Stories From The Road

Web Resources for the Peer Support Community in North Carolina

 

 Alcohol/Drug Council of NC

Throughout its history, ADCNC has presented and promoted creative  solutions to gaps in the continuum of services for addicts and their  families. ADCNC also has provided leadership resulting in the passage of  state legislation addressing the disease of addiction.

              Link: http://www.alcoholdrughelp.org/       

 

NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services

North Carolina will provide people with, or at risk of, mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems and their families the necessary, prevention, intervention, treatment, services and supports they need to live successfully in communities of their choice.

 

 

 

             

Link: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/       

 

NC Mental Health Consumers Organization

The North Carolina Mental Health Consumers' Organization is a private  non-profit organization established in 1989 to offer advocacy and  support to adults with mental illness.

NC MHCO is special because it is "peer-run" meaning all the board  members and all staff has personal life experiences with mental illness.  The board is comprised of sixteen members, four from each region of the  state. Board members are elected by the membership.

 

              Link: http://www.ncmhco.org/       

 

North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking, and Support Organization

North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking, and Support Organization was established in 2009.  It is fully peer operated.  The emphasis of its work has been on ensuring that people with lived experience with mental illness and recovery are valued participants in systems advocacy and change.  It has focused much of its effort on strengthening the role of peer support in our state to improve the quality of people's lives and their recovery.  It is a non-profit organization.

              Link: http://www.nccanso.org       

 

Recovery.org

If you or someone you love is trying to make a complete drug or alcohol recovery, you'll want to make sure you choose well. Whether you require a luxury residential addiction program, executive substance abuse treatment or just an outpatient program, we provide toll-free help 888-968-7541.

              Link: http://www.recovery.org/       

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services  Administration’s  (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse  and mental  illness on America’s  communities.  SAMHSA, in collaboration with other  Federal agencies, States, Tribes, local organizations,  and  individuals including consumers and the recovery community, has  demonstrated  again and again in research and practice -  prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from  mental  and substance use disorders.

              Link: http://www.samhsa.gov/       

 

Questions concerning the Peer Support Program? Call 919-843-3018 or email us at: [email protected]

Behavioral Healthcare Resource Program | School of Social Work | University of North Carolina 325 Pittsboro Street | CB# 3550 | Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Promise Resource Network: Charlotte’s Peer & Mental Health Recovery Collaborative

 

Who They Are

 

Promise Resource Network is a collaborative of peers, providers, families and community members committed to enhancing mental health recovery through education and system transformation. Promise Resource Network (formerly Mecklenburg’s PROMISE) employs individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges, who advance the understanding of recovery and best practices through training, consultation, peer support and advocacy.

It is a peer-operated 501c3 that is devoted to enhancing lives, communities, and families impacted by mental health and substance use challenges. By creating opportunities for recovery, advancing recovery knowledge and skills, and pairing our personal and professional experience of recovery, PRN challenges people to recover, systems to innovate, and practitioners to provide effective supports.

 

Their Vision

"We envision that every person experiencing emotional challenges will find the hope, inspiration and supports to move through challenges, discover their strengths, live their dreams, and find meaningful purpose in their lives."

 

Their Mission

"We are a team, united by our personal and professional experiences, partnering with individuals, organizations and communities to instill hope and encourage personal growth by providing education, consultation and peer support to advance recovery in policy and practice."

 

Their Initiatives

Recovery-oriented system transformation requires a presence and relevance at local, state and national levels. To pursue our mission and vision, PRN has established various initiatives that directly impact individual people and families, provider organizations and practitioners as well as communities and systems.

 

Recovery Hub

The Recovery Hub is an epicenter of recovery activity for Mecklenburg County. It is a partnership between PRN and Meridian Behavioral Health that offers an array of recovery-based supports. Our Recovery Navigators explore local opportunities, resources, and services with people to move beyond the illness-maintenance cycle under which traditional behavioral health systems operate to dream big and move toward their aspirations and dreams. The Recovery Hub also provides free daily recovery classes, home and community-based peer support,brief solution-focused therapy, and assistance to pursue home ownership, build financial health, succeed in employment aspirations and accomplish educational goals. The Recovery Hub is a Mecklenburg County initiative, designed to offer a variety of recovery-based resources for people with MH/SA challenges in our community that do not have Medicaid benefits.

 

Recovery University

Recovery University is a national technical assistance center that offers recovery trainings, webinars, and consultation to organizations, managed care organizations, and states as they move toward a recovery-based behavioral health system of care that expects high fidelity evidence-based practices,has as its foundation psychiatric rehabilitation, and yields recovery and personal quality of life outcomes.

 

Peer Academy

Peer Academy is their training and technical assistance entity that invests in future and current Peer Support Specialists and peer supervisors to build knowledge, skills and tools needed for effective peer support.

 

NC Employment First Technical Assistance Center

The NC|EF|TAC was established in response to a Department of Justice settlement that highlights employment as an effective path to recovery. Our NC|EF|TAC disseminates information on the evidence-based supported employment model, Individualized Placement and Support (IPS), and provides training to all Supported Employment IPS teams and Assertive Community Treatment team Employment Specialists in North Carolina. In partnership with the NC Best Practices Team, our TAC employees also conduct independent fidelity reviews and provides individualized technical assistance to managed care agencies and behavioral health organizations as they transition away from "readiness" approaches to "Employment First."

 

How To Contact

 

Promise Resource Network

1041 Hawthorne Lane

Charlotte, NC 28205

980-321-4021

 

 Peer Support, Recovery and Crisis Education:

 Kim Roszelle

 [email protected]

 (980) 321-4022

 

Schedule Community Presentations and Consultation:

Cherene Caraco

[email protected]

(704) 776-6708

 

North Carolina Peer Linked-In Site

 

Check out North Carolina's Peer Linked-In Site for interesting discussion on relevant issues related to peer supports and the peer workforce. It is a social media public forum, for North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialists.

 

The Vision for Peer Support in North Carolina

 

From UNC's Behavioral Health Resource Program they share their vision for peer support for NC.

The Vision

To develop a qualified Peer Support Specialist workforce that has the support, access, credibility, competency, respect and the valued role within the mental health and substance use disorder service delivery system to positively impact the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.  This is accomplished through the NC Certified Peer Support Specialist Program.

As of 10/31/2014 there are 1437 Certified Peer Support Specialists in North Carolina.

As of 10/31/2014 there are 46 Certified Peer Support Specialists from out of state.

Click to view the map

As of 10/31/2014 there are a total of 1483 Certified Peer Support Specialists.

The Local Management Entities (LME-MCOs) of NC

 

NC's Map LME-MCO's Here--> Download North Carolina LME-MCO Map

 

Alliance Behavioral Healthcare

Web | Counties Served: Cumberland, Durham, Johnston, Wake

Corporate Office       4600 Emperor Boulevard       Durham, NC 27703       Phone: 919-651-8401             Fax:  919-651-8672             Chief Executive Officer: Rob Robinson

Cumberland  Office       711  Executive Place       Fayetteville,  NC 28305       Phone:  919-651-8401       Fax:  910-323-0096       24-hour  Access/Crisis Number: 800-510-9132

Durham Office       414 East Main Street       Durham, NC 27701       Phone: 919-651-8401 Fax: 919-651-8859  24-hour Access/         Crisis   Number: 800-510-9132

Johnston Office 521 North Brightleaf Boulevard Smithfield, NC  27577 Phone:  919-651-8401 Fax:  919-989-5532 24-hour  Access/Crisis Number: 800-510-9132

Wake Office       5000 Falls of Neuse Road       Raleigh, NC 27609       Phone: 919-651-8401       Fax:   919-651-8776         24-hour Access/              Crisis   Number: 800-510-9132

 

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions

Web | Counties Served: Alamance, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Orange, Person, Rowan, Stanly, Union, Vance and Warren

Corporate Office     4855 Milestone Avenue     Kannapolis, NC 28081     Phone: 704-939-7700     Fax: 704-939-7907 24-hour Access / Crisis Number: 800-939-5911

Area Director: Pam Shipman

 

Alamance Caswell Community Operations Center   2451 South Church Street   Burlington, NC  27215 Phone: 336-513-4222 Fax:  336-513-4225 24-hour Access / Crisis Number:  888-543-1444

Five County Community Operations Center             134 South Garnett Street             Henderson, NC 27536             Phone: 252-430-1330             Fax:   252-431-346324-hour Access / Crisis Number:  877-619-3761

Mecklenburg County Community Operations Center 10150 Mallard Creek Rd. Suite 305 Charlotte, NC 28262 Phone: 980-938-4100 Fax: 980-938-4195 24-hour Access / Crisis Number: 800-939-5911

OPC Community Operations Center     201 Sage Rd. Suite 300     Chapel Hill, NC 27514     Phone: 919-913-4000     Fax: 919-913-4001     24-hour Access / Crisis Number:  800-939-5911

Piedmont Community Operations Center     245 LePhillip Court     Concord, NC  28025     Phone: 704-721-7000     Fax:  704-721-7010         24-hour Access / Crisis Number:  800-939-5911

 

CenterPoint Human Services

 

Web | Counties Served: Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes

        4045 University Parkway         Winston-Salem, NC 27106                     Phone: 336-714-9100         Fax:   336-714-9111           24-hour Access/          Crisis   Number:         888-581-9988

CEO/Area Director: Betty Taylor

 

CoastalCare

Web | Counties Served: Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender

 

CoastalCare Corporate Office:   3809 Shipyard Blvd   Wilmington, NC   28403     or         PO Box 4147     Wilmington, NC 28406     Phone:   910-550-2600     Fax: 910-796-3133 24-hour Access / Crisis   Number: 866-875-1757 Customer Services:  855-250-1539     LME Area Director: Foster Norman 

 

East Carolina Behavioral Health

 

Web | Counties Served: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare,  Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt,  Tyrrell, Washington

1708 E. Arlington Blvd,               Greenville, NC  27858        Phone: 252-695-6400        Fax: 252-215-6881 24-hour Access / Crisis Number: 877-685-2415

CEO: Leza Wainwright

 

Eastpointe

Web | Counties Served: Bladen, Columbus, Duplin, Edgecombe, Green, Lenoir, Nash, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne, Wilson     

 

Eastpointe  Corporate Office 514 East Main Street PO Box 369 Beulaville, NC 28518 Phone: 800-913-6109 Fax: 910-298-7180 Web: www.eastpointe.net 24-hour Access/Crisis  Number: 800-913-6109  TTY: 888-819-5112 Area Director: Ken Jones

Goldsboro Regional Office          100 S. James St.          Goldsboro, NC 27530          Phone: 800-913-6109          Fax: 910-298-7180 24-hour Access/Crisis Number: 800-913-6109  TTY: 888-819-5112

Lumberton  Regional Office          450 Country Club Road          Lumberton, NC 28360          Phone: 800-913-6109          Fax: 910-298-7180 24-hour Access/Crisis  Number: 800-913-6109  TTY: 888-819-5112

Rocky Mount Regional Office          500 Nash Medical Arts Mall          Rocky Mount, NC 27804          Phone: 800-913-6109          Fax: 910-298-7180 24-hour Access/Crisis  Number: 800-913-6109      TTY: 888-819-5112 

 

 

Partners Behavioral Health Management

 

Web | Counties Served: Burke, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Surry, Yadkin

Corporate Office 901 South New Hope Road                   Gastonia, NC  28054          Phone:  704-884-2501          Fax: 704-854-4809 24-hour Access / Crisis Number:  1-888-235-4673          Administrative Number:  1-877-864-1454       

Area Director: W. Rhett Melton

Hickory Regional Office Site:          1985 Tate Blvd. SE Suite 529 Hickory, NC 28602 Phone: 828-327-2595 Fax: 828-325-9826 24-hour Access / Crisis   Number:  1-888-235-4673

Elkin Regional Office Site          200 Elkin Business Park Drive          Elkin, NC  28621          Phone:  336-835-1000          Fax:  336-835-1002 24-hour Access / Crisis Number 888-235-4673

 

Sandhills Center for MH/DD/SAS

 

Web | Counties Served: Anson, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond

PO Box 9           West End, NC  27376-0009           Phone: 910-673-9111           Fax: 910-673-6202 24-hour Access / Crisis Number: 800-256-2452

Chief Executive Officer: Victoria Whitt

 

Smoky Mountain Center

 

Web | Counties Served: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe*, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson*, Jackson, Macon, Madison*, McDowell, Mitchell*, Polk*,      Rutherford*, Swain, Transylvania*, Watagua, Wilkes, Yancey*

 

44 Bonnie Lane               Sylva, NC  28779               Phone: 828-586-5501                 Fax: 828-586-3965 24-hour Access / Crisis Number: 800-849-6127        

 

Area Director: Brian Ingraham

 

A Toolkit to Assess Cultural Competency in Mental Health Peer Run Programs

 

Find The Toolkit Here-->  Download Cultural Competency in Mental Health Toolkit

 

This tool was created to help mental health, consumeroperated programs and self-help groups assess their own cultural competency. By using it, you’ll identify the ways in which your activities are already responsive to culturally diverse peers and areas where you could use some improvement. You’ll also create specific action plans to enhance your cultural competency in five important areas.

Focus Area 1: Administration, Policies and Guidelines

Focus Area 2: Peer Providers and Group Leaders

Focus Area 3: Services and Support

Focus Area 4: Program and Group Environment

Focus Area 5: Communication and Language Capacity

This tool was evaluated in a national pilot test. They wanted to learn whether mental health peer-run programs and self-help groups find this tool easy to use and effective in bringing about needed changes. An invitation went out to peer-run programs across the country and nine programs were chosen to participate in the evaluation. The programs are in Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin and Hawaii. Each program participated in a two-hour training to discuss the tool and the programs’ roles and responsibilities in the evaluation. After the training, the participants used the tool to rate their organizations’ levels of cultural competency and to develop Diversity Action Plans to address areas where they wanted to be more inclusive. They also participated in biweekly telephone meetings to discuss their successes and challenges as they applied their Diversity Action Plans.

 

The GiveBack Challenge: The Work of Recovery in Haywood County

 

Ty Pennington and Guaranteed Rate came to Haywood County on September 26 2014 after the community won the first ever Give Back Challenge! The goal being to create a facility that will serve the homeless and get the lives of individuals back on track.

 

A wonderful recovery message was shared by Richie Tannerhill a friend and recovery allie (who is a person in long-term recovery supporting others on their recovery journey). Listen as he shares his heart:

 

 

 

Exerpt from Casey Blake's Sept 26th Article of Citizen Times

 

"WAYNESVILLE — Never has there been such excitement in Haywood County to watch a man run a table saw or paint the trim on an old building.

But the excitement ran high Thursday as celebrity carpenter Ty Pennington joined volunteers to flip the old Hazelewood prison in Waynesville into a new shelter and halfway house for former inmates, a project that gained national attention after winning the Guaranteed Rate Ultimate Give Back Challenge.

"Honestly I came here expecting Alcatraz," Pennington said with a laugh Thursday. "I thought, wow, how are we going to turn this into a warm, inviting environment?"

"This is pretty unprecedented in my mind," he said. "I have never heard of anyone doing this, flipping a prison into a shelter or a soup kitchen. But the minute I heard it I thought this is genius... this is making this space be what a prison really should be, which is about rehabilitation instead of just storage."

The Haywood Pathways Project won the grand prize in the Guaranteed Rate/Ty Pennington Ultimate Neighborhood Giveback Challenge, which awarded the project with $50,000 toward the completion of the project and Pennington's help for a day.

More than 3,500 people voted for the project over more than 50 others submitted earlier this year.

"There was obviously some very big support for this idea, which is just such a cool thing to see," he said. "It's a place where we can give people second chances, and everyone deserves that."

 

 

The Haywood Pathways project will recycle and restore the old Hazelwood prison, converting the facility into a soup kitchen, homeless shelter and halfway house.

Sherriff Greg Christopher, who spearheaded the project along with reverend Nick Honerkamp, said the support from volunteers, community leaders and even neighbors has been "overwhelming."

"I go to church with these inmates every Sunday," Christopher said Thursday. "And what I always tell them is that they aren't destined to wear an orange jumpsuit. That's not what they were put here to do."

Interview with Iden Campbell McCollum, CPRP, Social Entrepreneur, Social Activist & Human Being

 

Iden...tell us a little about yourself and your life growing up in NC?

Just to let you know a little about before we move on to ‘what I am doing.’ I am a native Brooklynight (NYC); my maternal side of the family has strong roots to NC having walked from Bennettsville, SC to Laurinburg and Gibson, NC to settle after slavery. I myself went to school sporadically in my childhood here in NC and ended up graduating from Enloe H.S. in Raleigh NC. My mother and two sisters are in Raleigh with the rest of my extended maternal family in Rockingham, Richmond, Scotland and Moore Counties.

Iden Campbell McCollum

 

( Note:  Click link to download  full interview  with Iden Campbell McCollum).

Why is the issue of identity so important to your story?

I have many covers to my book and belong to many communities that I love and honor. My most important identity is that of being a human being that must cultivate and mentor future generations to keep this world we love moving and sustaining life. However I belong to other communities that most people identify with more than being a human being and we must change this in order to survive and thrive. Some of those communities include the transgender community, the black community and the psychiatric survivor community. As a man that identifies under the umbrella of transgender, I am working to bring those in the trans community who identify as having had emotional breaks and addictions issues into the recovery community. Bring much needed diversity to our survivor community.

What gave you the impetus to pursue peer work in the communities you serve?

At Alternatives 2013 I met over 5 trans men who came up to me to personally identify and introduce themselves to me, this after I was awarded the LGBT Leadership award. Austin was my 4th Alternatives and I never before met or heard of a trans man being in the crowd. It was an amazing and exhilarating feeling to see my brothers feeling comfortable enough to come up to me and say hey I’m here! Another community, the cover people see before they see anything else is the color of my skin. I prefer the term black over African American but to cover the spectrum of people with skin that closely resemble mine I will use the term people of color.

How important are issues of diversity and advocacy in what you do?

Bringing diversity and removing the bias we hold within can only empower our movement to further heights. Building a movement that encompasses all of the many cultures and ethnicities we create change and truly embodying Gandhi’s words “Be The Change You Want To See.” Our movement is being attacked form all sides we need all of our strength to battle and to keep out those who look different, talk different and are not as educated only means sure defeat for our movement

Share with me the peer work you have been doing in DC?

To do my part in this ever expanding world I currently split my time between NC and DC building up and out the non-profit I founded in 2007. The non-profit name is the Ida Mae Campbell Wellness & Resource Center DB/a The Campbell Center. The non-profit sat dormant from June 2008 until July 2013 when we were awarded the State Networking grant from SAMSHA in DC. We have now been up and running for almost an entire year and we are excited and grateful for such an opportunity to be leaders and innovators. Before taking on the SAMSHA grant I ran the Ida Mae Campbell Foundation in DC with a 5-year contract from the Department of Mental Health. The contract was to operate the only peer run wellness center in the city. We ended this contract in 2013 with the District after 5 years. In October, we hosted Emotional eCPR to train a regional coalition of trainers, in December we partnered with The National Coalition on Mental Health Recovery and Howard University to hold a conversation on mental health and addictions. We brought together community members to build a bridge by having face-to-face conversations about real life issues and events.ou been 

Share some of the work you have been doing in NC.

We held simultaneous events in NC at the Chapel Hill Library and in DC at Saint Elizabeth Hospital on May 2nd and our Mental Health Summit on the 13th.  In July we will be kicking off our first big event in NC for National Minority Mental Health Month in Chapel Hill and in September a month long celebration during National Recovery Month.

Explain the innovative practices you are bringing to peer providers and organizations.

We are also working on a national level to bring other thought leaders together to discover ways to create new business models for our peer providers/peer organizations. I recently joined BHbusiness Mastering Essential Business Operations as a convener. The plan was to recruit 15-20 peer organizations to participate in a peer provider learning community. The learning community will allow us to work with a business coach, who will walk us through designing successful business models, learn to analyze the healthcare market and improve our current business processes. We will primarily work through a virtual learning community utilizing webinars and conference calling. We will also work independently utilizing research, reading assignments and on-line discussions. Most importantly, we will learn how to sustain the communities we have fought hard to create over the last two decades.

Iden, how do you define success?

With all that I am involved in one must wonder how do you know your being successful? Does it involve financial gain, awards or other accolades? For me success is seeing others that I have mentored start to develop their own thoughts and leadership styles. It means I wake up another day feeling refreshed and rejuvenated to start a new project or continue to develop one already in the oven, one more day of seeing the sky blue and stars at midnight.

What parting advice do you have for the peer workforce?

One of the most important things to remember whether a freshman or a senior in the field of peer work is to always honor yourself first and foremost to honor yourself is to be able to give selflessly to those we support. Take care of self, find what you enjoy and master it, and then build your brand. People don’t follow leaders they follow promise and hope, be that to your community.

 

Interview with Dr. Ken Blackman: Peer Trainer & A Peer To Veterans

 

My definition of success is very simple. When I get up the morning, I say "Thank you God for another sunrise and a new day."

 

I met Dr. Ken Blackman at the recent NCMHCO Conference in Raleigh and was really inspired by him sharing the wonderful work he has done as a peer trainer and his peer work being done with veterans. I asked him if he would take a few moments to share with me and and peers in NC his heart and important peer work.

 

1) As a peer, how do you define success?

 

My definition of success is very simple. When I get up the morning, I say "Thank you God for another sunrise and a new day."

 

On my knees, I say a very simple prayer: "God, thank you for another day. Please help me use it wisely!  Help me be of maximum use to You and my fellow man."

 

At the end of the day, (if I have done that to the best of my ability) I have had a successful day.

 

Dr. Ken Blackman

 

You can find his professional experience listed here in his -->Resume Final MH-SA Jul 2014

 2) What is a typical day and week for you?

 

I do not know the best way to answer that question because my days are different almost every day and every week. The closest thing to a typical day is when I teach the Peer Specialist Class.

 

I am out of bed at  6:30 AM. and the coffee is brewed.  After morning prayer and meditation, I sit on my back porch with my coffee and my dog and (most days) with my wife.  I watch and listen to the birds. After breakfast, I head to the college in time to be there before 800 a.m. When I teach in Jacksonville, the time moves up and I have to leave for Jacksonville by 6:30 a.m. Class runs until 5:00 PM. I usually spend 15-30 minutes after class with one or two of the students and then head home. Class runs Monday through Friday.

 

I always have homework. In the weeks prior to the class, the beginnings are always hectic because I try to interview all the potential students on the phone.  Many of them are interviewed (in person) prior to acceptance into the course.

 3) What advice do you have for peers just entering the workforce?

 

Dress up and show up.  Volunteer where you can be passionate about making a difference.

 

 4) What experiences have you found most rewarding?

 

Prior to coming to Wilmington, I opened and operated an half-way house for men. The most rewarding part is the miracle when they finally realized they were alive and they wanted to be clean and sober.

 

 5) What keeps you inspired to "keep at it"? 

 

I see miracles every day in my work and in my travels. Also, when I meet with former students or men I met in prison 8-10 years ago who now have their lives back.

 

 

 6) What are the challenges and emotional issues do you see that veterans are facing?

 

We could talk hours on tough issues facing veterans and barely scratch the surface.  We have several very different groups of veterans in our regions. We have a few Korean War veterans. We have many Vietnam veterans. We also have way too many veterans from the various "conflicts"in various parts of the world. Each of these groups of men and women have some problems and challenges unique to their personal history. The VA is starting to understand some of the problems which plague their efforts to help these men and women. As a result of this great need, they are training and hiring peers to support them.

 

 

 7) What positive effects are peers having towards providing support to veterans?

 

The VA has recognized the value of Peers and are using them in several areas with a lot of success. The man who runs the Peer Specialist Program for the VA is a very competent and passionate supporter of Peers. Nothing happens quickly in the VA system especially when it comes to something as new as Peers. 

Interview with James Cioe, LADAC, CSAC, CPSS: Program Coordinator at Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse

 

"We must have a path in our life that supports us working on our “stuff”, our issues. That supports our change. Life is a mirror and nothing brings the mirror like clients. HOW. Honesty, open-mindedness and willingness. Make it your intention to both grow and honor (take care of) yourself for the rest of your life. Have a path in place that looks after yourself emotionally/spiritually and take care of that side of your life."

 

I am excited about the opportunity to share with you some insights from a real leader in the recovery movement here in NC. Jimmy Cioe, LADAC, CSAC, CPSS  who is Program Coordinator at Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse.

I had the opportunity to connect with him and I asked him to share with peers across NC some insights about how he defines success; what a typical week is like for him; his wellness tools; advice for peers and what keeps him motivated to keep at it. Kick back and check out what he shares with us.

 

How do you define success?  

 

Forward movement. Humans want to advance, shine and grow, like all living things, toward our optimal state. What that looks like for each individual can be different. There’s a saying, “It’s important to meet people where they’re at, but not leave them where they’re at.”

 

James Cioe, Program Coordinator at Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse

 

What is a typical day and week like for you?  

 

I have been in the Advocacy business for the last two + years so I do not have much client contact these days. My day is desk work and out in the community. I was a licensed alcohol/drug counselor for the previous 17 years and during that time was introduced to Peer Support concepts and took the training.  

 

What's your advice for those entering the field?  

 

We must have a path in our life that supports us working on our “stuff”, our issues. That supports our change. Life is a mirror and nothing brings the mirror like clients. HOW. Honesty, open-mindedness and willingness. Make it your intention to both grow and honor (take care of) yourself for the rest of your life. Have a path in place that looks after yourself emotionally/ spiritually and take care of that side of your life. Most all of the people we encounter in our work did not receive the parenting they truly desired and needed. One way to characterize the work is we are holding a space for them to learn to parent themselves. That is a way to look at our own process. Parenting ourselves.  

 

What wellness tools do you use in your own life?  

 

Prayer...Meditation..Introspection..Meetings..Sponsor...Sponsees...Service...Charity/Social responsibility...Exercise...Nutrition...Fellowship...Books...Commune with nature...Walks...Humor  

And More-I need all the help I can get.  

 

What have been your most rewarding experiences?  

 

I have seen/aided amazing success stories which, of course are gratifying. Yet, I have to admit the “failures” outnumber that the “successes”, so I am comforted by the Christian Mystic, Thomas Merton’s advice, “Do not depend on the hope of Results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no worth at all, if not perhaps, Results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you will start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself.” I have to also throw in that when I finally came in to recovery, I remembered something someone told me ten years earlier, and that led to a spiritual awakening. A counselor had planted a seed that took 10 years to sprout, but sprout it did. What we do does count.

 

 What motivates and inspires you to "keep at it"?  

 

Simply, still, the gratitude for that drop of Grace that changed the course of my life. And those who loved me before I could love myself.  

 

What are your recommendations towards professional development?  

The spiritual path dictates that ultimately there are no regrets. Though we may have amends needed, hard work ahead, sadness over losses & missed opportunities, grief from those losses and deep feelings through it all, in our healing we are headed to a land of no regrets. But I wish I got my BA when I was young and that is officially the only advice I ever give out.  

 

What recovery champions most inspire you?

 

 Many mentors and leaders in recovery have helped me on the way. I see God in all of them and am grateful. Currently, my mentor and teacher is Chris Budnick, from The Healing Place.

 

I conclude with Jimmy Cioe, the Program Coordinator for Recovery Initiatives at the Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse as he shares what recovery is in his own words.  Listen. It is great.

 

 

 

 

Thanks, so much Jimmy. Joy to you always for your journey and the road ahead.