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A newsletter of the Washington State Health Care Authority Office of Recovery Support. |
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Kathleen Murphy, a behavioral health recovery specialist for the King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, submitted this month's peer highlight:
"I would like to recognize a masterful peer supporter, Beverly Miller. Beverly has helped grow the peer support workforce in Washington from the earliest days of our movement. Not only is Beverly committed to the expansion of a highly skilled peer support workforce, but she also models the use of informal peer support as a tool for living life well.
For over fifteen years, Beverly facilitated the growth and development of the King County Peer Network. She invited peer supporters to gather, learn from one another, provide mutual aid, share meals, and have lots of fun together! She then amplified her impact through her work with United Peers of WA.
Beverly has helped many of us find our voice, speak our truth, and become agents of change. Beverly’s dedication and passion for peer support is beyond measure and if you are a certified peer counselor in Washington, there is no doubt you have been touched by her work and her many gifts. Beverly has raised us up, held us high, and reminded us that together, we can soar higher than we ever dreamed imaginable.
Thank you, Beverly, for paving a golden path for peer supporters to follow and for helping us all harness the transformative power of sharing our lived experience."
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Peer Washington:
- Peer network coordinator
- Program manager
- Outreach navigator
- Peer services specialist
Pioneer Human Services:
Olympic Health and Recovery Services:
Sound Health:
Pier 360/Consumer Voices Are Born (CVAB) (Vancouver, WA):
- Peer support-employment
- Peer support-warm line (part time)
- Peer Support-center
- Peer Support-courts and reentry
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Certified peer counselor certification trainings
View a list of upcoming CPC certification trainings for April.
Crisis awareness and communication in peer support (CACPS)
Join the crisis awareness and communication in peer support training! This training is 36 hours over the course of five days.
Here is what you need to know:
- If you are a certified peer working in a crisis setting, this is a legislatively required training which must be completed by June 30, 2024.
- Attendees must be certified peer counselors.
- Peers working in crisis settings are given priority.
- Peers must complete the online prerequisite "Power of peer support in crisis services" training to attend this training and download a copy of the certificate to be offered as proof of completion to the hosting training organization.
- Peers must complete the post-traumatic growth survey (sent by the training organization) before the first day of training.
- Peers must attend the training in person.
- Peers must cover their own travel and hotel accommodations.
- Breakfast, refreshments, and lunch, will be provided during the training day.
View upcoming CACPS trainings.
Operationalizing Peer Support training
HCA’s Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) program supports agencies and organizations who want to begin offering or already offer peer services.
The OPS program is holding free training to support organizations with the implementation and operationalization of their peer programs.
Participants should attend all sessions to best implement their peer programs effectively. Topics will include the history of peer support, the peer role in Washington, laws related to peer services, peer supervision, and more!
- Option 1: May 23 and 30, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 30 minute lunch
- Option 2: May 1, 16, 22, and 29, 9 a.m. to noon
- Option 3: June 4 and 18, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 30 minute lunch
Want to stay connected with OPS? Subscribe to the new organizations with peer support programs to receive updates.
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Learn how FCS intersects with peer support to offer a holistic approach to Supportive Housing and Supported Employment.
- Thursday, March 7
- 9 to 10 a.m.
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Need support with your organization's peer support program? Drop in to the Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) office hours to get help!
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Peer support supervisors can join this webinar covering the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Peer Supervisors.
- Third Monday of every month
- 11 a.m. to noon
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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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What are you doing to show yourself kindness and continue on your wellness journey?
Self-care and wellness are essential to living a balanced and fulfilling life for both ourselves and those we care about or serve. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Awareness Administration (SAMHSA) offers eight dimensions of wellness —emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual.
Our peer support team describes the ways they're showing self-kindness and practicing wellness:
"I like to make my living room as cozy as possible in winter so that I can enjoy the longer colder nights more. This is one of my winter self-care tips. I have low lighting, candles lit always, cozy blankets, sometimes one of those fake YouTube fireplaces. So I guess the general tip is: make your space the way you want it so that you can relax." – Cathi Geisler
"One thing I am learning to do when I am feeling de-regulated emotionally is the lay on the couch and place an icepack on my chest for five minutes and then put it at the base of my neck for five minutes. While I'm doing this, I practice focused breathing. The point is to allow the nervous system to regulate." – Theresa Adkison
"I like to do a short tapping meditation. It helps decrease my cortisol, and paired with deep breathing and positive affirmations, it just feels like a nice self-care time-out." – Marie Marchand
Washington Peer Network
The Washington Peer Network provides comprehensive and accessible training and support for peer counselors across our state.
Learn about the Department of Health's peer services work
Are you interested in knowing more about what the Department of Health (DOH) is doing to support the efforts of recent peer legislation (SSB5555) and moving forward with our Washington State Legislators and the future of licensing for peer services?
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The Washington Peer Network is still looking for peers to become group facilitators! Create positive change in your community, gain invaluable experiences, and make lasting connections as a facilitator. Contact Lisa with questions.
Poetry is a great avenue for self-expression and community-building. Our monthly newsletter will start featuring poetry written by peers in the community.
To be considered for publication in the newsletter, submit a hopeful, resilience-inspired poem to Marie Marchand, our peer support training coordinator, before the twentieth of the month. One to two poems will be printed each month.
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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 Polley 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? We would love to hear from you!
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