Volume 16| May 6th, 2020
May 2020 Newsletter
MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction
honoring the voice of lived experience
Highlights Reel!
Shout out to our amazing EVOLVE team, who have been offering peer support to people in line at Blanchet House! Y'all are rockstars!!
Congrats to Emily Privatsky for celebrating 15 years clean!

Congrats to Tiffanie Kearney, who celebrates three years at MHAAO on May 15th!

Also a HUGE shout out to the newly formed Fundraising Committee, who collectively helped us raise $880 for our #GivingTuesdayNow campaign!!
What Keeps You Going?
"I just want to express my gratitude to my programs, Clackamas County, HACC and NHA. Everyone has been working very hard and providing GREAT peer support in a time when extra support is needed. Everyone has been communicating well and we've all grown closer during this time when we are "social distancing" I'm just humbled and amazed everyday. I am so proud to be managing these programs and I am so honored to work for MHAAO!"

-Jenny Manzanares
Program Updates
Admin:
  • The Admin Team is also working on gathering donations for PPE such as hand sanitizer
  • The Admin Team has also increased its fundraising campaigning in preparation for Giving Tuesday Now. 
  • The Admin Team is working on a plan for staff to return to work at the offices. Part of this plan includes wearing masks in the offices mandatory. We do not anticipate staff returning to the office too soon and would like to be mindful of peoples’ mental health and physical needs during this unprecedented situation.
  • In partnership with The Nonprofit Association of Oregon, Oregon Business is hosting the 2020 100 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon project! You will be receiving an email with instructions and a survey to complete early next week. Keep an eye out for that!
Peerpocalypse:

  • Peerpocalypse has been rescheduled to July 20th-23rd. 
  • The Admin Team is working out logistics for moving Peerpocalypse to a virtual platform this year
EVOLVE:
  • Evolve staff have been offering Peer support 3 days per week Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 11-1pm and 4:30-6:30pm. at Blanchet House. We are offering peer support to individuals who are standing in the line to receive a meal and or that could be experiencing distress and anxiety. We have made sure all of our team have the correct PPE to engage in this safely and we are able to fulfill this commitment with social distancing.
  • We have also been working with Kaiser for a 3-month temp program offering virtual peer support to Brookside clinic meetings with individuals who are engaged in mental health and substance abuse treatment at kaiser. We have 3 PSS's that are currently working with Kaiser P and also 1-2 peers that are a part of the Clackamas County Operations Go Teams outreach.
  • We have created a Peer Support flyer that has our pictures, names and phone numbers listed on the flyer and have an open referral process for anyone that needs support through this time. 
  • We have had some staff changes. We have hired a PSS for Clackamas County Zero Suicide prevention program. We are hiring for Kaiser - Project Nurture and Multnomah - HB4143. 
PEERLINK NTAC:
  • Had to postpone both Hawaii and Guam/Palau trips. Hawaii may still happen towards the end of the summer, but Guam/Palau likely will not.
  • Continued support to our organizations through email/zoom.
  • Scheduled a weekly peer call with peers workers in Guam. These calls will feature a short didactic presentation followed by group supervision and support.
  • Began planning of monthly webinars to keep people in our regions engaged.
  • Produced 2 tip sheets
TRAINING AND OUTREACH:
OPDSCo - OHA Needs Assessment
  • Marianne and Adrienne have been conducting key informant interviews
  • Interviews are going well - 17 have been held so far!
  • Weekly debriefs and coordination with our interview partner, Comagine Health, are happening
University of Washington Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
Oregon Peer Trainings & Innovations Center (OPTIC)
  • Oregon Health Authority has released memo outlining guidelines for temporary approval of partially-online certification trainings
  • OPTIC Team is working together to figure out the best way to provide part of the PWS online 
OHA - Opioid and Pain Training
  • Training outline has been developed
  • Collaboration discussions in progress with several leaders in opioids/chronic pain
New Staff Introductions!
Amee McFee,
Peer Support Specialist
for OHSU

Amee was a peer apart of the Impact program at OHSU from in which helped her navigate and transition into a new way to life. She closely worked with her mentor and is now coming back with hopes to inspire others and motivate them to do the same. She is now three years and two months clean. Amee is a certified recovery mentor who has worked in the recovery field since she was eighteen months clean. She recently was the lead mentor at the Diane Wade house for clients that struggled with mental health, addiction and that were DCJ involved. 

Amee has four children. Two boys and two girls. She is active in the recovery community and loves to spend time with family and try new things. 
David Libemday,
Peer Support Specialist
for Clackamas County Suicide Prevention

1. What inspired you to become a Peer Support Specialist? 
I was inspired to become a peer support specialist by my experiences and struggles with a mental health diagnosis. One of the greatest barriers to my recovery that I encountered early on was social isolation. It had a profound negative effect on my self esteem and I would end up struggling with it for the next 16 years of my life; I still struggle with it today to a certain extent. 

Knowing all this, I came to see the incredible value in having a peer to engage with and talk to on a weekly basis. This is why I do what I do, so that others will not have to suffer alone. I truly believe in the power of peer support and human connection, and I hope that eventually our society will understand and utilize the transformative power of peer support in all its systems of care as well. 
2. What are you most excited about for your role as the Peer Support for Clackamas County Suicide Prevention?
I am incredibly excited to begin working with all the amazing individuals at Clackamas Behavioural Health. Being able to help build the Zero Suicide Initiative from the ground up is very exciting and I feel honored to be a part of the process. Additionally, I look forward to building new relationships with my peers and helping them find the courage to live life well and to the fullest!

3. What do you like to do for self-care?
My self-care strategy varies from day to day. Some days I Netflix and chill; Westworld, It’s Always Sunny, American Horror Story; are just a few of my favorite shows. Other days I like to get out and go for a bike ride or go to the gym, I’ve found that consistent exercise really helps bring clarity to my thoughts and keeps me from getting depressed. 
Mission Moment Stories
Tara Prince, Peer Support Specialist for Jail Navigator, shared the following story:
"A peer had called me wanting treatment. After many phone calls and navigating, I was able to get him an appointment into Hooper detox with a plan to go to Grounded Transitions when he leaves Hooper, and if there was not a bed ready we had an e-bed set up until his bed at Grounded Transitions was. Unfortunately he was arrested 2 days before his entry date into Hooper detox. I worked with a social worker to set up a release plan to get him released from Multnomah county and into Hooper detox. I was able to pick him up and watched him walk into Hooper! #GOTEAM!"
Tiffanie Kearney, Peer Support Specialist for Housing Authority of Clackamas County, shared the following story:

" My peer success story is when I first started working at HACC, I immediately began supporting a 73 year woman who had fallen victim to on-line fraud and was being manipulated by someone to send a large amount of money each month. My peer believes she is in a love affair with Trace Atkins, a very popular and famous Country Western singer. 

She had not paid her rent for a year, and was facing eviction. HACC put her on a repayment plan so she could get caught up on her back rent. She did not comply with the payment arrangement and again she was facing eviction.  I was able to contact a community resource that would be able to help her with her back rent.

For a very long time, the property manager had encouraged my peer to seek assistance from a payee to make sure that her rent got paid each month to ensure housing security. My peer was very adamant that she did not want a payee.

Although my peer still believes she is going to marry Trace Atkins, she finally agreed to have a payee. This is a huge success as it took almost a year for my peer to agree to having a payee."
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