MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction
honoring the voice of lived experience
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Congratulations to Kasey Edwards
& her husband Joe for tying the knot
(and for rocking their wedding looks)!
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Happy Halloween from the kiddos of MHAAO!
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Congrats to
Melinda Hicks for celebrating her one year anniversary at MHAAO!
Congrats to
Nichole Young for celebrating 5 years in recovery!
Congrats to
Tiffany Kearney for celebrating her 18 years in recovery on October 23rd!
Congrats to
Sean Syrek for celebrating 7 years in recovery on November 7th!
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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!
- November 20th 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
- Peerpocalypse is ramping up! The deadline for workshop proposals is November 15th and we encourage staff to submit proposals! https://www.peerpocalypse.com/submit-a-workshop/
- Keynote and theme nominations have been received; vote is ongoing within Planning Committee.
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- Reina Bowers has accepted the position of EVOLVE Director
- Jenny Manzanares is our new Clackamas County Manager
- Marianne Oneill-Tutor is our new Washington County Manager
- Kristin Griffey is our new Trauma-Informed Care Specialist, a newly formed position that will offer Peer Support for Peer Support Specialists
- Sean Mahoney one of our new EVOLVE Opioid Overdose Survivor Program Manager
- We welcome Rachelle Hazen to the MHAAO team as a new EVOLVE Program Managers! Stay tuned for a get-to-know profile for Rachelle!
- We welcome Nathaniel Wright to the MHAAO team as the new Clackamas PSS! Stay tuned for a get-to-know profile for Nathaniel!
- Justin Schumacher will be moving to the Clackamass Zero Suicide program and Federal Re-entry
- We will be hiring for a new EVOLVE Coordinator
- We will be hiring 2 new BHU Peer Support Specialists
- We will be hiring one new Peer Support Specialist for Kaiser - Project Nurture
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- Project Coordinators, Teana Edwards and Emily Privatsky, are on location in Tucson. Arizona, facilitating a Money Basics Facilitator training to a primarily veteran audience.
- Peerlink Director, Donita Diamata, is on location with Sean Syrek in American Samoa facilitating a Peer Support Specialist training and a follow-up Train the Trainer session.
- On behalf of Peerlink, Adrienne Scavera and Marianne O’Neill-Tutor are on location in Grants Pass, Oregon facilitating a two-day Peer Employment Specialist training.
- Lead Project Coordinator, Jessica Carroll, and Emily Privatsky, traveled to Klamath Falls to meet with Klamath Trial members to discuss options for organizational development and peer support training.
- Jessica Carroll submitted a culturally appropriate Peer Support Specialist training as a potentially approved training for the state of Hawaii.
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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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- November PWS cohort has 24 registrants!
- October PWS in Hillsboro has finished. Thank you to Jessica and Emily for their great facilitation!
- January PWS is scheduled; please share the application with interested peers: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/trainingandevents
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- Scheduling in process for a 2020 winter cohort in Washington County
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The Power of Advocating With Our Stories
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-David Barrett, Peer Support Specialist for Clackamas County
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"My peer awoke every day and went to work doing construction with severe knee pain. He wanted to see a doctor but having no insurance and not qualifying for the Oregon Health Plan his injury went untreated.
He made a person-directed plan to get help for his injury. He was able to get charity care through Providence however it didn’t cover the orthopedic surgeon or office visits to see the specialist. He was discouraged and had cancelled his appointment with them when they wanted a substantial down payment. However, we had a plan and were determined to regain his quality of life.
Together, we were able to get a meeting to see the Executive Director of the clinic and share his story of where he was and where is today due to making major life changes, and asked for financial help. The Executive Director was so moved and impacted by his story of hope that the clinic waved all the costs that were associated with their clinic and the surgeon, and scheduled an appointment that day. He is getting the long-awaited healing he deserves."
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Peer Success Story
I have a peer that I met in the hospital. He was hospitalized for multiple weeks of antibiotics. Throughout his stay at the hospital, we worked together to identify housing and shelter options. He advocated for himself and was able to get in to a shelter upon his discharge. He has attended his follow up care appointments, connected with resources to get his license replaced, attends recovery meetings, and now has a job lined up and meets with me regularly.
I think one of the greatest things that I have seen him accomplish since working with him is the continuation of his relationship with his family. The joy on this man’s face when showing off photos of his son dressed up for Halloween was priceless. Life can be beautiful if you give yourself a chance.
-Sadie Campbell, Peer Support Specialist for Multnomah County HB-4143
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Shout Outs from Grace Jo
"I want to give a shout out to my supervisor, Reina, for being so kind, yet so real and understanding! It's mind-blowing!
Also a shout out to David Barrett for being flexible and an awesome team member during the hand-off process with our referrals from our community partner, The Clackamas Transition Center.
And everyone else who is fighting this good fight called life!"
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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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