PEER CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR
Peer Support Services are rich in history and deeply rooted in cultivating meaningful and authentic relationships that honor and respect the experiences, voices, and choices of individuals and communities. Whether anchored in rights activism, the centering of equity, multiple pathways, or any other intersectional identities and needs, Peer support work embodies the understanding of “nothing about us without us.”
As the demand for Peer support services continues to grow, it is integral that we protect the fidelity and integrity of the work, highlighting and valuing our lived expertise. Staying true to the historical fundamental core values of the peer-to-peer support relationship is how we will successfully sustain our impact. In doing so, we ensure role clarity and identity, avoid peer drift, and work creep, and establish the voices of our individual and collective lived experience that define OUR work.
Voices of peer support matter now more than ever in collectively ensuring OUR work remains true to its origins, its roots!
“Lived experience matters, and those who have been closest to the problem are the best positioned to aid in the solution.”
CONFERENCE AGENDA
BREAKFAST
8:30am to 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am to 9:15am Introduction
Teena Brooks, LMSW, M.Phil., ABD, Assistant Director- Office of Consumer Affairs, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Brenda Harris-Collins, MA, Director of Recovery and Social Determinants of Health Bureau, Division of Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery, Office of Addiction Services and Supports
9:15am to 9:45am The State of the Peer Work Force
Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson Executive Director, Friends of Recovery – New York
Luke Sikinyi
Director of Public Policy, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
9:45am to 10:00am Overview of the Day
WELCOMING REMARKS | Auditorium
10:00am to 10:30am Welcoming Remarks
Commissioner, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
Commissioner Dr. Annemarie Sullivan Office of Mental Health (OMH)
Carlton Whitmore
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
James M Mandiberg | MSW PhD, Associate Professor
CONFERENCE AGENDA
KEYNOTE | Auditorium
10:30am to 11:00am Keynote Speaker
Dr. Felecia Pullen
CAREER FAIR
11:00am to 3:00pm Career Fair
The Career Fair featuring providers with internship and employment opportunities for peers offering peer support services will be held throughout the conference. About 300 peers and providers are anticipated to attend. This is a chance to connect, exchange information, and network with other conference attendees.
11:00am to 11:15pm Break
WORKSHOPS
11:15am to 12:30pm Workshop Round 1 LUNCH
12:30pm to 1:30pm Lunch
WORKSHOPS
1:30pm to 2:45pm Workshop Round 2
PERSPECTIVES | Auditorium
3:00pm to 4:00pm Perspectives Auditorium
Patrice Peterson
Helen “Skip” Skipper
Mona Lisa McEachin, Best Self Behavioral Health
PEER SPEAKS | Auditorium
4:00pm to 4:45pm Peer Speaks
Michael Staley
Anna Rose
Derrick Blocker
LISTENING SESSION
Listening Sessions
Carlton Whitmore
Dan Frey
Jason Rice
Marion Glass
NYC Department of Health, and Mental Hygiene
Patrice Peterson
WORKSHOPS ROUND 1
Workshop Title & Presenters
Jeremy Reuling & Rita Cronise
Listening to the Peer Workforce Top Ten Priorities: An
Wilvena Gordon & Douglas Murphy
Expanding the Peer Support Recovery Capital Toolkit: Fleshing Out Misconceptions and Applications of NA
Literature as A Resource in the Community
Sara Taylor
Amplifying Workforce Diversity and Equity through a Family and Youth Peer Advocacy Learning Collaborative
Meghann Simpson & Kristin Rivera
Understanding Youth Self-Injurious Behavior Addiction
Joanne Forbes, Jonathan Edwards, & Gita Enders
No, Nothing, None! Answers to Three Critical Questions about Supervision of Peer Supporters
Denise Delio & Diana Mendez
Effects of SUD/MH disorders on the family: Perspectives from family peer advocates
Andrea Wagner
Writing for Wellness, Advocacy, and Community Building
Edwin Havlovic
Older Adults and Substance Use Disorder: A non-clinical approach to understanding the physical, emotional, and social factors influencing SUD Among Older Adults
WORKSHOPS ROUND 2
Workshop Title & Presenters
Jonathan Edwards & Gita Enders
Career Chat 2.0: A Facilitated Dialogue About Pursuing a Meaningful Future
Dan Frey
Building Community for Mental Health Recovery through Social Media and Events
Zach Dyce, Christine Guadagno, & Charneice McClain
Empowering Peer Support Through Digital Patient
Engagement: A Collaborative Approach for Inclusive Patient Care
Rita Cronise & Joanne Forbes
Let’s Talk About Supervision: The Good, the Bad, The Ugly, and the Imaginary…
Shawna Black, Venus Moore, & Leilani Yizar
Gambling Harms and Recovery: Preliminary Lessons learned the RCOC Needs Assessment.
Jed Albano & Matthew Petite
Empowering CPEP Peer Bridgers: Skills for Effective CPEP Peer Bridgers Crisis Support
Helen 'Skip' Skipper, Nicole Scott, & Donna Jackson-Wilson
Transforming Lived Experience to Lived Expertise
Carlton Whitmore & Patrice Peterson
The Future of Peer Support in NYC: Strategies for Growth & Impact
Silberman Workshop
PEER CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR
EXHIBITORS
NYC Health + Hospitals, 8 Cycles Of Wellness LLC., The Family Center, Samaritan Daytop Village, Family & Children's Association - THRIVE Recovery Centers/SHERPA, ELMCOR, Acacia Network Inc, Narcotics Anonymous, Exponents, Brooklyn Community Recovery Center, Phoenix House NY/LI, Rutgers University / Academy of Peer Services, Center for Comprehensive Health Practice, The NYC Justice Peer Initiative, The New York City Peer Recovery Coach Network, Community Health Action of Staten Island/Next Step Resource & Recovery Center, Recovery with Heart- Elev8 Centers, Partners in Community Development-BIPOC PEEEEEEK Peer Project, The Rockland Council on Alcoholism/Foundations Recovery Center, Lincoln Hospital, ODYSSEY House, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Office of Mental Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, National Association of Peer Supports - NY Peer Advancement Network.
PEER CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Elizabeth Breier, OMH
Teena Brooks, NYCDOMH
Marisa Planck, NYCDOMH
Jonathon Edwards, NYCDOMH
Rita Cronise, Peer Academy
Malik Hutchinson, Elmcor
Luis LaBoy, Acacia Network
Albert Aponte, Samaritan Daytop Village
Mona Lisa McEachin, Best Self Behavioral Health
Lila Boyer, Helping Other People Every Day (HOPE)
Wilvena Gordon, FOR-NY
Luke Sikinyi, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Yvette Pate, Peer Supports Network
Deja Daniels, NYCDOMH
Brenda Harris-Collins, OASAS
Sylvia Hart, OASAS
Marialice Ryan, OASAS
Rebecca Cooper, OASAS
Tracy Stickle, OASAS
Gita Enders, NYC Health + Hospitals
Christal Montague, Outreach
Edwin Havlovic, NYC Peer Recovery Coach Network
PEER CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR
SPONSORS