March 2021 Newsletter
Volume 26| March 9th, 2021
Our Mission Statement: MHAAO is an inclusive peer-run organization dedicated to self-direction honoring the voice of lived experience
Staff Highlights!
Congrats to Roumaldo Guajardo for celebrating 14 years in recovery on 3/1!

Congrats to Howard Marlow for celebrating 13 years in recovery on 3/2!

Congrats to Molly Griggs for celebrating 6 years in recovery on 3/3!

Congrats to Sunny Briscoe for celebrating 6 years at MHAAO on 3/16!

Congrats to Bryan Corley for celebrating 2 years at MHAAO on 3/25!

Congrats to Nicole Maupin for celebrating 2 consecutive years at MHAAO on 3/6!

Congrats to Reina Bower for celebrating 2 years at MHAAO on 3/4!

Congrats to Amy Brinkley for celebrating 1 year at MHAAO on 3/2!
New Staff Spotlights
Jacqueline Benitez-Harvey
Office Coordinator
What drew you to the peer movement?
I believe in the importance of connection and a sense of belonging through our personal experiences. At the core of change is collaboration and I am thrilled to be a part of an organization that advocates for this in our community.

Why are peer services so crucial, especially right now?
The past year has been tremendously difficult, pushing many people to their limits. Now more than ever do we need to come together and engage in outreach so no one feels isolated or alone.

What do you do for self-care?
Recently I’ve shifted my focus to steadiness and growth. It comes in all shapes and sizes and manifests differently among us. I believe it is important to embrace our achievements no matter how big or small they may be. 
Nicole Silva
PSS for Multnomah County BJA
What drew you to the peer movement?
I am a woman that identifies as having lived experience with both substance use disorder and mental health illness. When I chose to stop using drugs I was lonely and desperately wanted support from people that could identify with the feelings and life I have lived. I found support from like-minded folks and we were able to share our experiences with compassion and no judgment. I chose to become a peer support person so I can connect with people and let them know they are not alone during their process. I became interested in MHAAO when I read they are a peer lead organization. I believe it is important to connect a peer with a person who can say " I have been there and this is how I navigated that." 

Why are peer services so crucial, especially right now?
Peer services are crucial right now because people are feeling more isolated now than ever. Some of us are not allowed to leave our space, visit family or connect with people for various reasons. Connecting with support via telephone or zoom allows people to feel a sense of relief that there are people out there that genuinely care. 

What do you do for self-care?
For self-care, I enjoy spending time in nature, reading books, working out, and researching resources. 
Erik Martinez
Peer Support Specialist for OHSU Impact Team
What drew you to the peer movement?
For many years now I have been interested in helping individuals find their voice as they go through their recovery journey. I volunteered for Kleen Street Recovery in Vancouver, Washington as a Recovery Coach and from that moment on something inside me changed and I realized that helping others in recovery was my calling card. MHAAO's mission and core values really resonated and aligned perfectly with mine and that is exactly the type of organization I wanted to work for.     

Why are peer services so crucial, especially right now?
Peer services are crucial because oftentimes the individual utilizing the services is heavily inundated with medical professionals day in and day out and sometimes having a person they can link with on a personal level with no hidden agendas other than listening and instilling hope really is the difference between losing someone and having a tremendous success story. Now more than ever with COVID, people have become even more disconnected from each other and for an individual to have a peer to talk to and connect with can be crucial to recovery.  

What do you do for self-care?
For self-care I like to play indoor soccer, travel, grounding techniques, as well as spend time with my loved ones. In order to do that effectively I strive to have a healthy work-school-life balance.  
Organization-Wide Updates
Admin 
  • Drug Testing Drug Policy: MHAAO has a new drug policy, which includes a reasonable suspicion checklist, staff members will be trained on the drug policy and reasonable suspicion checklist at the March 2021 staff meeting. Specific training on how to administer the policy will be provided for managers and directors in March 2021.  
  • Coordinator Resource Group: MHAAO has established a Coordinator Resource Group. The purpose of the group is to bring all Coordinators at MHAAO together on a bi-weekly basis to share resources, ideas, and to learn from each other. The group has had one meeting so far that went really well. Thank you MHAAO Coordinators for being willing to share your knowledge.  
  • Engagement Pulse Survey: Be on the lookout for the Engagement Pulse Survey, which will launch on March 15, 2021. The survey will take place in two ways, Standout, and Survey Monkey. Before the survey launches, Human Resources will send an email announcing the survey. The purpose of the survey is to get your feedback on the MHAAO mission connection to your daily work.  
  • In-Kind Donations: We are excited to introduce Jacqueline Benitez-Harvey as our new Office Coordinator. Jacqueline and Sunny will be organizing donations over the next month. We hope to announce later this month when the Clothing Closet will be open. More to come. 
Marketing:
  • Affirmation Cards: If you want to participate, you can submit quotes here.
  • #PeerSupportStrong: Are you active on social media? Use #PeerSupportStrong and tag us @mhaoforegon on Instagram and LinkedIn! Use this hashtag to share peer support moments, or use it to share how you're coping during this time! We'll spread the love and feature your post on our Instagram and Facebook Stories!
  • Follow us on social media:
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative Update: 
  • Researching and discussing data collection and evaluation of DEI Initiative progress
  • Advised on application and interview process for applicants of multiple positions
  • Reviewed Peerpocalypse Scholarship scoring rubric and procedures in preparation for scoring
Program Updates
CONFERENCE
  • The workshop line-up will be released in the second week of March. 
  • The Peerpocalypse website with the complete schedule will be released the third week of March. 
  • We need volunteers! If you would like to help pack mailers to conference attendees or be a virtual room attendant, please contact Nicole and let her know!
  • The Oregon State-wide scholarship is now available at https://form.jotform.com/210395958855168
  • We are extending the deadline for the WACO scholarship applications. We still have 30 scholarships available. https://form.jotform.com/210115739518151
PEER SERVICES
  • Onboarded new staff members:
  • Kaiser Ambulatory - Melissa Cook
  • Multnomah BJA - Nicole Silva
  • Multnomah County Mental Health Court - Corbett Edwards
  • Multnomah County VIMOS - Keli Ray
  • OHSU Impact Team - Erik Martinez
  • Clackamas BHU - LaMarr Cuffie
  • Created new ways for peers to deliver the intake packet via Jotform
  • Completed 2nd quarter 20/21 reports
  • Completed our Federal Re-entry Audit with great reviews
  • Rebooting all Evolve Staff meetings to focus on peer fidelity, documentation, reporting, shared experience, resource sharing, and collaboration.
  • The Pathway Home Program continues to plan for program implementation beginning on July 1, 2021. 
TRAINING AND OUTREACH
OHA Peer Pain Training:
  • Have lived experience with chronic pain or opioids? Please reach out to Adrienne (ascavera@mhaoforegon.org)! We will be working on gathering a group of peers to provide valuable input on the training.
  • Adrienne presented to the Oregon Pain Guidance Commission on MHAAO and our peer pain training project.
PeerZone
  • PeerZone North American facilitator catch-ups have an updated schedule: they’ll be held on the first Tuesdays from 12:00 – 1:00 PM PST.
  • PeerZone toolkit workshops – led by Molly – are now being offered every Wednesday from 3 – 4:30 PM online!
  • Washington County PeerZone is up and running on Zoom Wednesday's at 3! I attached the flyer FYI. This a huge benefit to our WACO Choice program peer participants and to other peers who would like to attend. All are welcome. 
  • And, since PeerZone is amazing and applicable to all of us, we expect to announce "PeerZone for Peer Supporters" in coming weeks, this would be a group for staff and other peer workers to attend. There may be an email poll to help us determine the best time for that group. If you have questions about PeerZone reach out to Adrienne or Molly. Exciting times ahead!
University of Washington Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
OHA Peer Workforce Needs Assessment (OPDSCo):
  • Please help get the word out: the final needs assessment report and executive summary are live at https://www.mhaoforegon.org/needs-assessment
  • Our workshop with data consultants Comagine has been accepted at Peerpocalypse 2021!