MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction
honoring the voice of lived experience
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Congrats to
Howard Marlow for celebrating 12 years of abstinence from gambling!
Congrats to
Molly Griggs for celebrating 5 years sober!
Congrats to
Sunny Briscoe for celebrating 5 years of working at MHAAO!
Congrats to
Reina Bower for celebrating 1 year of working at MHAAO!
Congrats to
Bryan Corley for celebrating 1 year of working at MHAAO!
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Shout out to
Janie Gullickson
for her work advocating for Yes on IP44,
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Coronavirus:
- Both the main and Hillsboro office will sanitize door handles, common areas, and bathrooms three times a day (9:00 AM, Noon, and 3:00 PM).
- We ask that each time an employee returns to their respective office from being out in the community, that they go directly to the kitchen to wash and sanitize their hands.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue, sleeve, or elbow (not hands) when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands.
- If you or someone in your household is sick, stay home and follow the guidance of your healthcare provider.
DEI Initiative:
- We are still working toward becoming a trauma-informed organization! Thank you, Kristin Griffey, for your help with this!
- We will be hosting part 2 of Moving Forward: MHAAO & Equity Workshop on March 17th!
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!
- March 20th at 10-11 am is our next yoga class!
Fundraising Committee:
- We booked the venue for our fundraiser! Mark your calendars for October 17th at the Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom!
- If you haven't taken this survey yet, please complete it by March 10th: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KM9XBBK
- For those of you that said you were interested in joining the fundraising committee, be on the lookout for our first committee meeting, coming soon!
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Rick German,
Peer Support Specialist OHSU Impact Team
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1. What inspired you to become a Peer Support Specialist?
I became a peer because as a peer, I have so many more opportunities to be relatable. I found that as a clinician spending 50 minutes across a desk from a peer and then 10 minutes doing notes just doesn't give a person the chance to develop real relationships.
2. What are you most excited about for your role on the OHSU Impact team?
I'm looking forward to joining the OHSU team because I've been a broken human being in the hospital. All I wanted while there was somebody to come in that was not wearing a white coat asking me to do something way out of my comfort zone. I want to be that somebody.
3. What do you like to do for self-care?
In my free time, I like to ride motorcycles and I guess I could be called a motor head, meaning I spend a lot of time in my shop working on projects. I also spend a lot of time at the race track and hotrod show type events. I'm active in recovery, I love on my grand babies and I'm also very active in my church.
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1. What inspired you to become a Peer Support Specialist?
Is really a who. I was an intern at Housing Authority and the lead on our team, Jemila Hart, MSW after hearing a chunk of my mental health story told me I should be in peer support. My sisters in sobriety guided to toward funding, I enrolled in Peer Wellness Specialist training at MHAAO. Easterseals continued to pay my intern wages.
2. What are you most excited about for your role as the Peer Support for Clackamas County Housing?
I am thrilled to continue my presence at Housing Authority Clackamas County as mental illness and addiction so often leads to poverty and into homelessness. My own lived experience now has purpose. I can be present for others navigation of systems. Hillside Manor (public housing) is reserved for elderly and/or disabled. These are my people.
3. What do you like to do for self-care?
I am blessed and honored to be responsible for altar care in my little church. It presents a spiritual connection with many entities as I create light and color for a worship service. It also provides me solitary exploration in a safe and cherished space.
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Amy Brinkley,
EVOLVE Peer Support for Clackamas County Housing
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LaRae Miller,
Peer Support Specialist for OHSU HRBR
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1. What inspired you to become a Peer Support Specialist?
I was working in customer service and it was killing my soul. I had this strong internal desire to help people and I just wasn't doing that in customer service.
When I got clean I had a peer that was the first person who ever in my life treated me with true compassion and empathy just because I was a human and I wanted to be there for others.
2. What are you most excited about for your role as the Peer Support OHSU HRBR
I'm so passionate about harm reduction services and being able to meet people where they are at, whatever that looks like. There's a stigma about harm reduction services and it's literally killing people. I want to be apart of the change and show people the benefits of harm reduction and how the connection with a peer combined, can save someone's life.
3. What do you like to do for self-care?
My guilty pleasure is trashy TV with my three best friends on Friday nights combined with lots of food. We do game nights, go paintballing, movies, boba tea friend dates, 12 step meetings, I LOVE naps, I'm going on an impulsive trip to Seattle this weekend and Hawaii in April. I usually spend one day off doing absolutely nothing for self care, as well.
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Peerpocalypse:
- The DEI committee awarded the WACO and MAAPPS scholarships!
- We are completely sold out of exhibit tables
- Comagine will be assisting with the conference evaluations for Peerpocalypse
- So far, we have the following sponsors: Blanchet House, Iron Tribe Network, Bridges to Change, EqualityWorks NW, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs, Cedar Hills Hospital, HOLST Architecture, Kaiser Permanente, and Providence Health & Services!
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- Nichole Young transitioned from HB-4143 to Kaiser Project Nurture on 2/1/2020 and is a .75 FTE
- Amy Stocker is started on HB-4143 on 2/1/2020 as a 1.0 FTE @ Legacy Hospital.
- LaRae Miller started as a 1.0 FTE on 2/10/2020 for OHSU HRBR Program.
- Rick German started as a 1.0 FTE on 2/2/2020 on the OHSU Impact team.
- Amee McFee offer letter was accepted on 2/28/2020 for OHSU Impact team. Amee will be .75 FTE. Amee start date will be 3/12/2020
- Amy Brinkley offer letter was accepted on 2/26/2020 for Housing Authority of Clackamas County. Amy is a .4 FTE start date was 3/2/2020.
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- Facilitated PWS training for 12 Klamath Tribal Members in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
- Recreated Peerlink Advisory Board to be more regionally and culturally appropriate.
- Started the process of updating Money Basics Training.
- Started planning Peerlink Summit.
- Ongoing support for NIMHA in Nevada
- Continued support for Women First in Portland Area.
- Started writing Forensic Peer Specialist Training for Hawa'ii
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OPDSCo - OHA Needs Assessment
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University of Washington Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
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Oregon Peer Trainings & Innovations Center (OPTIC)
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- The March Hillsboro PWS is postponed until March 19th to allow time for more participants to enroll. Jessica and Emily will be facilitators. Register online: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/current-trainings
- Another PWS cohort is scheduled for May in Portland, and will be facilitated by Emily and Adrienne.
- The Older Adult Peer Wellness Specialist Training Facilitator Guide has been updated in preparation for submission for state-approval.
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- PeerZone Facilitator Call was held on 2/27.
- Molly and Adrienne will present a PeerZone workshop at Peerpocalypse.
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OHA - Opioid and Pain Training
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- Subcontract was executed with Synergy Health to consult with Michelle Marikos, Peer Opioid and Pain Specialist.
- Michelle and Adrienne will present at Peerpocalypse 4/22 on the Peers and Pain: Opioid Training that will be developed through this OHA contract
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Molly Griggs, Peer Support Specialist for Washington County CHOICE model, shared the following story:
"Two of my Peer Zone peers have successfully graduated the CHOICE program this month! They are doing amazing and living independently! They both continue to participate in Peer Zone weekly."
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Bryan Corley, Peer Support Specialist for JOIN, shared this:
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"One of my peers is celebrating one 1 yr. clean and she has just secured a full-time job. She will be in training all this week, which she is very excited about."
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Tiffanie Kearney, Peer Support Specialist for Clackamas County Behavioral Health Unit, shared the following story about her peer:
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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Jimmy Walker, EVOLVE Coordinator, shared this poem about his recovery. About the poem, he stated:
"I wrote this during a difficult time in my life. It was a foresight of recovery when I was in the midst of great struggle and I wanted so desperately to find that carefree little boy I used to be. The little boy who in the face of extreme physical and sexual abuse, still managed to find great joy in picking dandelions, blowing as hard as I could to set the little fluffy fairy’s free. I wanted to be free. It was two and a half years after I wrote this poem before I claimed my sobriety and began fulfilling my prophecy. Some days it’s as difficult to remember my truth as it was to find it. I am grateful to know this is, indeed, my truth today."
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Dandelions
January 13, 2015
Tonight, in my mind, the sunsets I’ve captured
are slowly fading away.
There's a chill in the air, a bitter harsh sting,
foreboding these coming of days.
This journey I’ve taken has challenged each step
I’ve made from the very start.
The outcome? I’ve conquered. I’ve proven myself
worthy of playing the part.
This role is much different. I’m stricken with fear,
avoiding the spotlight I crave.
My night at the improv, I stand on my own,
this is the bed that I’ve made.
I guess the most frightening feeling I have
is that this time I’m alone.
I’ve spared all the drama, emotion, and tears.
I must be strong on my own.
I’m not sure just why, its awful and strange,
this isn't how I’ve dealt before.
I’m never ashamed to admit how I feel,
but normally left wounded and scorned.
I hope that someday I’ll finally see
what consequence comes from the heart,
when one takes a chance to let go of the past,
each new day a fresh start.
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I can’t change the past, can’t run from the present,
don't know what tomorrow may bring,
Ive got just this moment, to look at myself,
to hear it…my heart as it sings.
To listen to each word my heart speaks to me,
to trust in myself and believe,
I’m ready to face whatever may come
I don't need to doubt I’ll succeed.
I know I’ve had help to get where I am
but as I turn round now to see,
theres no one beside me, I've made it this far,
and mostly because of me.
I call on my courage, my strength, my resolve,
the battle is soon to begin,
Have faith, my dear friends, fear not for my fate,
victory's mine in the end.
It feels most amazing to not have to ask
for others to say I’m ok,
The man in my mirror is sure of my fate
together we will seize the day!
Should I bid farewell before seeing you, friend,
find joy in the truth that I'm free,
know I have peace as I rest here tonight,
the joy that I’ve found being me!
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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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