MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction
honoring the voice of lived experience
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Thanks everyone who came out to our
MHAAO Family Picnic at Oaks Park!
Congrats to
Amy Stocker for celebrating 11 years in recovery!
Congrats to
Teana Edwards for celebrating 1 year at MHAAO!
Congrats to our 2 newest team members,
David Barrett and
Laura Tellez! Learn more about them below.
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Also shout out to
Roman Becerra, who had a fantastic vacation with his kids to see the Sesame Street Road Trip in Seattle, the Seattle Children's Museum, and the Space Needle, all thanks to the
I Am More Foundation!
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Admin:
- To celebrate our entire staff, we hosted the Company Picnic on August 4th! For those who attended, you can count 2 hours toward your work week. Mileage is not covered.
- The all-staff retreat is on September 27th at 4th Dimension Recovery Center. Lunch will be provided!
Office Yoga Classes:
- Kasey Perdue, MHAAO Admin Assistant, is a Certified yoga instructor and has generously offered to lead staff yoga classes at the MHAAO Hancock office!
- Tuesday, August 27th at 10 am is our next yoga class!
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The DEI Committee went on a 2-day retreat facilitated by
BRSSS TACS on July 23rd and 24th. Below are some of the resulting outcomes. More information to come!
Vision Statement:
Our vision is that MHAAO will have an atmosphere that:
- lifts the voices of lived experiences at all intersections,
- mirrors and honors the diversity of the community,
- fosters a safe work environment, while
- establishing authentic conversations where honesty matters, and
- educating our community on intersecting identities and a multi-cultural spectrum of abilities
DEI Values:
- Trust and Honesty
- Hope
- Empowerment, Voice and Choice
- Safety
- Justice
- Respect and Empathy
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- WACO Juvenile - Jessica Cardinal is out on maternity leave. Laura Tellez is filling in for her as a temp.
- Legacy contract completed to provide peer supervision to two Doula/Peer Supports for their Project Nurture program.
- Budgets completed for FY 2019-20
- Providence Project Nurture Doula/Peer position is being absorbed by Providence Health in January of 2020.
- HACC program actively recruiting for 1 FTE peer support.
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- OHSU HRBR (Harm Reduction Bridge to Care) - We are starting a new program at OHSU which will employ a 1.0 FTE PSS/CRM. We are in the process of hiring the Peer Provider for this position and interviews will be held the week of July 22nd. The PSS will work with individuals referred from the OHSU ED and the HRBR Clinic and will be focused around peers seeking harm reduction and Medication-Assisted Treatment in the community. The program is expected to launch in early August.
- MC-HB 4143: We have hired 2 new PSS to start on 8/12/19, Nichole Lytsell and Sade Campbell, who will be joining the MHAAO/EVOLVE team under the MC HB-4143 program. HB-4143 is focused on peers who have experienced or are at risk for opioid overdose. The HB-4143 program will launch in August out of Legacy Emanuel Hospital. The program will be managed by Reina Bower.
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- WRAP Seminar I and II trainings were conducted in American Samoa in June, 2019 over two weeks.
- Leads Project Coordinator, Jessica Carroll, and Project Coordinator, Teana Edwards, hosted a Money Basics Facilitator Training in Tucson, AZ. They will host another on September 11th and 12th in Portland!
- Project Director, Donita Diamata, attended the national Alternatives conference in Washington DC in mid-July.
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Marianne O'neill-Tutor and Teana Edwards tabling at the job fair!
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- Marianne and Adrienne have met several times with OEI to discuss needs assessment.
- Needs Assessment survey questions submitted to OEI
- Marianne is identifying organizations/key persons for outreach.
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- Janie and Adrienne met with UW to discuss 2-year planning and proposal was developed.
- Adrienne hosted two community of practices in July, with 2 more scheduled
- Special thank you to June guest speakers Angel Prater (IPS co-reflection) and Kristin Griffey (compassion fatigue)!
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- Due to demand, a PWS training will be held in mid-August.
- Emily Privatsky is the new cofacilitator for PWS training.
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- Adrienne in process of creating accounts for licensed facilitators to access toolkit site.
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Success in Washington County!
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"I would like to say that PeerZone is still going strong in Washington County. 6 peers went to Peerpocalypse on scholarships and the natural support building between them is stronger than ever. PeerZone had an AMAZING BBQ last month and things just keep getting better and better, as our PeerZone peers are cheering one another on through so many successes and supporting one another through struggles."
-Kristin Griffey,
Peer Support Specialist for Washington County CHOICE Model
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David Barrett, Peer Support Specialist for Clackamas County
1. What inspired you to become a Peer Support Specialist?
I received peer services early in my recovery and it transformed my life. The connection I made inspired me not only to grow deeper in my recovery but to grow in humanity and give back what was given so freely to me.
2. What are you most excited about for your new role?
I am excited to sit side by side and be vulnerable, use my life experience and grow together.
3. What do you like to do for self-care?
I love to stay active, go to 12 step meetings, run, swim, workout, explore with my little boy in the woods, and read.
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Laura Tellez. Peer Support Specialist for Washington County Juvenile
1. What inspired you to become a Peer Support Specialist?
My upbringing wasn't perfect. I made some mistakes in my life, learning lessons, but I made it through to the end. I am giving back and helping one person at time, because I know that when I was going through it, I didn’t have anyone. Now I can be that person for someone that feels alone and doesn't think that they can make it. I will be that push, that voice that says, "You can do it."
2. What are you most excited about for your role on the Clackamas Behavioral Health Unit team?
I like that none of us are in this alone. My coworkers have gone through it as well. It feels like I've joined a family. We are all even in this environment, and we all want to make a difference in this world. In our community, we want to change the stigma that second chances are possible and help our youth-community as well.
3. What do you like to do for self-care?
I like to be with my family, be a mom to my amazing boys, spend time outdoors doing sports, and just be myself. It always keeps me grounded and reminds me of the simplest thing: to take one day at time.
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