Our Mission Statement: MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction honoring the voice of lived experience |
|
Formally recognized in June 2008 (and still currently recognized today), Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face with regard to mental health in the U.S.
Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities.
To continue the visionary work of Bebe Moore Campbell, each year Mental Health America (MHA) develops a public education campaign dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
This year’s theme is Strength in Communities, where we will highlight alternative mental health supports created by BIPOC and queer and trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC) communities of color, for BIPOC and QTBIPOC communities of color.
|
|
Congratulations to Adrienne Scavera for celebrating 7 years at MHAAO on July 10th!
Congratulations to Howard Marlow for celebrating 4 years at MHAAO on July 24th!
Congratulations to Aniel Yates for celebrating 1 year at MHAAO on July 20th!
Congratulations to Rhiannon Miller for celebrating 5 years in recovery on July 16th!
Congratulations to Thomas Hooks for celebrating 7 years in recovery on July 5th!
|
|
Team Shoutout from Janie:
"I would love to give a shout out to the Pathway Home and Safe & Strong team for their exceptional response to program changes and how they have stood up to the challenge and shown such integrity and innovation when it came to supporting people in our community!"
|
|
Jeffrey Worthington
EVOLVE Peer Support Specialist for Washington County CHOICE
|
|
What drew you to the peer movement, and MHAAO in particular?
I've had quite a bit of peer support over my life, even if it wasn't necessarily formal. I was part of the psychiatric survivor/ex-patient movement early on and I've had a lot of support from that community. As far as MHAAO, I've been aware of it for the past seven years or so. I went through the training which finished last November. It was awesome and I knew I wanted to work here because I connect with the mission and really wanted to be a part of MHAAO.
What is your favorite thing about working in the recovery field?
I just love making connections and being able to give to other people what has been given to me in my life. I'm paying it forward. I like peer support because it's a totally different role than anything clinical. I think we need more of us out there!
What do you like to do for self-care?
I like to spend time with my cat, Demon Claw! And yes, he does live down to his name. He used to scratch me and bite me quite a bit, but he's kind of mellowed out as he's gotten older, so he only does it once in a while now. There was a time during the pandemic when I was literally not seeing anybody, and I wouldn't have gotten through COVID without him. I'm also trying to enjoy life more and just have fun with people and chat about philosophy, theater, and anything else that comes to mind!
|
|
Megan Wiard
EVOLVE Peer Support Specialist for OHSU
|
|
What drew you to the peer movement, and MHAAO in particular?
I was drawn to the peer movement 7 years ago. My peer mentor was a driving force in my recovery, especially in the earliest days. I had lost everything to my addiction and she was one of the few I trusted. Her support and compassion encouraged me daily and gave me hope.
Why are peer services so crucial, especially right now?
Peer services are crucial for many reasons, the main being the addiction and untreated mental health pandemic we are in right now. I feel it is crucial to share kindness with folks who feel completely lost and alone.
What do you like to do for self-care?
For self-care, I play with my doggo Herman the bulldoggie, hike with my partner and read. I also love TV series :)
|
|
Andrey MacCracken
EVOLVE Peer Support Specialist for Clackamas County Community-based
|
|
What drew you to the peer movement, and MHAAO in particular?
During the middle of my incarceration a couple of years ago, I finally had an "AH HA" moment. That is when I decided I wanted to do something productive and positive with my past and use it to help those in the community. When I was released in May of 2020, I left with nothing but a dream.
With the help, support, and encouragement from those both in and out of the recovery community (along with a few employees of MHAAO), I was able to turn that dream into a goal. And today, I want to thank you all here with MHAAO for giving me this opportunity to finally turn that dream into my reality!
Why are peer services so crucial, especially right now?
Peer support is huge! I know this from my own personal experience. Being released from the Department of Corrections two months into the COVID-19 lockdown, I had absolutely no idea on how to utilize or even find any resources, legally, for my successful transition back into society. If I did not have a peer walking by my side to connect with, reach out to, and teach me "how to fish" I would have easily resorted back to all of my old behaviors. Peer support allowed me the opportunity to feel a positive connection for the first time in my life, and to me, the connection is the key to recovery!
What do you do for self-care?
My self-care today consists of working out, spending time with my girlfriend, Ashley, and her son, Korban. I also love to watch Ice Hockey (GO BOSTON BRUINS) and cannot wait for the ice rinks to open back up so I can start playing again. My self-care also includes setting alone time to explore my spiritual connection, step work, tattoos, and being one with the backroads in my Mustang.
|
|
Cody Blackburn
EVOLVE Peer Support Specialist for Kaiser
|
|
What drew you to the peer movement, and MHAAO in particular?
I am a person in long-term recovery and I know what it is like to not have any type of support in early recovery, I respect and appreciate what MHAAO stands for and what they do for others. My passion is to be able to walk with anyone and they build and create their own unique pathway and support them in any way I can.
Why are peer services so crucial, especially right now?
Peer services play such a vital role in the community because individuals need to be supported and have someone that they can trust while they create their recovery system. Peer services is a way for peers to feel connected and being supported as they find ways to remove any challenges and barriers they are faced with.
What do you do for self-care?
Self-care to me is so important normally I am a die-hard football fan and I love watching it, but during the offseason, I am spending as much time with my son, usually, with him, it is playing with his Marvel Avengers action figures, but we like to go to the park and play and watch movies things like that.
|
|
Organization-Wide Updates |
|
Administration:
-
42CFR and Mandatory Reporting: 42CFR, and Mandatory Reporting Training are on hold pending final review of the training material. More information will be coming out regarding 42CFR, and Mandatory Reporting later this month.
-
2021 Open Enrollment: The month of August is our Open Enrollment period for Benefits. This is your opportunity to review the benefits we offer our team and make changes. You can add or remove benefits, change coverage elections, dependents, amounts of insurance, and more. Any changes requested to your health plans after the open enrollment period will require a Qualified Life Event (QLE) such as changes in marital status, birth, spouse’s work status or coverage, etc. Please start thinking about what changes you would like to make during open enrollment. More information will be sent by email in the coming weeks. If you have questions about your benefits coverage, please contact Human Resources.
-
Expense Report Tracking: We are in the planning stages of implementing a mileage and expense report tracking system. More information will be sent by email in the coming weeks regarding the new system.
|
|
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative Update:
- The Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee met to review the Brunold Fund application. They have created a scoring rubric that will be used when the committee receives applications. The rubric will be included with the application to increase transparency in the award process.
|
|
- We have decided to move forward with a WHOVA app to help us plan our first hybrid conference. Registration opens on July 1st and our rates have changed this year to $300 for early-bird and $375 for regular registration. Virtual registration will remain at $200. Our first planning committee meeting will be held on July 22nd.
|
|
- Kaiser Recovery Pathways has expanded to the State of Washington. We have made an offer to our new peer for this position.
- Andrey McCracken started the Clackamas County Community Based Program
|
|
- Pathway Home Program launched on July 1st. The team has been working hard to finalize all of the program details and work with all grant partners to ensure a smooth program launch.
|
|
Safe & Strong:
- Safe + Strong is going strong! Elmer and Lorenzo did an interview with the KBOO radio station. The team supported people during the heatwave at the cooling centers at Multnomah County’s request. Still no update on an extension of the program.
|
|
- Tonya and Telia facilitated a culturally-specific, Afrocentric PWS training that ended June 30th, sponsored through Multnomah County. Congratulations to our trainers and graduates!
- Emily and Molly facilitated an open June PWS training that ended July 2nd. Congratulations to our trainers and graduates!
|
|
OHA Peer Pain Training:
- Weekly Peer Support for Peer Support (PS4PSS) continues to be offered from 10 – 11 AM PST!
- A hospital-specific group is also offered weekly on Tuesdays from 1 – 2 PM PST.
- Hospital Group participants had the opportunity to participate in a Trauma Stewardship Training with Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky.
-
For more information, please check out https://www.mhaoforegon.org/ps4pss
|
|
PeerZone
- Monthly catch-ups for PeerZone facilitators continue to be held on the first Tuesdays of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 PM PDT! Contact Adrienne for details.
- Virtual PeerZone toolkit workshops – led by Molly – are being offered every Wednesday from 3 – 4:30 PM online!
- Molly is supporting NAMI Washington County to host a weekly PeerZone group on Tuesdays from 3:00 - 4:30 PM.
-
PeerZone for Peer Supporters groups are offered on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month from 3 - 4:30 PM.
-
To get access information for any of the above groups or to learn more, please visit: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/peerzone
|
|
University of Washington Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
|
|
OHA Peer Workforce Needs Assessment (OPDSCo):
- Multiple planning and development meetings have been held as we prepare for the filming of two peer support for pain demo videos in July.
- We are working with a consultant and pain peer specialist, Michelle Marikos, for the videos and online training.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
