MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
March 6, 2025
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 504
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
Enclosed for consideration and approval by the Council of the District of Columbia, pursuant to
section 31 of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-
35; D.C. Official Code § 4-756.02), is a proposed resolution entitled “Peer Case Management
Institute and Certification Rules Approval Resolution of 2025”.
The resolution would approve proposed final rules of the Interim Director of the Department of
Human Services (“DHS”) that establish requirements and procedures for DHS’s Peer Case
Management Institute (“PCMI”) and the requirements for training and certifying peer case managers.
The PCMI will train individuals with lived experience of homelessness for employment as peer case
managers by DHS-funded Continuum of Care homeless services agencies.
The rules establish PCMI eligibility criteria, the application and selection process, requirements for
PCMI classroom training and a field practicum, and requirements for the awarding of the Peer Case
Manager Certification. The purposes of training and certifying case managers through the PCMI are
to: (a) leverage the expertise of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness and their unique
ability to help clients
navigate the homeless services system; (b) create longer-term pathways to employment and financial
stability for individuals with lived experiences of homelessness; and (c) create a new pipeline of
quality case managers to serve District residents experiencing or exiting homelessness.
I urge the Council to take prompt and favorable action on this proposed resolution.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser 1
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at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
I
To approve proposed final rules_ of the Interim Director of the Department of Human Services to
implement the Peer Case Management Institute.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited
as the "Peer Case Management Institute and Certification Rules
Approval Resolution
of 2025".
Sec. 2. Pursuant
to section 31 of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective
October 21, 2005 (D.
C. Law 16-35; D. C. Official Code§ 4-756.02), the Council approves the
proposed final rules
of the Interim Director of the Department of Human Services adopting a
new Chapter 114 (Peer Case Management Institute and Certification)
of Title 29 (Public
Welfare)
of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, regarding the implementation of the
Peer Case Management Institute, which were transmitted
to the Council by the Mayor on --------
-
-, and a notice of proposed rulemaking for which was published in the District of Columbia
Register
on March 15, 2024, at 71 DCR 2967.
Sec. 3. Transmittal.
The Council shall transmit a copy
of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the Mayor, the
Director
of the Department of Human Services, and the Administrator of the Office of
Documents and Administrative Issuances. 2
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 33
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer as the fiscal 34
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 35
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 36
Sec. 5. Effective date. 37
This resolution shall take effect immediately. 38 1
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
NOTICE OF FINAL RULEMAKING
(as submitted to the Council of the District of Columbia for its review and approval
pursuant to section 31 of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005,
effective October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4-756.02))
The Interim Director of the Department of Human Services (“Department”), pursuant to the
authority set forth in S ection 31 of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 (“HSRA” ), effective
October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16- 35; D.C. Official Code § 4- 756.02), and Mayor’s Order 2006- 20,
dated February 13, 2006, gives notice of the adoption of the following new Chapter 114 ( Peer Case
Management Institute and Certification ) of Title 29 (Public Welfare) of the District of Columbia
Municipal Regulations.
These rules establish the Department’s Peer Case Management Institute (“PCMI”) and the
requirements for training and certifying peer case managers. The PCMI will train individuals with
lived experience of homelessness for employment as peer case managers by Department-funded
Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless services agencies, including providers of Medicaid-
reimbursable housing stabilization and housing navigation services, low-barrier shelter providers,
and other providers in the homeless services field. These rules establish PCMI eligibility criteria,
the application and selection process, requirements for PCMI classroom training and a field
practicum, and requirements for the awarding of the Peer Case Manager Certification. The
purposes of training and certifying case managers through the PCMI are to: (a) leverage the
expertise of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness and their unique ability to help
clients navigate the homeless services system; (b) create longer-term pathways to employment and
financial stability for individuals with lived experiences of homelessness; and (c) create a new
pipeline of quality case managers to serve District residents experiencing or exiting homelessness.
The Department Director adopted emergency rules on February 29, 2024, pursuant to a Notice of
Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published in the District of Columbia Register on March
15, 2024, at 71 DCR 2967. A subsequent Notice of Second Emergency Rulemaking was adopted
by the Department Director on September 16, 2024, and published in the District of Columbia
Register on September 27, 2024, at 71 DCR 11718. A Notice of Third Emergency Rulemaking
was adopted by the Interim Director of the Department on February XX, 2025, and published in
the District of Columbia Register on February XX, 2025, at 72 DCR ____.
These final rules have not been substantially altered from the proposed rulemaking, in response to
which the District received no public comments. These final rules removed language from § 11400 that described the purpose of the PCMI but did not operate as rules. This language remain s in the
preamble. In addition, these final rules condense and revise for clarity §§ 11400.1 and 11400.3. In accordance with Section 31 of the HSRA (D.C. Official Code § 4- 756.02), the proposed final
rules were submitted to the Council of the District of Columbia for a forty -five (45) day period of
review, pursuant to the Peer Case Management Institute and Certification Rules Approval
Resolution of 2025. The proposed resolution and final rules were deemed approved on March
YY, 2024, pursuant to Resolution 26-YYY. 2
On March ZZ, 2025, the Interim Director of the Department adopted these rules as final, and the
rules shall become effective upon publication of this notice in the District of Columbia Register .
Title 29, PUBLIC WELFARE, of the DCMR is amended by adding a new Chapter 114,
PEER CASE MANAGE MENT INSTITUTE AND CERTIFICATION, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 114 PEER CASE MANAGE MENT INSTITUTE AND CERTIFICATION
11400 PURPOSE AND APPLICATION
11400.1 The purpose of the Department’s Peer Case Management Institute (PCMI) is to
train individuals with lived experience of homelessness to serve as c ase managers
at homeless services agencies that are providers in the District’s Continuum of Care
(CoC).
11400.2 Individuals who successfully complete the PCMI will be eligible to receive a
Department-issued Peer Case Manager Certification.
11400.3 A Department-funded CoC provider may substitute the Peer Case Manager
Certification for the education and work requirements for the job that the
Department requires the CoC agency to include for the job under the Department’s
contract with the CoC agency.
11400.4 This chapter applies to individuals seeking a Peer Case Manager Certification, CoC
providers who employ peer c ase managers, and the Department.
11401 GENERAL PROVISIONS
11401.1 The Department shall administer the PCMI, including the issuance of Peer Case
Manager Certifications, determining the requirements for the Peer Case Manage r
Certifications, and establishing how CoC agencies shall or may use the certification
in hiring.
11401.2 T o obtain the Peer Case Manager Certification, an individual shall successfully
complete classroom-based training and a field -based practicum through the PCMI,
as described in Sections 11403 and 11404.
11401.3 The Department shall provide notice to the public of upcoming openings to
participate in the PCMI, including information on the application process.
11402 PEER CASE MANAGE MENT INSTITUTE (PCMI) — ELIGIBLITY,
APPLICATION, AND SELECTION
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11402.1 In order to be eligible to participate in the Peer Case Management Institute, an
applicant shall be:
(a) A District resident;
(b) At least eighteen (18) years of age; and
(c) Either:
(1) A current or former consumer of services from a provider in the
District’s CoC of homeless services ; or
(2) A person who has experienced homelessness at some point in their
lifetime in the District or another jurisdiction in the United States.
11402.2 An applicant shall submit a completed application to the Department in the format
prescribed by the Department.
11402.3 To be considered by the Department, the application shall be:
(a) Submitted during the designed timeframe for accepting applications; and
(b) Completed in full.
11402.4 The Department shall review each application it receives to determine the eligibility
of the applicant and the timeliness and completeness of the application. The
Department shall reject each incomplete or untimely application and each
application from an ineligible applicant.
11402.5 The Department shall review each timely, complete application from an eligible
applicant.
11402.6 The Department shall rank candidates for selection based on the number of open
enrollment slots and the following factors:
(a) Personal essays submitted through the application process that demonstrate
the applicant’s interest in and commitment to working in case management.
(b) Writing proficiency as demonstrated through the personal essays submitted
through the application process;
(c) Level of education completed, with preference given to those who have at
least a high school diploma or GED;
(d) Strength of recommendation letters;
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(e) Previous work experience in the CoC;
(f) Ability to speak another language, including American Sign Language; and
(g) The time and date the application was received , with preference going to
the applications submitted first.
11402.7
Each applicant shall receive notice of their selection or denial to participate in the
PCMI. Notice of denial shall conform to the requirements of S ection 19(b) of the
Act (D.C. Official Code § 4-754.33(b)).
11403 PCMI — TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
11403.1 To qualify for the Peer Case Manager Certification, a PCMI participant shall first
successfully complete at least one hundred twenty hours (120) of required
classroom training.
11403.2 The PCMI classroom training shall be structured to provide participants with an
opportunity to develop the following core competencies:
(a) Understanding case management functions and roles;
(b) Understanding the unique value of lived experiences in the helping process;
(c) Developing the participants’ professional use of self;
(d) Using self-care techniques;
(e) Fostering a trauma-informed approach in understanding homelessness;
(f) Developing effective engagement, communication, and de-escalation
techniques;
(g) Strengthening participants ’ understanding of cultural competence; and
(h) Building a peer network to encourage ongoing learning and provide
support.
11403.3 The PCMI classroom training shall be delivered in modules by an education
provider selected by the Department.
11403.4 Classroom training shall address the core competencies set forth in § 11403.2.
11403.5 Participants may be required to complete additional hours of training depending on
their proficiency in writing and using computers in accordance with standards set
by the Department. 5
11403.6 The education provider shall indicate whether the participant successfully
completed the classroom training, pursuant to standards developed by the
Department.
11403.7 The education provider shall submit notice of a participant’s completion of
classroom training to the Department , along with the provider’s assessment of
whether the participant successfully completed the classroom training.
11403.8 Any PCMI participant who does not successfully complete the classroom training
shall not participate in the field practicum and shall not receive a certification but
may reapply to participate in the PCMI.
11404 PCMI — PRACTICUM REQUIREMENT
11404.1 To qualify for the Peer Case Management Certification, a PCMI participant shall
also successfully complete a field practicum .
11404.2 The purpose of the PCMI field practicum is to provide participants with an
opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired from the classroom work in
a homeless services setting.
11404.3 Each homeless services provider that hosts a PCMI field practicum participant shall
identify a qualified case manager or case manager supervisor to serve as the field
practicum supervisor for the participant. Before serving as a field practicum
supervisor, the identified qualified case manager or case manager supervisor shall
complete a peer case manager supervisory orientation offered by the Department.
11404.4 The participant shall complete at least eighty (80) hours of field-based work to
complete their field practicum.
11404.5 The field practicum supervisor shall ensure that:
(a) The consumer (and the consumer’s family if appropriate) receiving case
management services delivered by the PCMI participant during the field
practicum has consented to the delivery of such services by a PCMI
participant;
(b) Case management services delivered by the PCMI participant during the
field practicum are consistent with the individualized case management
plan for the consumer receiving the services; and
(c) The PCMI participant has an opportunity to participate in the development
of a case management plan and service coordination activities during the
field practicum.
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11404.6 The field practicum supervisor shall maintain a log of all supervisory meetings with
the PCMI participant.
11404.7 The field practicum supervisor shall provide the following supervision to a PCMI
participant during the field practicum:
(a) Establish the field practicum objectives and guidelines for the PCMI
participant within the first week of the practicum;
(b) Provide a minimum of one (1) hour of face-to-face supervision with each
PCMI participant once a week with additional support as needed or
requested;
(c) Supervise the PCMI participant throughout the field practicum, overseeing
the full range of field practice;
(d) Document all supervision activities in accordance with guidelines
established by the Department;
(e) Maintain regular contact with the PCMI participant and the PCMI as needed
to achieve field practicum objectives; and
(f) Complete a mid-way and final evaluation of the PCMI participant’s
performance according to evaluation guidance established by the
Department.
11404.8 During the field practicum, the PCMI participant shall at a minimum:
(a) Complete orientation on the field practicum site and its policies and
procedures regarding the delivery of services;
(b) Shadow a case manager in the homeless services field during work with
consumers on significant activities , such as intake appointments, home
visits, conducting assessments, developing a housing plan, or related
activities;
(c)
Work directly with consumers ; and
(d) Participate as a full member in the case planning and case management
service provision process.
11404.9 A PCMI participant may submit a written request to change their field p racticum
provider. All requests for changes shall be submitted to the Department for
approval.
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11404.10 Within five (5) business days after the PCMI participant completes the field
practicum, the field practicum supervisor shall complete, sign, and submit to the
PCMI a Department -promulgated Practicum Evaluation Form for the participant .
11404.11 In order to be eligible for the Peer Case Manager Certification, the PCMI
participant shall have a passing score on their final practicum evaluation.
11404.12 The Department shall determine the final practicum evaluation criteria and
establish a numerical system for determining a passing score.
11404.13 A participant who does not receive a passing score on the final evaluation of their
practicum may request to complete a second practicum placement with a new
provider or with the same provider, if the provider agrees to it.
11404.14 A participant may request reconsideration of their final practicum evaluation , or a
mid-way evaluation for a second practicum placement, by submitting a written
form promulgated by the Department within five (5) business days after receiving
the evaluation.
11405 PCMI — DISMISSAL
11405.1 A participant who does not receive a passing score on the final evaluation of their
initial practicum and does not request to complete a second practicum placement
shall be dismissed from the program.
11405.2 If a participant requests a second practicum placement and does not receive a
passing score on the midway evaluation of their second practicum placement, the
participant shall be dismissed from the PCMI .
11405.3 If a participant does not pass the third practicum evaluation after two (2) different
practicum placements, the participant shall be dismissed from the PCMI .
11405.4 A participant who misses more than two (2) days of classroom instruction or field
practicum assignment without providing any written notice to the designated
contact shall be dismissed from the PCMI. Written notice may include text message
or email.
11405.5 A participant who misses more than four (4) days of classroom instruction or field
practicum assignment, even with written notification, shall be dismissed from the
PCMI.
11405.6 A participant who has been dismissed from the PCMI may reapply for admission
pursuant to S ection 11402.
11405.7 A participant may withdraw from the PCMI at any time.
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11406 PEER CASE MANAGER CERTIFICATION
11406.1 A PCMI participant who successfully complete s both the classroom-based training
and the field practicum shall be eligible to receive the Peer Case Manager
Certification.
11406.2 After verifying that a PCMI participant has met the requirements of this chapter for
certification as a peer case manager, the Department shall issue a Peer Case
Manager Certification, signed by the Director or their designee, to the participant
as evidence of successful completion of the PCMI .
11406.3 The Peer Case Manager Certification is not a license, and completion of the PCMI
does not guarantee employment with any agency or provider. Gaining employment
as a case manager after successfully completing the PCMI will require successful
completion of the individual employer’s job candidate selection process, including
any criminal background check and drug screening required for the particular
position.
11499 DEFINITIONS
11499.1 The terms in this chapter shall have the definitions set forth in S ection 2 of the Act
(D.C. Official Code § 4-751.01) .
11499.2 In addition, for the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meaning ascribed:
Act – the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22, 2005 (D.C.
Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4- 751.01 et seq. ).
Applicant – a person who has submitted an application to participate in the Peer
Case Management Institute.
Certified Peer Case Manager – an individual with lived experience of
homelessness who has successfully completed the PCMI and received the
Peer Case Management Certification.
Department – Department of Human Services.
District – District of Columbia.
Participant – a person selected to participate in the PCMI .
GOVERNMENTOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA
DEPARTMENTOFHUMANSERVICES
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OfficeoftheAgencyFiscalOfficer
MEMORANDUM
TO: A.D.RachelPierre
InterimDirector
DepartmentofHumanServices
THRU: DeliciaV.Moore
AssociateChiefFinancialOfficer
HumanSupportServicesCluster
Hayden9taysopa
FROM:HaydenBernardi aro
AgencyFiscalOfficerADueso2so0¢
DepartmentofHumanSer@gard12139-0500
DATE:March3,2025
SUBJECT:_FiscalImpactStatement—NoticeofEmergencyandProposedRulemaking
RegardingPeerCaseManagementInstituteandCertification
Background:
TheInterimDirectoroftheDepartmentofHumanServices(“Department”),pursuanttothe
authoritysetforthinSection31oftheHomelessServicesReformActof2005(“HSRA”),effective
October22,2005(D.C.Law16-35;D.C.OfficialCode§4-756.02),andMayor’sOrder2006-20,
datedFebruary13,2006,givesnoticeoftheadoptiononanemergencybasisofthefollowingnew
Chapter114(PeerCaseManagementInstituteandCertification)ofTitle29(PublicWelfare)of
theDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulations(“DCMR”).
TheserulesestablishtheDepartment’sPeerCaseManagementInstitute(“PCMI”)andthe
requirementsfortrainingandcertifyingpeercasemanagers.ThePCMIwilltrainindividualswith
livedexperienceofhomelessnessforemploymentaspeercasemanagersbyDepartment-funded
ContinuumofCare(CoC)homelessservicesagencies,includingprovidersofMedicaid-
reimbursablehousingstabilizationandhousingnavigationservices,low-barriershelterproviders,
andotherprovidersinthehomelessservicesfield.TheserulesestablishPCMIeligibilitycriteria,
theapplicationandselectionprocess,requirementsforPCMIclassroomtrainingandafield
practicum,andrequirementsfortheawardingofthePeerCaseManagerCertification.The
purposesoftrainingandcertifyingcasemanagersthroughPCMLareto:(a)leveragetheexpertise
P.O.Box54047,64NewYorkAvenue,NIE,SixthFloor,Washington,DC20002(202)671-4200Fax(202)671-4326 ofindividualswithlivedexperiencesofhomelessnessandtheiruniqueabilitytohelpclients
navigatethehomelessservicessystem;(b)createlonger-termpathwaystoemploymentand
financialstabilityforindividualswithlivedexperiencesofhomelessness;and(c)createanew
pipelineofqualitycasemanagerstoserveDistrictresidentsexperiencingorexitinghomelessness.
BudgetandFinancialPlanImpact:
Thetablebelowoutlinesthecostoftheproposedrulemaking:
[Program|FY26 |FY27 |FY28 |FY29 FourYearTotal
[PCMI_|$733,029 $747,690 $762,643, $777,896 $3,021,258
Conclusion
FundingavailabilityfortheproposedrulemakingforFY26throughFY2029willbedependent
upontheavailabilityoffundingintheDistrict’sBudgetandfinancialplan,uponapprovalbythe
CouncilandMayorandcompletionofthethirty(30)dayCongressionalreviewperiod.
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 409, Washington, D.C. 20004 Phone: (202) 724- 5524 Email: adele.el-khouri@dc.gov
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BRIAN L. SCHWALB
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Legal Counsel Division
MEMORANDUM
TO: Tomás Talamante
Director
Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs
FROM: Adele El-Khouri
Deputy Attorney General
Legal Counsel Division
DATE: February 4, 2025
SUBJECT: Legal Sufficiency Review of Draft Resolution , the Peer Case
Management Institute and Certification Rules Approval Resolution of
2025”
(AR-23-701-C)
This is to Certify that this Office has reviewed the above -referenced
legislation and has found it to be legally sufficient. If you have any questions
regarding this certification, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 262 -6402.
_______________________________
Adele El-Khouri