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A newsletter of the Washington State Health Care Authority Office of Recovery Support. |
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“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”
~Pema Chödrön, author, ordained nun, former acharya of Shambhala Buddhism and disciple of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
With the right treatment, support, and resources, recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life) for everyone. Use the SAMHSA-created toolkit to learn more about what SAMHSA is doing to support people in recovery and how to share this information with your audiences.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of people in or seeking recovery from mental and substance use disorders.
Toolkits are available in English and Spanish and feature shareable graphics with different themes for each week of the month to encourage conversation and action around all facets of recovery.
The 10th annual Peer Pathways Conference took place in Lynnwood, August 13 and 14. The conference, themed “Staying peer in an expanding workforce,” was well attended by over 400 peers.
This year, we celebrated not only 10 years of the conference but also 20 years of Washington State peer trainings and 20 years of peer services being a Medicaid-billable service since CMS recognized peer services as an evidence-based modality.
HCA's Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Director Teesha Kirschbaum provided opening remarks. Also featured were national and local speakers and performers, as well as members of the HCA Peer Team presenting.
This year's conference was hosted by The Rainbow Makers and Jones Community Solutions and was sponsored by the Washington State Health Care Authority. Thank you to all who attended! Special thanks to Lorrin Gehring and Annette Jones for their magical organizing and leadership talents!
Nominate a Peer
Your work matters. Your stories inspire others. Think of the CPCs, CPSSs, or Peer-run organizations who you think deserve a little extra gratitude. We would love to highlight them in these newsletters.
Send your nominations at any time, including as much information about their impact as possible, like:
- Name of person/organization
- Their location
- Why are you highlighting them?
- Their picture (optional)
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Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) Trainings
This virtual training consists of evidence-based knowledge and leading practices that are essential for peer support supervision and administration. It also provides opportunities for an open dialogue, in a safe environment.
Attendance will be tracked for those required to complete the OPS training and those who would like to receive a certificate of completion.
- Tuesday, September 23: 1 to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 30: 1 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, October 9: 9 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, October 16: 9 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, October 23: 9 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, October 30: 9 a.m. to noon
To sign up, email OPS with your preferred dates.
OPS Webinar series
Join us for an engaging and interactive monthly webinar series that combines the best of book club with professional development starting Wednesday, September 24, 2025!
Each month, current Administrators and Supervisors of Peers will read one module from the new 80-hour Certified Peer Specialist training before our live session. This is your opportunity to connect, share insights, and enhance your understanding of the principles and leading practices that are central to the work of Certified Peer Support Specialists.
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Wednesday, September 24, 11 a.m. to noon: Introduction to the book club webinar series
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Wednesday, October 22, 11 a.m. to noon: Module 1: The Certified Peer Support Specialist Role
To sign up, email OPS for pre-registration details.
Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Support (CACPS)
Since July 1, 2025, any entity that uses certified peer specialists as peer crisis responders, may only use certified peer specialists who have completed CACPS training.
CACPS training details:
- Attendees must be certified peer counselors. (If your name has changed since your initial peer certification, please let the training organization know to avoid being removed from registration.)
- 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, there is no virtual option.
- The training is 36 hours.
- Peers must cover their own travel and hotel accommodations.
- Breakfast, refreshments, and lunch will be provided during the training day.
Times, dates, and locations for CACPS trainings may shift and change in response to regional needs. Please reach out to Amanda Polley for more information.
Supervisors of Peers
If you are currently a supervisor of Peers or on a track to supervise Peers, take our new training developed for people who are supervisors of Peers or who are on track to become supervisors of Peers.
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Washington peer jobs database
The Washington Peer jobs database is an online platform dedicated to connecting individuals in the behavioral health and substance use recovery fields with employment opportunities.
This database
- Provides a centralized resource for peer support roles.
- Offers listings for job seekers and recruitment tools for employers.
- Aims to enhance workforce development by promoting careers in Peer support, ensuring that individuals with lived experience can contribute to recovery services and support others on their journeys to wellness.
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New certified Peer specialist FAQ
Have questions about the changes related to the new legislation about certified Peer specialists?
Washington Peer Network
The Washington Peer Network provides comprehensive and accessible training and support for peer counselors across our state.
Department of Health Peer Specialist licensing
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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Need support with your organization's peer support program? Drop-in meetings are designed for providers who supervise Peer Specialists or administer Peer support services.
Drop in to the Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) office hours: weekly Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m.
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Washington Peer Network open peer support hours
Launched in February, WPN hosts an open, one-hour-long virtual meeting every weekday.
This is a space for Peer supporters to network, connect, and will be a safe and supportive space for Peers to receive the support they need.
The meetings are daily from 9 to 10 a.m.
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The Washington Peer jobs database is an online platform dedicated to connecting individuals in the behavioral health and substance use recovery fields with employment opportunities.
This database is a centralized resource for peer support roles that offers listings for job seekers and recruitment tools for employers.
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Poetry is a great avenue for self-expression and community-building. Every month, we feature 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.
Nominate a Peer poet or submit a poem of your own to be featured in our October newsletter!
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 Marie Marchand.
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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