“Volunteer Orientation Guide” with Deborah Mejchar
August 20, 2026 | 1:30PM – 3:00PM | Virtual – Zoom
Join us in this Community of Practice gathering to prepare on how to serve with integrity, humility, and steady presence inside correctional facilities.
Deborah C. Mejchar
Deborah C. Mejchar is a Wisconsin-based chaplain, restorative-justice facilitator, and Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)and trainer recognized for integrating faith, lived experience, and evidence-based recovery practices within correctional and community settings.
A former Wisconsin Department of Corrections chaplain and Department of Health Services staff member, she has developed and led dozens of reentry, mindfulness, and peer-support initiatives. Through her work, Deborah bridges trauma-informed care, moral repair, and restorative community healing, empowering justice-impacted individuals to pursue recovery, education, and purpose.
Specializations:
“Sustaining Ourselves in Supervision: Trauma‑Informed, Strengths‑Based Approaches for CPS & CPPS Supervisors”
with Amy Polsin
Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 1:30PM – 3:00PM | Virtual – Zoom
This interactive session explores how culture, identity, and power shape the supervision relationship within CPS and CPPS roles. Supervisors will examine how their own identities influence communication, expectations, and staff experiences — and how to create supervision spaces that are safe, inclusive, and grounded in cultural humility.
Facilitated by Amy Polsin, a light‑skinned woman with lived experience navigating Wisconsin’s child‑ and family‑serving systems, this session acknowledges how identity impacts both perception and power in professional settings. Together, we will explore practical strategies for supporting staff with lived experience, recognizing bias, and strengthening trust through reflective, identity‑informed supervision.
Participants will engage in real‑world scenarios, guided reflection, and collaborative discussion to deepen awareness and build skills that support equitable, values‑aligned supervision.
Amy Polsin
Amy Polsin is a Certified Parent Peer Specialist (CPPS) and Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) with 18 years of professional experience in peer support, family advocacy, curriculum development, and community-based behavioral health work. She also brings 22 years of lived experience as a parent navigating complex systems, trauma, school challenges, and behavioral health supports—experience that grounds her work in authenticity, cultural humility, and deep relational understanding. Amy is the Founder and Owner of Eternal Strength Consulting. Her work centers on elevating peer values, strengthening ethical practice, and building trauma-informed, person-centered environments where families feel seen, supported, and empowered. Known for her ability to translate complex concepts into accessible, strengths-based practice, Amy specializes in supporting peers and organizations in embodying the CPPS and CPS Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice, and Core Competencies in real-world settings. She designs interactive, experiential learning spaces that challenge assumptions, spark creativity, and build community among participants. Amy’s approach is rooted in mutuality, dignity, and the belief that every family carries wisdom worth honoring. Her facilitation style blends practical tools, reflective dialogue, and lived experience to support peers in offering ethical, effective, and culturally responsive support
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Click Here to View Past Communities of Practice!
Like the community of practice gatherings in Wisconsin? Want to expand your learning in a national context?
Please check out the communities of practice hosted by the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence (click here), which are structured very similarly to the ones in Wisconsin.
