option demonstrates community inclusion by promoting self-advocacy within the care team?
• What should a PSS do if a client is at risk of harming self or others?
• What is the recommended PSS approach to clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders?
• Which term describes the ongoing journey toward health and a self-directed life, acknowledging diverse cultural pathways?
• Which action aligns with harm reduction in peer support?
• Why is cultural humility essential in MHSA peer work?
• What term describes the recognition of certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists by public county behavioral health plans?
• A consumer would like to support a neighborhood rally but has anxiety about attending. They want the Peer Support Specialist to accompany them. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take?
• Which option describes a crisis safety plan element?
• If a consumer discloses a past trauma during intake, what should the Peer Support Specialist do first?
• Which statement NOT listed as an essential ongoing training topic for PSSs?
• In addressing harm reduction with a consumer who uses substances, which action aligns with harm reduction?
• Which statement aligns with Medi-Cal Code of Ethics regarding sharing lived experience?
• Which term describes the process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life and strive to reach their full potential?
• When a consumer offers a gift to a Peer Support Specialist to show appreciation, what is the recommended response?
• Which strategies help address stigma and promote racial equity?
• How can a PSS promote client empowerment without overstepping?
• Which indicators would prompt a safety plan and higher-level intervention?
• Which action best aligns with ethical practice when developing a safety plan?
• Which statement best reflects ethical practice for a Peer Support Specialist when supporting safety planning?
• What is an appropriate response to an ethical dilemma involving disclosure of sensitive information?
• What is the best way to support a consumer who wants to share their recovery story publicly, with their consent?
• What distinguishes wellness planning from clinical treatment planning?
• Which term denotes the capacity to successfully meet life's challenges, nurtured to have a sense of self-determination, mastery, and hope?
• Which term describes the non-English language threshold recognized for Medi-Cal programs?
• Which item is commonly documented in a progress note?
• Which practice reflects integrity in interactions with consumers?
• Which term describes an individual who is 18 years of age or older?
• Which signs should a PSS monitor as potential adverse medication effects?
• Which topics are essential for ongoing training of a PSS?
• How should a Peer Support Specialist handle personal experiences in relation to the consumer?
• How should a PSS involve family or support persons in crisis planning?
• What information is protected by confidentiality in peer support, and when can it be legally shared?
• Which of the following is NOT identified as a beneficial active listening technique for a Peer Support Specialist?
• Why is plain language important in peer support discussions?
• A consumer has been joking around during group sessions and not taking group seriously. How should the Peer Support Specialist respond?
• A consumer has substance use disorder and is ready to become sober. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take to encourage the consumer?
• Which term describes an individual who is 18 years of age or older, who has self-identified as having lived experience with the process of recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, either as a consumer of these services or as a parent or family member of the consumer, and who has been granted certification under a county Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program?
• Which term describes a person who is receiving mental health and/or substance use disorder services in a public county behavioral health delivery system?
• What recovery-oriented practices should a PSS emphasize in planning with a client?
• Which approach best supports confidentiality while maintaining safety when planning crises?
• What approach best supports consumer autonomy in housing decisions?
• A consumer with a history of depression reports early depressive symptoms. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take to support the consumer?
• When is it appropriate to obtain a Release of Information (ROI) from a client?
• What is a key reason for a Peer Support Specialist to share their own lived experience with a consumer?
• What are the core principles of trauma-informed care that a PSS should apply?
• Why is timely documentation of client progress important in peer support services?
• What is a core principle of peer support when promoting autonomy and self-determination?
• What is the core purpose of a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist in an MHSA team?
• Which term describes the formal set of professional guidelines governing a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist's conduct?
• Wellness is described as the conscious and deliberate process of creating and adapting patterns of behavior that improve health across eight dimensions. Which of the following is one of those dimensions?
• The recertification interval for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification occurs in which of the following?
• Which term describes maintaining awareness of the impact traumatic experiences may have on an individual and the influence this trauma may have on the choices they make in their life?
• Which term describes the minimum knowledge base necessary to perform role or job activities as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist in California?
• Which action helps prevent power struggles during a tense interaction?
• Which action demonstrates respect for a client’s autonomy when planning supports?
• Which statement correctly describes the renewal requirement for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification?
• What are two key components of a person-centered pre-crisis plan?
• How can a PSS demonstrate cultural competence in practice?
• Which statement about progress notes is true?
• Which term refers to an individual's first-hand experience with a mental health and/or substance use challenges, including the process of recovery and engagement of resiliency within that experience?
• Which term describes the ongoing education professionals pursue to stay current on best practices and laws in the field?
• A consumer tells a Peer Support Specialist they are struggling to create a plan for managing future behavioral health crises. What action would the Peer Support Specialist take to support the consumer?
• Which term indicates a focus on how trauma influences a person's decisions and life choices?
• What is the relationship between recovery-oriented practice and boundaries in peer work?
• A consumer has chosen to put off mental health care until they are ready to give up their intravenous substance use. How can the Peer Support Specialist respond in a way that promotes harm reduction?
• Which is a commonly used de-escalation technique by PSSs?
• Which of the following lists are typical confidentiality exceptions in PSS practice?
• Which term describes the capacity to cope with life's challenges, fostering self-determination and hope?
• Which term covers a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist's non-therapeutic relationship with a recipient of care, including activities not allowed within the Code of Ethics?
• Which term refers to culturally aligned engagement in services by a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist?
• Which practice best demonstrates nonjudgmental engagement?
• The consumer discloses a past trauma during intake and asks for mental health assistance. How should the Peer Support Specialist respond?
• What is the goal of the harm reduction model for substance use challenges?
• The term 'Peer' is used interchangeably with which credential?
• Which term refers to the personal connections to an individual's community that enhances the quality of their life?
• Which option describes how crisis resources are accessed for a consumer during a crisis?
• A consumer reports feeling lonely and asks the Peer Support Specialist for connections in the community. How would the Peer Support Specialist assist the consumer?
• What is the primary goal when assisting a consumer in a behavioral health crisis?
• Which approach best describes how a PSS can advocate for a client without taking over decisions?
• Which term describes the recognition that an individual has received certification for peer support from another state and meets the qualifications specified under Medi-Cal Peer Support certification policies?
• Which approach is appropriate when supporting a consumer who is anxious about attending a public event?
• Which term describes the initial process for someone to become certified as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist?
• Which statement best reflects the approach to safety planning in peer support?
• How is client progress typically reviewed in peer support services?