May 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice
May 18th, 2023 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
Karen Iverson Riggers is a writer, entrepreneur, activist, advocate, trainer, and Mom. She is a trainer of Emotional CPR and Emotions Education 101 and co-creator of The Missing Piece: Emotional Health & Wellness curriculum. She is a founding worker/owner of Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative, a Wisconsin based worker owned cooperative that provides training, consultation, and listening spaces related to emotional health and wellness. Along with Lynn McLaughlin, she launched the Real Vibes Only podcast which talks about real life and emotions. She utilizes her own lived experience in the mental health system to advocate for change and create community spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued, just as they are. Karen lives in Appleton with her partner Eric and their three children Nick, Quinn, and Ari.
Lynn McLaughlin is an entrepreneur, author, peer, trainer, and consultant. Her life experience, education, and training in emotional wellness, trauma, and peer support make her an exceptional leader, consultant and trainer. Lynn has a vibrant passion for life and deep empathy for the stories of others, which shows up in all facets of her work. She is a trainer of Emotional CPR and Emotions Education 101 and co-creator of The Missing Piece: Emotional Health & Wellness curriculum. Lynn is a founding worker/owner of Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative, a Wisconsin based worker owned cooperative that provides training, consultation, and listening spaces related to emotional health and wellness. Along with Karen Iverson Riggers, she launched the Real Vibes Only podcast which talks about real life and emotions. Lynn is mom to her adult daughter Emma who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lynn lives in Neenah with her two pups—Lennon and Esther.
There is so much talk around self-care and taking responsibility for our well-being. This becomes detrimental when the burden of well-being is put on the individual exclusively. Learn about the revolution of meCPR, the importance of self-care and community care, and healing through connection.
We invite you to please fill out the evaluation survey link (click here) if you attended this community of practice gathering or if you watch the recording. The survey will close at 4:30pm on Thursday, June 1st. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on June 8th, 2023. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEH credit after the evaluation survey’s closing date/time.
This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
April 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice
April 20th, 2023 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
David Carlson is the founder and co-owner of C.C. We Adapt, co-founder/co-owner of Next Generation Properties, LLC, and co-founder/co-owner of Next Generation Mentors. David is going into his third year at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where his focus areas are Healthcare Law and Healthcare Compliance. David has a background of diverse experiences. He is an early childhood trauma survivor. He has significant lived experience with youth and adult incarceration, as well as youth and adult homelessness. He is an Army National Guard combat veteran. David’s life now revolves around his family, wife Alicia Carlson, two sons, Knox and Lenox Carlson, and a new baby on the way. David has dedicated his life to expanding resources for more people from backgrounds like his to have the opportunity to enjoy the promises of life, liberty, and happiness–realities that have for too long only been enjoyed by a privileged class.
Brianna Traut is a Certified Peer Specialist with C.C. We Adapt as well as the General Manager Next Generation Properties.
Brianna is a single mom and has a 3-year-old son named Rowan! Rowan is the reason she pushes herself every day to be better. She is recovering from addiction to opiates and has been in recovery for 5 years. Throughout her addiction, she had periods of incarceration and rehab stays and she never had someone who truly understood her or what she was going through. Eventually, she was able to get into treatment court through Eau Claire County and successfully complete the program.
Brianna came to a point in her life where she felt things were changing around her, however, she felt she was still in the same place. She wanted to grow and begin helping others who have experiences similar to her; and, this is where she found peer support. Peer support completely changed her life. She felt her purpose was to help others, especially because she could connect with the individuals and feel like she has been there. By being in these similar situations and places before, Brianna now gives people hope in any situation that they may be in.
Tenant Support Mentorship is a concept that was created by C.C. We Adapt and that has become its own form of peer services under Next Generation Mentors. This presentation will illuminate how peer service providers are uniquely positioned to take on the housing epidemic that is facing every community, and that is negatively impacting marginalized community members at a disproportionate rate.
We invite you to please fill out the evaluation survey link (click here) if you attended this community of practice gathering or if you watch the recording. The survey will close at 4:30pm on Thursday, May 4th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on May 11th, 2023. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEH credit after the evaluation survey’s closing date/time.
This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
March 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice
March 14th, 2023 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
Nze (they/them) is a queer, Black, Nigerian writer & peer supporter located in Madison, WI. Nze is currently the program director of Solstice House Peer Run Respite & Peer Run Warmline. Nze facilitates dialogue and advocates alongside others navigating crisis and emotional distress.
As an outspoken voice promoting culturally responsive peer-led crisis alternatives, Nze provides support around experiences of harm related to the intersections of psychiatric medications, generational grief and trauma, systemic violence and institutional racism. They believe our stories hold power, community is our home, and pride is our path to liberation.
Tara leads a grassroots community recovery and wellness organization, EOTO Culturally Rooted. She is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), Certified Parent Peer Specialist (CPPS) and state trainer of Certified Peer Specialists and trainers. She provides support to individuals navigating mental health, substance use and trauma recovery.
Driven by her passion for positive social change and thriving, healthy communities of color she enjoys acting as a connector and seed planter working on several impactful collaborations throughout Wisconsin.
As a Certified Peer Specialist and lived experience public speaker Tara subscribes to a “each one teach one” knowledge and skill sharing ideology that she believes is key to challenging systemic injustice. She has presented and trained on topics such as valuing & integrating the voice of lived experience, implicit bias and understanding culture/power/privilege to audiences on a national, state, and local level. Her unique approach and compassionate delivery make conquering these difficult conversations an act of bravery and not an exercise in guilt, shame, or fear.
We all have work to do to create a safer, more just society – Tara believes that together we can!
Chrysalis, EOTO, LLC. & SOAR Case Management Inc. will present an overview of past learning communities previously offered to the peer support workforce. The presenters will describe upcoming opportunities for collaboration and explore how this might be helpful for both experienced peers and those who are new to the workforce.
General information about upcoming opportunities will be given with space for Q&A at the end.
We invite you to please fill out the evaluation survey link (click here) if you attended this community of practice gathering or if you watch the recording. The survey will close at 4:30pm on Tuesday, March 28th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on April 4th, 2023. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEH credit after the evaluation survey’s closing date/time.
This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
February 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice
February 16th, 2023 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
Lynn Maday-Bigboy
Lynn Maday-Bigboy is a Certified Parent Peer and Peer Trainer. She is from the Bad River Nation, located on Lake Superior, and she is passionate about advocating for youth and families that are historically marginalized in systems of care.
Healing Layers of Trauma in a Collective Society During Pandemic Times: Through the lens of a collective society, Lynn will be looking at the layers of trauma and the impacts of the pandemic on historical traumas. Together, with participants, she will also explore the healing that can occur when we slow down during these times to process, reflect, and move forward.
We invite you to please fill out the evaluation survey link (click here) if you attended this community of practice gathering or if you watch the recording. The survey will close at 4:30pm on Thursday, March 2nd. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on February 16th, 2023. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEH credit after the evaluation survey’s closing date/time.
This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
January 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice
January 19th, 2023 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
Gaochi Vang – WIPSEI Peer Specialist Program Manager at Access to Independence
Marguerit Galindo – WIPSEI Peer Specialist Workforce Development Coordinator at Access to Independence
Acienda Yang – WIPSEI Peer Specialist Community Engagement Coordinator at Access to Independence.
Join us as we take time to connect, discuss, and network together as a community of peers in CPS and/or CPPS roles. For this Network & Gathering, we will specifically share information about the recertification process, missing the recertification deadline, and review the continuing education opportunities on our website.
There are no CEH/CEU provided for this Community of Practice as it is a network & gathering and does not meet the criteria of a focused learning session in which CEH/CEU’s are generally provided.
This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.