May 2021 Newsletter
Volume 28 | May 14, 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 Rachelle Schank (formerly Rachelle Ross), who had an impromptu wedding ceremony in Hawaii on April 18!!
Meet Hank, Dawn Martin's newest edition to her family!! What a CUTIE!!

Congrats to Tiffanie Kearney for celebrating 4 years at MHAAO on 5/9!

Congrats to Geoff Moser for celebrating 2 years at MHAAO on 5/6!

Congrats to Morgan Simon for celebrating 1 year at MHAAO on 5/18!

Congrats to Emily Nelson for celebrating 16 years in recovery on 5/4!
Justice for George Floyd
The Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) reflects and acknowledges the guilty verdict against Chauvin on all three counts for George Floyd's murder. We hope that George Floyd’s loved ones find peace and vindication in the decision.

This verdict is justice for one person, but in no way means that we as an organization, society, and country should stop challenging systemic racism in our communities. Our country has a history of dehumanizing people, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, and those with disabilities. The work to dismantle centuries of social injustice starts with the individual. MHAAO’s executive leadership and members of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee continue to educate and set expectations of our staff in how we communicate and acknowledge the trauma experienced daily by communities of color, both within our organization and with those we serve. MHAAO strives to do better. We want to create a space to support staff in the feelings they have surrounding these pivotal times. 

As a reminder, we have many resources including EAP and Peer Support for Peer Support Specialists. 

To hold ourselves accountable, MHAAO would like to share some of the DEI work we are currently working on:
  • Training all staff on core principles of antiracism and social justice starting with Executive Leadership.
  • Creating and implementing procedures to hold our staff accountable as a vital part of our anti-racist work.
  • Creating spaces of support, also known as affinity spaces. This is in addition to EAP and PS4PSS.
  • Addressing health equity gaps and barriers in the services we provide so that we reach all communities. 
Peer Recovery Story
Amber Hatkoff
Peer Support Specialist for Clackamas County
"Below is a brief description of one of my peer's journies. Although I cannot express how powerful his experience and journey are in my own words, I wanted to share!

My peer has been engaged with peer support for about 7 years. Coming into peer support, he was experiencing addiction and mental health challenges and he shared that it was very challenging to get through the day. He has made huge changes in his day-to-day life and feels so grateful for where he is at. 

My peer is a huge inspiration for anyone who is experiencing mental health challenges, especially around hearing voices. He has gained so many coping skills over the years and is able to walk through his days with so much strength and gratitude. Gratitude for where he was and the personal goals he sets and meets for himself.

We successfully closed him out earlier this month, but he has shared that he wants to still be involved!"
Organization-Wide Updates
Human Resources:
  • 2021 Open Enrollment: As you are aware, the month of August 2021 is our Open Enrollment period for Benefits. This is your opportunity to review the benefits we offer and make changes. You can add or remove benefits, add or remove dependents, and more with no questions asked. MHAAO will soon begin discussions with our benefits broker. If there are benefits that we do not offer that you would like to see offered, please email the HR Director at ayates@mhaoforegon.org.  
  • Engagement Pulse Results: Recently, the HR Department met with Directors and Managers to discuss the Engagement Pulse results. In the coming weeks, the Directors and Managers will schedule a meeting with their direct reports to discuss the results. Thank you for taking the time to complete the Engagement Pulse survey.
  • 42 CFR and Mandatory Reporting Rollout: Due to technical difficulties we suspended 42 CFR and Mandatory Reporting training for all new hires in December 2020. The technical difficulties have been resolved, and the HR department will roll out the new 42 CFR and Mandatory reporting video training in the coming weeks. The training is no charge and will need to be taken by all staff members hired since December 2020, and all new hires as well. There will be a test for each training module based on the information in the module.  
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative Update: 
  • Welcome, Gionni Gambino, to the committee! 
  • Development of Impact Evaluation is in progress, which will help provide accountability and guide committee goals
  • Committee is in the beginning stages of creating an in-house DEI 101 training course for MHAAO staff 
Trauma-Informed Care Initiative
  • Peer Support for Peer Support (PS4PSS) groups have been growing in size, and continue to be offered weekly on Wednesdays from 10 -11 AM! These groups are open to both MHAAO and external peer support folks. In addition to PS4PSS, hospital groups are also being offered.
  • Kristin has provided training to several groups on trauma-informed resiliency, and interest is high!
Program Updates
CONFERENCE
  • We completed our second virtual conference with over 400 participants on May 5th! Planning for 2022 will begin in July and we hope to host our first in-person conference in two years in March 2022! Registration for Peerpocalypse 2022 will open in July. 
PEER SERVICES
  • Marianne has taken over being the program Volunteer Isolation Motel.
  • We have completed and submitted the Tri-Met grant to serve tri-County for $12000.00.
  • The Pathway Home Program enrollment will begin on July 1, 2021.
Safe & Strong:
  • The Safe+Strong team has been working hard to outreach to folks in their communities.
  • SAMHSA completed their site visit and were pleased with the strides made by the team.
TRAINING AND OUTREACH
  • Emily and Molly wrapped up the April PWS cohort! Congratulations, trainers and graduates!
  • The next PWS training will begin on May 11th.
  • PWS trainings are scheduled out through the summer. Registration information available here: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/current-trainings
OHA Peer Pain Training:
  • Adrienne and Michelle Marikos presented a Peerpocalypse workshop “Peer Support for Pain: Online Training” with 50 participants.
  • Updates are being made to the online Peer Pain Training and we hope to launch it in late spring/summer.
PeerZone
  • PeerZone facilitators are invited to join us on the first Tuesday of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 PM PDT for monthly catch-ups! Contact Adrienne for details.
  • Molly and Adrienne provided a PeerZone workshop at Peerpocalypse.
  • PeerZone toolkit workshops – led by Molly – are now being offered every Wednesday from 3 – 4:30 PM online!
  • Molly is supporting NAMI Washington County to host a new PeerZone group on Tuesdays from 3:00 - 4:30 PM.
  • PeerZone for Peer Supporters groups will be launching on May 20th 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)
  • We hosted a webinar “Changing the Conversation about Pain: The Role of Peer Support and Pain Education in the Integrated Primary Care Team in Pain Treatment” on May 11th at 2:30 PM PDT.
  • The next MHTTC Monthly Region 10 Consult Call scheduled for Wednesday, May 19th. Register here: https://www.mhaoforegon.org/events/mhttc/5/19/2021
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
  • Marianne and Adrienne presented findings and recommendations from the report at the “What Do Peers Think of Peer-Delivered Services in Oregon?” workshop at Peerpocalypse with data consultants Erin and Kate with Comagine.