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A newsletter of the Washington State Health Care Authority Office of Recovery Support. |
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- Peers certified in Washington: 6,767
- Peers trained in Washington: 6,865
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 Joshua Smith, Prima Perez, Terrance Nelson, Mo Bailey, Amanda Polley, Lisa Shenk, Rodrigo Ramirez-Herrera
CPC training within Mission Creek Correctional Facility
The first week of April 2023 marked another historical first for HCA's peer team, peer-run training organizations, and Washington State Penitentiary. Together, we hosted the second Department of Corrections training for certified peer counselors (CPC), and the first within Walla Walla.
18 people serving varied sentences were able to take and complete the CPC training course.
This month, we're highlighting LaQuesha Turner. A peer submitted a heartfelt nomination, detailing why LaQuesha deserves to be highlighted:
"I am writing to nominate the new head of the justice department at the Capital Recovery Center, LaQuesha Turner. She truly deserves recognition and the peer support award. In just the short time she has been there, she has significantly contributed to the justice advocacy and legal outreach community, especially for those with mental health concerns. I have watched her support someone in court in a very unsure situation. As someone with lived experience in the justice system herself, she has shown incredible courage and determination in the face of adversity, and her work has had a transformative impact on the lives of countless individuals.
Through her previous role as an ombudsman and now as the leader of a justice advocacy and legal outreach department, she has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting and empowering those who have been impacted by the justice system. She is a tireless advocate for justice and equity, and her work has helped to address systemic issues and promote positive change. I don't know how she finds the energy in a fight it sometimes feels society is losing. Just hearing bits of her story and getting to see her in the thick of it was a moving experience everyone should have when facing the court system. She isn't even a lawyer, she just has people's best interest at heart and they stand taller in her presence.
What truly sets her apart is her ability to make a real difference, even in the face of significant challenges. She is never afraid to ask for what is needed, and is always focused on doing the next right thing. That girl is a dedicated and compassionate leader who has built her department from the ground up, all while providing essential services to those in need.
Despite the many obstacles faced, she remains humble and driven by a deep sense of purpose. She is a shining example of what is possible when individuals commit themselves to making a positive difference in the world. In recognition of her remarkable contributions, I strongly recommend her for a peer support highlight. She is an exceptional individual whose work deserves to be celebrated and honored." - Anonymous
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Say It Out Loud Conference
Join the annual Say It Out Loud Conference, which focuses on information sharing and networking to improve behavioral health services and decrease disparities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
Region 10 Opioid Summit
The Region 10 Opioid Summit is an educational and networking event for those delivering opioid use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services in the Pacific Northwest.
The summit is now accepting proposals and will release registration details soon!
Peers Empower Peers Conference
Join the in-person annual conference! This year's theme is "Peer and Simple: It Starts With a Balanced You!"
Mental Health First Aid trainings
Valley Cities is offering a free mental health first aid training. This course trains people to help people at risk of developing a mental health problem or going through a mental health crisis.
Washington Behavioral Health Conference
Join the two-day, in-person conference for behavioral health providers. The event will feature 35 workshops, with tracks covering on recovery & resiliency, race and equity in behavioral health, children, youth & families, corrections and mental health, services and partnerships, and more!
Peer Pathways Conference
Save the date for the annual Peer Pathways Conference! This year's conference theme is "Open Doors: The Culture of Compassion." Stay tuned for more details!
- August 23 and 24
- Located in Seattle
Peer support monthly blend
This monthly webinar's topic is the substance user disorder family navigator training.
Operationalizing Peer Support office hours
Attend office hours to receive support with your peer support services.
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Live event captioning available
Communication Access Real-time Transcription (CART) services, or live closed captioning, are available for events, on demand. Scheduling CART services requires a three-week lead-time.
To request this accommodation, please submit a request as soon as possible to:
Amanda Polley.
If you make your request less than a week in advance of the event, our language access manager cannot guarantee that a CART writer will be available.
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You don’t have to be a discharge planner to take advantage of the Discharge Planner's Toolkit. This fantastic tool helps individuals access resources and multiple levels of formal support in their area. View the Discharge Planner’s Toolkit.
Are you interested in being a part of peer support at a different level?
HCA will be releasing two different request for proposals (RFPs) onto the WEBS website. In order to apply, register as a vendor and keep an eye out for more information coming soon.
If you have any questions or concerns, email Amanda Polley.
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Thomas Jackson is the new program manager for the Employed Peer Empowerment Network. Way to go, Thomas! We know you'll rock your new position.
About Thomas
Thomas was born in Oakland, California and became a PNW transplant when he was just 16 years old. When Thomas was 23, he moved to Hawaii to begin his career in behavioral health as a life skills specialist at a local nonprofit.
His past experiences also include working as a law enforcement assisted diversion peer in Mason County, as well as a certified peer counselor in substance use disorder and mental health recovery in Thurston County HARPS. Thomas pioneered his way into the peer bridger supervisor role, overseeing five counties in Washington.
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In just a short time, Thomas completed his 34th training this year! Some of those trainings topics include: vicarious trauma, Intentional Peer Support, telephone crisis, naloxone/narcan, and many others.
Thomas believes in cultivating relationships with others through mutuality, hope, possibility, awareness of perspective, connection, and culture. In his leisure time, he enjoys cooking, reading, writing music, and gaming. Thomas’s motto is "selfcare is not selfish."
Amy Griesel, HCA's Peer Bridger/Peer Respite Program Manager, has worked with Thomas. She shares her impressions after working with Thomas as the previous supervisor for the Pioneer Human Services Substance Use Disorder Peer Bridger Program:
"I have first-hand experience with seeing his passion and dedication to being a strong, kind leader and his commitment to peer work. While working with Thomas, he showed the ability to be creative, driven, and a great example of providing intentional peer support. He is eager to build a peer community that is connected and supported while having opportunities to grow and find their full potential with an emphasis on self-care."
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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)
Thank you for empowering peers!
Would you like to have more of an impact on what you see in the Peer-to-Peer newsletter? We would love to hear from you!
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