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A newsletter of the Washington State Health Care Authority Office of Recovery Support. |
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This month, we're highlighting LaTonya Rogers, a King County community liaison and family and youth peer program manager.
LaTonya has always been a champion for family and youth peers. Countless parents/caregivers and youth peers have found their voice because of her ability to lift people up and support peers to see their potential.
LaTonya graciously sacrifices a lot of energy (above what her job description requires) to coach, to open doors, and to lead peers so that peer services will exist for families in King County.
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Her motivation doesn't come from a strict set of principles or a rigid professional lens. Instead, she uses her experience as a grandma, a mother, a sister, a wife, and a friend - who also face the same challenges and battles as the families we are serving. She is a living, breathing peer who knows it is going to take an army to fight our battle. LaTonya has a gift of seeing the big picture and the potential of bringing people together.
Sometimes when big things happen, the glow from the fire is so bright we forget to recognize the forces that started the fire. Latonya deserves some kudos for being a fire starter!
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HCA is offering a series of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) trainings. These trainings are free for peers and organizations to take; however, they are not free to organize, facilitate, or put on. Please understand that active participation in this training program will not only increase the richness of peer services offered but may also create an opportunity for IPS to be available in Washington State in the future.
When individuals drop out in the middle of a training series, it creates an unbalance, and in some cases, requires the class to be cancelled. This means that other enrolled individuals have to re-enroll in the class.
Please help us keep offering these wonderful and free resources to all Washington State peers by doing your best to follow through with these programs. Thank you!
On November 12, Peers Empower Peers (PEP) held their fourth annual conference, with the theme of “Building Bridges.” This year's conference was the largest conference to date, with 102 people registered.
The conference offered thirteen diverse, relevant, and impactful workshops hosted by 22 amazing peers. The keynote speaker shone and made a lasting impression as she spoke about the rise of peers. The eight board members that help make this year’s conference possible were spotlighted throughout the conference to help everyone get to know the team.
There was an educational training offered during lunch called "Overdose Prevention and Response.” One of the highlights that really brought a sense of community was the "Peer Talent Share," where participants had the opportunity to showcase their talents and passions. What a wise, compassionate, and skilled community!
This year's conference theme, “Building Bridges,” was brought to life by everyone who participated by networking, connecting, reaching out, supporting, and sharing! To learn more about PEP and connect with them visit PEP's website or email Amy Griesel.
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) trainings from Valley Cities
Valley Cities will be offering Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) 1 and 2, as well as refresher seminars, for community partners at the beginning of 2023. If you are interested in agency trainings, please reach out the fantastic Lisa Brown.
Learn more and register to attend.
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- Thursday, January 5
- 9 to 10 a.m.
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- Tuesday, December 13
- 9 to 10 a.m.
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Congrats, Mo!
HCA would like to announce that Maureen "Mo" Bailey has accepted the position of Recovery Supports Services Section Manager and will begin on December 1!
Mo began her involvement in peer support in 2012. She received her certified peer counselor (CPC) certification while interning for her bachelor’s in social work (BSW) at Capital Recovery Center in Olympia. After receiving her BSW, Mo began her professional career in the world of peer support at WSU’s Behavioral Health Workforce Collaborative providing program support for the youth and family CPC training, ombuds, and operationalizing peer support services. Maureen went on to provide peer support services as a peer bridger and then held the position of consumer partnership coordinator with Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization.
Mo joined HCA as the enhanced peer support program administrator for Trueblood programs and transitioned to the position of the peer support program administrator before the Recovery Supports Services Supervisor.
Mo is an exemplary supervisor and leader. Her commitment to continually educating others in hopes of reducing barriers that keep individuals from seeking treatment and recovery is only a small fraction of her impact in our state.
We are honored that Maureen has accepted this new role and we look forward to seeing the continued success of the Recovery Support Services team at HCA.
 Maureen "Mo" Bailey (left), Amy Griesel (right)
Congrats, Amy!
HCA is also pleased to announce that Amy Griesel has accepted the position of Peer Bridger and Peer Respite Program Manager and will begin on December 1!
Amy has been on a journey of recovery since graduating from the Felony Mental Health Court in 2016. After this life-changing event, she realized she wanted to walk alongside those seeking support and recovery. Amy became a CPC in 2018 and in 2019, she became nationally certified as a peer specialist through the Association for Addiction Professionals.
Amy began working as a care navigator, utilizing her peer support skills and became the first peer support specialist at Deaconess hospital, creating a hospital-based peer program. She began as the Recovery Café manager in Spokane in 2022 and has since accepted a position with WSU and HCA as the peer bridger/peer respite program manager.
Amy aspires to transform systems from within and build further peer support programs, as she has seen the impact this has made on the lives of those that she serves.
Program overview
The Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) program supports agencies and organizations who want to add peer services to what they offer, or for those who already have peer services and need assistance with the implementation and operationalization of those services.
Program components
The OPS program supports the providers community through OPS trainings, webinars, weekly office hours, and individual technical assistance. All services are at no cost to providers. The programs components dynamically support organizations:
- The OPS training consists of evidence-based knowledge that is essential for peer supervision and administration. The training also provides opportunities for an open dialogue about common concerns in a safe environment.
- OPS webinars are offered monthly. Webinar topics are relevant to organizations who provide Medicaid reimbursed services and for peer services delivered in non-Medicaid settings.
- OPS office hours are a weekly meeting for providers who supervise or are administrators of peer services. Participants can ask questions and network with others in similar positions.
- Individual technical assistance offered for anyone who would like to privately discuss either establishing a new peer program or concerns or questions about supervision or administration of peer services.
For more information, contact Shelly Shor.
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There are four dimensions that support recovery:
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Health: Overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) or symptoms and making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being.
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Home: Having a stable and safe place to live.
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Purpose: Conducting meaningful daily activities and having the independence, income, and resources to participate in society.
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Community: Having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.
Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support in recovery housing provides people the opportunity to build community, become and stay engaged in the recovery process, and reduce the likelihood of relapse.
For some, recovery means living a life you’re proud of, having a stable home, a healthy lifestyle, meaningful relationships, and making progress towards life goals. Millions of people have built a solid foundation and started their new lives in recovery while living in Oxford House and other recovery residences. Most of them credit the peer support received during that time as what has made all the difference in their lives today. Below are two of their experiences:
- "For me, the biggest part of my success was the peer support. Walking up next to people who have been in these shoes is a huge blessing. The community I have now is mostly made up of people in recovery and I love it!" -Melissa Holmes
- "I lived in Oxford House for 1.5 years while also paying a mortgage on my own home where my family resided. I couldn’t stay sober in my own home, but I could in Oxford. The women held me accountable to my recovery and recognized my negative behaviors when I couldn’t. I have lifelong meaningful friendships with the women in my Oxford House. They taught me how to live differently, and to put my sobriety first so I could finally become the wife and mother I always wanted to be. The best years of my life were growing into this way of living with my Oxford family." -Yvonne Harry
Are you interested in learning more about recovery residences and Oxford Housing in Washington State? Contact Heather Maxwell-Rhychart for more information.
Additional resources:
The behavioral health apprenticeship program is a registered statewide program to meet the urgent need for vital behavioral healthcare services.
The Peer Counselor Pathway consists of:
- A one-year "earn while you learn" program.
- Hybrid learning experience (virtual real-time classes & on the job training).
- An opportunity to stabilize & diversify the behavioral health workforce.
Email Ian Hundtofte for more information.
Make a recipe this winter from our staff to keep cozy and warm!
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 Jones Community Solutions (JCS) held their first in-person training since becoming an HCA-approved training organization. All 40 hours of this training were met with understanding, grace, love a whole heap of humor, and above all – trust.
JCS is moving forward at a great pace in growing leaders in the communities that they touch and each life they get to be a part of. If you are interested in a diverse group of individuals who know how to meet peers where they’re at – don’t hesitate to reach out to Annette or Javan at JCS for more information on what they are doing in the peer community!
 Anette Jones (left) and Javan Jones (right)
Do you know a CPC or peer-run organization who you think deserves a little extra kudos? We want to highlight them in an upcoming newsletter!
Please email Amanda as much information as possible:
- Name of person/organization
- Their location
- Why are you highlighting them?
- Their picture (optional)
Would you like to have more of an impact on what you see in the Peer-to-Peer newsletter? Share your feedback - your voice is important!
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