MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction
honoring the voice of lived experience
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Congrats to
Bill Beall for celebrating 9 years clean and sober on December 12th!
Congrats to
Melinda Hicks
for getting her PWS certification!
Congrats to
Janie Gullickson
and Monta Knudson for receiving
The 4th Dimension Recovery Center
's "2019 Better Together" award in conjunction with
Bridges to Change
at their annual Gratitude Night!
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Peer Support Specialist for Multnomah Jail and Jail Navigator
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I was inspired to become a "peer support specialist" after graduating treatment and being blessed to have crossed paths with the many wonderful people who gave me the love, encouragement and friendship that I needed in order to move forward.
I received a lot of help obtaining my goals and following through with my vision to stay sober, stay out of trouble, and be the father, family member, and community member that mt creator intended me to be. I always want for others who are struggling to know that change, recovery, and growth is possible for anyone willing to try.
I am most excited about my role because I want to strive to be the kind, caring, and supportive person that anyone in a seemingly helpless or hopeless situation may be looking for.
I want to be able to use my lived experience to ignite hope and faith that things are going to be ok, no one should have to face any life struggles alone.
For self care, I take part in my Native American Indian culture.
I travel to Pow-wows and sing in the Drum. My two daughters are dancers they are 6 and 16. I also bead and would like to learn to sew and make regalia. I attend many recovery meetings and events. I also have a small dog named Manford who I love to walk and play with. He is my companion pet. Sending time with my family and many nephews and nieces is also very important to me.
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What drew me to Peer Services is the connection to people.
Being a person that had addiction and mental health challenges most of my life, I felt so alone, thinking that no one would understand me. Being able to walk beside someone on their journey and reassuring them they aren't alone is one of the greatest blessings of this work.
I'm most excited about continuing to learn and be a part of the peer movement.
I've worked in the recovery field for just over 6 years now and have worn many different hats, peer support being my favorite of all.
For self care I workout, I enjoy being pampered with manicures and pedicures, I spend time with family and friends and I absolutely love going to concerts!
Program Manager for OHSU
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Holiday Party:
- We will celebrate the holidays together during the staff meeting on Tuesday, December 10th from 10-12pm.
- There will be a white elephant gift exchange. Bring fun “gag” gifts or gifts you've received in holidays passed that you have no use for. If purchasing a gift please limit cost to 10 dollars!
- Wear your ugly holiday sweater and show off your style!
Office Yoga Class:
- MHAAO offers you all and your peers a moment of quietude and gentle stretching, if you wish! Our administrative assistant, Kasey, leads a monthly yoga class that is aimed at focusing on your breath, and giving your mind a break from the constant stimulation.
- This hour can be whatever you want it to be! If you would like to come sit quietly or in meditation, that’s wonderful and welcome. If you would like to follow along and give your body a sweet and easy stretch, that’s available as well. There will be no human pretzels or standing on your head, just some time to come get present and take a break from the go, go, go of the workday! We hope to see you and your peers there!
- Your peers are more than welcome to attend with you if they are interested!
- December 16th at 10 am is our next yoga class!
Our Fundraiser has been RESCHEDULED!:
- Due to the unforeseen circumstances of the Lagunitas Community Room closing down just 6 days before our fundraiser, we had to postpone it to give us time to find a new venue, but we locked one down!
- Our first annual fundraiser has been rescheduled to January 11th at the Billy Frank Jr. Conference Center at Ecotrust (721 NW Ninth Ave, Second floor, Portland, OR 97209)
- If you want to help us sell tickets, please talk to Kaity McCraw, or email her at kmccraw@mhaoforegon.org.
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Peerpocalypse
- We have selected the workshops and will be working on contacting facilitators to verify acceptance of a workshop slot over the next couple of days.
- Additionally, we have announced the keynote for 2020. They are Donita Diamata, Dan Fisher, Deandre Kenyanjui, Chrissy Peirsol, and Dr. Nadia Richardson. As a reminder, early-bird registration expires on December 31st.
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- As of 11/18/2019 Reina Bower is the Evolve Director
- As of 11/1/19 Jenny Manzaares is Peer Manager for Clackamas, NW Housing Alternatives and HACC. (Housing Authority of Clackamas County)
- As of 11/01/19 Marianne O'Neill Tutor is Peer Manager for WACO Jail, Choice , TC-911 and Juvenile Programs.
- As of 11/18/2019 Sean Mahoney is Peer Manager for Clackamas BHU, Clackamas OOS, Multnomah Jail Navigator Program and HB-4143 at Legacy Emanuel.
- As of 11/25/2019 Rachelle Ross is Peer Manager for OHSU Impact and OHSU HRBR.
- As of 11/14/2019 Nathaniel Wright is the PSS 0.5 FTE for Multnomah Jail Navigator Program and 0.5 FTE for Multnomah
- Jail program.
- As of 11/18/2019 Justin Schumacher is the PSS for the Jail Navigator Program.
- MHAAO recently completed interviews for the 1 FTE BHU Peer in Clackamas County and offered Amber Lakin the PSS position. Amber will be starting with MHAAO on 12/16/2019.
- We have completed interviews for the Coordinator position and will be making a decision by 12/9/2019.
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- With the help of Adrienne Scavera, Janie Gullickson, and Sunny Briscoe, the Peerlink team is submitting a grant proposal to SAMHSA to continue another five-year cycle for the technical assistance center grant.
- Project Coordinators, Teana Edwards and Emily Privatsky, successfully facilitated a two-day Money Basics Facilitator Training in Tucson , AZ to a primarily veteran audience.
- Peerlink Director, Donita Diamata, successfully facilitated a Peer Support Specialist Training in American Samoa with Sean Syrek, along with a follow-up Train the Trainer session.
- On behalf of Peerlink, Adrienne Scavera and Marianne O’Neill-Tutor successfully facilitated a two-day Peer Employment Specialist Training in Grants Pass, Oregon.
- Lead Project Coordinator, Jessica Carroll, is on location in Hawaii, where she is preparing to facilitate a recently-approved Peer Support Specialist training.
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OPDSCo - OHA Needs Assessment
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University of Washington Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
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- Two community of practices are being held monthly (one for Peer Support Specialists and one for supervisors). If you aren’t on the community of practice list already, let Adrienne (ascavera@mhaoforegon.org) know if you’d like to be added.
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Oregon Peer Trainings & Innovations Center (OPTIC)
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- Hosted by MHAAO, facilitators had the opportunity to participate in a professional development opportunity through a two-day train-the-trainer with Robyn Steely. Thank you, MHAAO!
- A PWS cohort is currently ongoing, with Emily as lead facilitator.
- Another PWS cohort is scheduled for January. Please refer interested folks to our website: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/current-trainings
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- Planning is underway to find a location for a February PeerZone cohort in Washington County. If you know of a large, open room for rent that’s accessible by transit, please let Adrienne (ascavera@mhaoforegon.org) know.
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Success for PWS!
"There have been only a few times in my life that I have been challenged to my core. This PWS training is at the top of this short list. I am so grateful for this opportunity to look into my heart, to challenge my beliefs, character and values. I am honored to be a part of the PWS movement. For the first time, in a long time, I can get a glimpse of the kind of peer in recovery that I want to be. Thank you MHAAO!!"
-Brandon Quinn, Case Manager for Bridges to Change
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Displaced Peer Obtains Affordable Housing!
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"I started working with a peer a few months ago and together we created several person directed plans. One of those plans was to improve her finances around her housing situation. She is on a fixed income and her current rent is higher than the income she brings in. This was a struggle each month, causing stress and uncertainty in her life. We worked together to find resources to help with rent assistance.
A couple weeks into working on this plan Marianne had emailed out a resource about the Preference Policy on the Magnolia 2 effort to address the harmful impacts of urban renewal by giving preference to housing applicants who were displaced, are at risk of displacement, or who are the descendants of families that were displaced due to urban renewal in North and Northeast Portland. After speaking with my peer I knew this was something that she had experienced.
So her person directed plan had changed to obtain housing at the Magnolia 2 which was in the process of being built. This process to put together all the proper documentation was not an easy task, she had to prove she was displaced by the impacts of urban renewal in North Portland to get higher on the list that hundreds of people were trying to get on. The home she grew up in no longer existed, she had no mail or any record of her address. We contacted the Portland public school board for school transcripts without any luck, finally she was able to get her school admission records that proved she indeed lived and was displaced due to urban renewal.
This was amazing, she now had all the documentation to submit, it was accepted and she was placed 26
th
on the preference list. After the preference list was announced we found out that there was only one 30% of income one bedroom apartment. After weeks of waiting she received a call that she got the 30% Apartment.
She was able to pick out her apartment last week and will be moving in after the first of the year when the building is finished being built.
This is life changing for her, the joy that overcame my heart to listen to her tell me about the hope she has for future, is the reason I love to do this work.
Thank you Marianne for always keeping us informed of the resources in our community your hard work does not go unnoticed!
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-David Barrett, Peer Support Specialist for Clackamas County
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If you have stories about yourself or a peer that you would like to have featured in the newsletter, on our blog, or on our social media, please email kmccraw@mhaoforegon.org
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