May 2022 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice:

A Panel Discussion on “Peer Support and Substance Use” ~ May 19th, 2022 from 1:30pm-3pm CDT

Unfortunately, despite our efforts, we could not get ASL interpreters for this panel discussion. We will continue to work towards getting ASL interpreters for future communities of practice.

Panelist:

Rene Livingston-DeTienne is a queer, black woman, recovery advocate, artist, and writer She is a person in long-term recovery, having a history of trauma, mental wellness, and substance use challenges, and now works as a Certified Peer Specialist Trainer. Rene is a student at Edgewood College, where she will complete a Bachelor’s in Art Therapy in December. She is passionate about both art and the Peer Recovery Movement, and plans to utilize those skills as a Substance Use Counselor. Her long term goals include a Master’s in Art Therapy and one day opening a non-profit in Madison.

Lana Hamilton is a Recovery Coach/Certified Peer Specialist/Doula for Safe Communities. She works in the Jail2Recovery, ER2Recovery, Treatment Readiness, Comprehensive Community Services, and Pregnancy2Recovery programs. She is also a part of Madison’s new Addiction Resource Team and believes it is an honor and a privilege to use her lived experience with others. Today, she enjoys time with her family, biking, hiking, cooking, and sewing. She is also a first time pet owner adding the joy of cats into her life! She has become an asset to her community now that she has experienced the miracle of recovery.

Jesse Heffernan is a person in long-term recovery, CCAR Recovery Coach Professional, and Certified Healing Centered Engagement Practitioner. Throughout his professional career, he has worked as the Program Director of the Iris Place, one of Wisconsin’s mental health peer-run mental health respite facilities, the Outreach and Empowerment Coordinator for Faces & Voices of Recovery, and Program Leader for Goodwill NCW LGBTQ+ Youth Services. In 2015, he co-launched an internationally recognized training and consulting business called Helios Recovery Services LLC. In addition to his work at Helios, he currently serves as the Co-Chair of The Privilege Institute, Vice-Chair of Rise Together, and sits on the committee for the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals. He lives in WI with his partner and 4 children, enjoying all things in geek culture, basketball, and coffee. It is his belief that Recovery is the process of returning to inherent worth and dignity.

Facilitator:

Gaochi Vang is a CPS, CPS Trainer, and the Peer Specialists Community Engagement Coordinator for the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative.

Description:

This CPS & CPPS Community of Practice Session will be a panel discussion on peer support and substance use

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 2nd. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on June 9th, 2022. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEU 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 2022 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice:

“‘Something’s Changed’: When Youth are Struggling (Pandemic Impact Series)” ~ February 17th, 2022 from 1:30pm-3pm CST

Guest facilitators: Carmella Glenn of WI Department of Health Services and Kaziah Anderson of Just Dane

Carmella is CPS and CPS trainer and the Peer Run Respite & Peer Services Coordinator at the Division of Care and Treatment Services. Kaziah is a CPS and CPPS and is studying Community and Nonprofit Leadership at UW-Madison, with a focus on adolescent development and the effects of parental incarceration on children and families.

Description:

Guest facilitators, Carmella Glenn, CPS, CPS Trainer and Kaziah Anderson, CPS, CPPS, will facilitate a discussion on how those in peer specialist and parent peer specialist roles can respond to better support youth and our communities. The guest facilitators will also share how those in peer support roles have done just that with community collaborators and partners at East High School in Madison, WI in recent months.

When the violence at East High School escalated to the point of police macing students, Mom’s On A Mission (M.O.M.’s) was formed by 4 mothers of EHS students, who are also alumni of EHS. These M.O.M.s began forming a group to encourage the community to come out and support the students at EHS, in order for them to feel safe and supported. Some of the M.O.M.’s who were available, along with other community members, began going to lunch everyday to support the students, and the daily violence ended.

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 3rd. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on March 10th, 2022. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEU 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 20th, 2022 – Accessibility note: Many apologies, as the recording did not accurately follow the spotlighted ASL interpreters. We will make sure that this is corrected for future gatherings. 

January 2022 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice:

“Empowered Job Seeking in Peer Support Roles” ~ January 20th, 2022 from 1:30pm-3pm CST

Guest facilitators: Tim Saubers, CPS Trainer and Program Coordinator for Workforce Development of the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence

Description:

As new and existing peer specialists seek jobs, there are so many considerations to finding the right fit for you. Come and discuss with others resume basics, as well as understanding the ins and outs of what a job description is saying to determine how find the right peer support job that aligns with your skills, passions, and values. This will be an interactive discussion that makes use of breakout rooms and activities.

Empowered Job Seeking for Certified Peer Specialists (PowerPoint)

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 3rd. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on February 10th, 2022. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEU 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.

October 21st, 2021

This is a part 2 continuation of the August topic. Gaochi Vang and Sae Kim share their experiences of navigating life as Asian women with various intersecting social identities and offer their thoughts on how we move forward to center diversity and equity in our work as peer specialists.

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 November 4th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by November 11th, 2021. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEU 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.

Brittyn Calyx, Peer Specialist Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative at Access to Independence facilitates a conversation on ethical leadership in peer support.

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 October 7th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by October 14th, 2021. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEU 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.