“Rural Realities: Making a Big Impact in Small Tribal Communities” – July 2026 CPS/CPPS Community of Practice
July 2026 CPS/CPPS Community of Practice
“Rural Realities: Making a Big Impact in Small Tribal Communities”
with Jessica Bigboy & Robert O’Claire
Thursday, July 16th, 2026 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT
Facilitator:
- Jessica Bigboy
Jessica Bigboy is a Certified Peer Specialist and Certified Parent Peer Specialist, a proud Bad River Tribal Member, and the Recovery House Manager for Bad River’s Nenda Noojimod (“A Place of Healing”) Women’s Recovery House.
In her role, Jessica supports women in recovery by helping create a safe, culturally grounded, and supportive environment where individuals can continue their healing journey. She brings more than ten years of experience advocating for and empowering peers, along with lived experience, compassion, and a deep understanding of the strengths and needs within her community.
Jessica is a devoted wife and mother of three. Her work is guided by her commitment to recovery, community connection, cultural wellness, and walking alongside others as they reclaim their strength, resilience, and purpose.
- Robert “Rob” O’Claire
Robert “Rob” O’Claire is a Certified Peer Specialist and Recovery Coach from the Bad River Reservation in rural northern Wisconsin. He is an enrolled Bad River Tribal Member, Anishinaabe, a father of two daughters, and is in long-term recovery.
Rob currently works for his Tribe in Behavioral Health, where he uses his lived experience, community knowledge, and professional role to support recovery, prevention, and behavioral health efforts in Indigenous communities. His work includes grant development, program planning, community engagement, and advocating for resources that help rural Tribal communities build the services, partnerships, and systems they need to better serve their people.
Rob is passionate about making sure Indigenous voices are included in decisions that impact their communities, especially in rural areas where resources are often limited and needs are too easily overlooked. His work is rooted in the belief that communities deserve equitable access to resources, culturally grounded services, and the opportunity to create solutions that reflect who they are. Rob is committed to creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected in their recovery journey. He believes healing is strongest when it is rooted in culture, community, lived experience, and the voices of the people most impacted.
Description:
Peer support in rural Tribal communities often looks different than it does in larger systems. Services may be limited, transportation may be a barrier, relationships often overlap, and peer specialists may be supporting people they know personally while also navigating confidentiality, boundaries, burnout, and cultural responsibilities.
In this Community of Practice, Robert “Rob” O’Claire and Jessica Bigboy from the Bad River Tribe will share lived and professional experiences providing peer support, recovery support, and behavioral health services in a small, close-knit reservation community. Together, they will explore the realities of working in resource-limited Tribal settings, including the challenges peers face helping their indigenous peers navigate through systems that have historically harmed our people, and the strengths that come from culture, community connection, trust, and shared responsibility.
This session will invite reflection and discussion on how peer specialists can support recovery while honoring boundaries, relationships, and community identity. Participants will leave with practical insight into culturally grounded peer support, rural service challenges, and the creative ways Tribal communities continue to build healing, resilience, and recovery with the resources they have.
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, July 30th. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on August 6th, 2026. 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.
