Volume 5| June 10th, 2019
June 2019 Newsletter
MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction
honoring the voice of lived experience
Staff Highlights
We have a lot to Celebrate here at MHAAO!

Congrats to Janie Gullickson for celebrating 11 years of recovery this weekend and 5 years of working at MHAAO!

Congrats to Traci Lundy for being a part of the MHAAO team for 1 year!

Congrats to Kaity McCraw for graduating with her MPA in Nonprofit Management from Portland State University!

Congrats to Roman Becerra for graduating with his AA in Applied Science and Addiction from PCC!

Congrats to Cee Carver, Marianne O'Neill-Tutor, Nicole Maupin, and Emily Privatsky for all quitting smoking!
Office Updates
Admin:

  • The next Staff Computer Lab will be June 21st at 11 am. Currently, Sunny is going over Microsoft Word.

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!
  • Wednesday, June 19th at 10 am is our next yoga class!

Equity Initiative:
  • The EDI Committee will reconvene on June 25th, from 10-11am.
  • We are striving to create a place of safety for all staff to share their thoughts and feedback regarding MHAAO and the EDI Initiative, as well as a place for continuing education and training surrounding issues of inequality and microaggressions. We are working on connecting with a consultant to facilitate some unpacking sessions in response to the January training, date TBA.
All-Staff Volunteer Day!
We will be doing an all-staff volunteering event during work hours as a fun team building exercise!

When: July 19th, 9am-1pm

Where: Rosemont Bluff Natural Area, a 5 min drive from the Hancock office

What: This park is part of Portland Parks and Recreation. This small park is often overrun with invasive species and accumulates litter. We hope we can help parks and rec staff realize the potential of this hidden Portland park.

Please dress for the weather in layers with sturdy, closed-toe shoes. All supplies and training will be provided.

More details to follow soon!
Program Updates
PEERPOCALYPSE:
  • Peerpocalypse was a RESOUNDING SUCCESS with about 575 people in attendance!
  • Everyone should receive their CEU certificates by the end of the day 6/10/2019. Please let the admin team know if you did not receive yours.
EVOLVE 
WEST
  • WACO Jail: Roumaldo G was interviewed for the "Community Matters" program in Washington County and represented well (watch here).
EAST
  • Clackamas OOSP: This program was renamed to the HOPE PSS Program. It is going extremely well with a full time PSS/CRM and a Peer Manager. We are working on setting up in reach into the County Jail as well as other referrals which target opioid survivors and those at high risk for opiate overdose. Reina was interviewed (watch here).
  • MC 4143: This is a program focused on bringing peer support to the hospital setting to connect with peers who have recently survived an opioid overdose and offering ongoing, strengths based, trauma informed support in the community including help with accessing MAT, harm reduction Resources, or other supports at the request of the individual. 
Peerlink:
  • Donita Diamata, and Project Coordinator, Fawn Hackert attended the GOBHI Spring Conference in Bend, Oregon, where they facilitated a four hour presentation on utilizing peer support in mental health provider agencies.  
  • For the second year, Peerlink partnered with OPDSCo to host the Peer Employment Expo at Peerpocalypse!
TRAINING AND OUTREACH:
MHTTC
  • OHA Office and Equity will be providing $60,000 grant to accomplish a comprehensive statewide needs assessment and report over the next year.
OPDSCo
  • Statewide consumer network grant funding ended May 30, 2019.
OPTIC
  • Peer Wellness Specialist is coming up in July! Check out the training dates here. So far, there are 24 students signed up!
  • PWS training is now approved for the CRM certification!
  • Scholarships for the PWS training are available through WorkSystems.
PeerZone
  • Adrienne facilitated a PeerZone pre-conference event at Peerpocalypse and it was met with great enthusiasm!
  • 52 new PeerZone toolkits were just released! Ask Adrienne for more details!
University of WA, Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
  • Adrienne will be presenting (virtually!) to a peer support training in Alaska
Peer Support in Action!
Peer Support Success Story:
" I have a peer who has been working really hard on her physical health. She has been changing her diet and reported that her doctor said she is no longer considered diabetic. The same peer is now a part of a food co-op and is finding it a great way to get acquainted with others in her community and to give back to community. She feeling a lot more energy because of taking better care of her health and feels that she is better able to keep up with her daily housework. She said that she feels her mental health is improving as well! "
-Melinda Hicks
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 Kaity McCraw
Kudos Corner!
"I would love to recognize both Tee Branch and Grace Jo for their hard work, consistency, and dedication to both of our programs (Clackamas and Multnomah county). They are the first peers on the front-lines in seeing and meeting our people, they are also building strong and trusting relationships with their Peers and the providers. If not for them, the program's would be not be where they are at."
-Reina Bower