April 2025 CPS & CPPS Supervisor Community of Practice
Dominique Q. Christian is a passionate wellness advocate, peer support professional, and educator dedicated to empowering historically marginalized communities. With over a decade of experience in mental health, substance use recovery, and peer support, Dominique has cultivated a career centered on uplifting others through culturally responsive care and a deep understanding of systemic challenges.
As the founder of Sondercove Wellness, Dominique blends lived experience with professional expertise to create transformative training programs, guide providers in their practice, and offer strength-based support to individuals and families navigating complex systems. A proud member of the National Association of Black Social Workers and an advocate for intersectional equity, Dominique brings a unique perspective to every initiative, weaving together historical context, personal growth, and community resilience.
Through their work, Dominique honors the legacy of care exemplified by Black leaders and communities throughout history, particularly the principles of othermothering and collective care. Their training sessions emphasize cultural humility, empowerment, and the critical role of peer support in fostering healing and autonomy.
Whether speaking at professional development workshops or facilitating conversations around racial equity and wellness, Dominique’s goal is clear: to inspire and equip others to build a more compassionate, inclusive, and just world.
In honor of Black History Month and the enduring legacy of resilience and collective care, let us carry forward the lessons of history into our work today. Peer support has been an essential practice within Black communities for over 400 years, rooted in collective care, resilience, and mutual empowerment. This transformative training explores the deep historical connections between Black history and peer support work, highlighting the practice of “othermothering” during the Civil Rights Movement and its lasting impact on community care. Participants will uncover the ways peer support has helped individuals navigate crises, dismantle systemic barriers, and build intergenerational resilience.
Through engaging discussions and real-world examples, this training honors the legacy of peer support as a tool for resistance and healing, empowering attendees to integrate these principles into their professional practice. Join us to deepen your understanding of culturally responsive care and celebrate the enduring power of collective support in Black communities.
Feedback Survey/CEH Information:
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 8th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on May 15th, 2025. 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 2025 CPS & CPPS Supervisor Community of Practice
Michelle Laga is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Peer Specialist at Wisconsin Community Services in Milwaukee. She is also a State of Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist Trainer. She received her Master’s of Art Therapy at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee in 2013. Michelle offers clinical supervision, support and coordination to two programs at WCS. Michelle identifies as a person in long term recovery from substance use and mental health issues. She celebrated 14 years of continuous sobriety on 3/8/2025. Michelle has a 12 year old loveable dog Watson. She loves to travel, go fishing, swimming, hiking, watch sci fi tv shows/movies and play video games. She also loves to spend time with friends and family.
How to maintain professional boundaries as a supervisor of certified peer specialists will be discussed. The differences and similarities of supervising and maintaining boundaries with peer specialists you supervisor versus other professionals will be outlined. Various scenarios involving professional boundaries as a CPS supervisor will be shared and discussed in order to learn from each other’s experience.
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, April 10th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on April 17th, 2025. 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 2025 CPS & CPPS Supervisor Community of Practice
Shirley Drake is Director of Peer Specialists Limited (PSL).
PSL provides Family Engagement and Advocacy services, long-term Parent Peer Support services for families enrolled in Children’s Mental Health Services and Wraparound systems of care. In addition, PSL offers a Teen Outreach Program to middle school and those that are juvenile justice system involved.
As a Certified Peer Specialist and State Trainer, she is Secretary of the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board representing the peer voice on County mental health budget and policy decisions.
Diverse perspectives exist on leadership among generations. This Community of Practice will present information on each generational cohort and discuss the differences. We will learn skills and strategies that can enable more effective communication and practical strategies to utilize the differences and strengths to build your team.
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 13th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on March 20th, 2025. 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 2025 CPS & CPPS Supervisor Community of Practice
AJ is the Associate Director at OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center in Madison, WI. He was born and raised in North Carolina and maintains a strong connection to his southern roots. AJ is driven in their work by deep commitments to social and environmental justice. They use their lived experience, education, and professional skills in their work to help individuals, communities, and organizations find sustainability in a rapidly changing world.
In this presentation and discussion, AJ will review effective strategies for identifying and challenging internal biases in ourselves and other supervisors/managers who support staff with marginalized identities, with a focus on our role and responsibilities as white supervisors of BIPOC staff. We will review and reflect on how characteristics of white supremacy culture can show up in our work, especially in non-profits and social services agencies. We will end with a discussion of how we can adjust our own thinking about supervision and update organizational policies as we work to create environments where all staff feel safe and comfortable showing up as themselves.
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, February 13th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on February 20th, 2025. 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.
December 2024 CPS & CPPS Supervisor Community of Practice
Paula Buege is a WI CPS and CPPS, and a facilitator of both curriculums too. In addition to providing direct support to individuals, children/youth and their families, Paula trains and consults nationally influencing systems change to align with lived experience.
Join us in this webinar gathering to learn about the processes on how someone can employ a Certified Parent Peer Specialist, service delivery, code of ethics and scope of practice, and lastly, continuing education hours: the categories and where to obtain CEUs.
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, January 2nd. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on January 9th, 2025. 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.
