Peerpocalypse Workshop Interest Survey List
NOTE: Workshops from our ethics series are not included in this list.
Bridging the Gap: Peer Supporting Veterans Transitioning to Permanent Housing
Lead Presenter: Jess SmithCarlock
Workshop Description: Transitioning to permanent housing is rewarding and challenging. Houseless vets face particular obstacles accessing and maintaining permanent housing while on a recovery path. Peer support touches multiple facets of this journey, in various housing and service delivery models.
Attendees will be able to identify key points where peers are impactful, learn areas of frequently needed support, and understand the relationship of peer support to the housing first model.
Large and small group activities, visual presentation.
Nourishing Ourselves and Our Community
Lead Presenter: Heidi Nestler, Nutrition Program Coordinator
Workshop Description: Heidi Nestler and Johnathon Vasquez will discuss the vital role of peer mentors in supporting Quest Center for Integrative Health’s Nutrition Program. Nutrition education at Quest is interwoven with the belief that healing happens in community and takes the form of hands-on cooking classes, workshops, and community meals. Learn practical tips and insights on implementing similar initiatives in your own program as Heidi and Johnathon cook up a pot of lentils to share.
Peer History Project: Using Media to Preserve Our Roots
Lead Presenter: Andrea LaVoy Wagner
Workshop Description: Be part of the Peer History Project, a grassroots initiative building a documentary series on the history of the consumer/ex-patient/psychiatric survivor movement. The workshop will share about the project, show historic video clips and photos, and open the floor to hear from the community about what the history means for peer support today and how they’ve been affected by the movement.
GOPL: Mental Health Peers Share About Connection and Workforce Development
Lead Presenter: Michelle Markus
Workshop Description: The central goal of the Growing Oregon Peer Leaders (GOPL) project is to increase peer voice, participation, and leadership throughout the state to more effectively serve historically resilient communities in ways that are peer-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-centered. Developed and delivered by people with lived experiences, the workshop will include leadership education, community-building, and workforce resiliency.
We will have fun empowering each other with interactive exercises and using new ways to impact peer practice.
Professional Development: Creating Professional Relationships
Lead Presenter: Robyn Priest
Workshop Description: Peer Supporters talk of feeling like they are working in a vacuum if they don’t have professional relationships across organizations or sectors (mental health & substance use). Explore how enhancing professional development opportunities across sectors can create lasting professional relationships and further the delivery of authentic, value-based peer practice.
Gain an understanding of tools and platforms that support Peer Supporters in their practice and help them feel supported and connected to others in the sector.
Aiming Upstream: Creative Peer Support Strategies with Youth
Lead Presenter: Leticia Longoria-Navarro
Workshop Description: Empowering youth in peer support means meeting them where they are with innovative, creative, and intentional strategies, combined with an upstream approach that addresses their unique needs and strengths.
This workshop highlights three dynamic programs aligned with the C.H.A.N.G.E. theme, featuring creative tools, peer-designed activities, and responsive practices. A panel of peers will guide participants in exploring strategies to foster connection, resilience, and leadership among young people.
Join us for some inspiration and hope!
Peers Instilling Hope! During a Momentous Time in History
Lead Presenter: Jennifer Padron, Co-Collaborator and Co-Presenter
Workshop Description: We teach how SI, peer-centric crisis peer de-escalation with e-CPR and Suicidology models, whose very foundation is grounded in hope, referencing systemic racism, intersectional US QTBIPOC and LGBTQI2 communities suffering four times the deaths (SARS-CoV-19, 2) and formidable behavioral health disparities and inequity.
This workshop discerns and offers teachings modeled in Trauma-Informed Care (2.0) and Intentional Peer Supports. Dan Fisher, Braunwynn Franklin, Jen Padron, and Laura Rose intersect as subject matter experts and triage on the panel.
Poetry Heals—And Anyone Can Do It!
Lead Presenter: Doug Westberg, PWS QMHA-I
Workshop Description: Poetry, a.k.a. therapeutic expressive writing, heals dozens of mental and physical conditions. Trauma symptoms (depression, addiction, PTSD) are only the beginning. The science is in: poetry has been shown to improve Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory illness, immune function, and more.
This workshop will teach you to lead a poetry group even if you've never written a line of poetry. We'll introduce you to poetic forms, fun interactive games, fill-in-the-blank poems, and optionally read our work aloud.
Overcoming Genocide - A Native American Perspective
Lead Presenter: Michele A. Pinkham, Community Engagement and Development Director
Workshop Description: Struggles continue in Indian Country, causing generational trauma to persist. Understand the effects colonialism had on Native Americans and how culture and resilience are keeping them alive today.
We are all relatives. Learn how you can provide community and safety for our Native American brothers and sisters.
Advocacy in Action: Amplifying Marginalized Voices to Transform Systems
Lead Presenter: Katie Cox
Workshop Description: This session explores effective advocacy strategies for promoting systemic change in mental health and social services. Participants will learn how to amplify marginalized voices, build coalitions, and influence policy using actionable tools and real-world examples. Outcomes include understanding the role of advocacy in peer support, gaining strategies for centering lived experiences in policy work, and leaving inspired to create equitable, community-driven change.
What the Peer Workforce Told Us...What YOU Can Do.
Lead Presenter: Jeremy Reuling, LCSW, NYCPS, Senior Director of Special Projects
Workshop Description: Presenters will share top priorities and action recommendations from years of listening to the peer support workforce. Participants will identify advocacy strategies for peer supporters, supervisors, employers, and policymakers, focused on career advancement and improving work conditions.
Participants will:
Be familiar with specific peer workforce action recommendations.
Identify specific actions and advocacy strategies to implement with key stakeholders.
Learn about available technical assistance for using the Action Agenda in workforce training.
Breaking Down Barriers - Integrating Peers into Clinical Organizations
Lead Presenter: Nybelle Caruso
Workshop Description: Learn about how a peer leader has integrated peers into two clinical organizations. Working through culture clashes between the peer world and clinical world can bring up unique barriers in doing this work. Learn about what strategies worked and didn't work in this realm, as well as future opportunities and challenges. Participate in a facilitated conversation among attendees about their experiences with peer integration.
Youth Peer Services: Supporting Youth in a School-Based Environment
Lead Presenter: Aubrey DeVore, Youth Peer Support Supervisor
Workshop Description: How can Youth Peer Services change lives and support youth struggling with mental health and/or substance use? Join Northwest Family Services to learn how we developed a robust Youth Peer program by inspiring hope, involving community, and encouraging youth advocacy.
Participants will:
Understand youth school-based peer support
Learn how NWFS developed a successful youth peer program
Identify the benefits and possible pitfalls of youth peer support
Peer Policy Academy: (Two-Part) Oregon Budget & Legislative Education
Lead Presenter: Kevin Fitts
Workshop Description: This two-part interactive workshop equips peer leaders with the knowledge and skills to effectively advocate for peer support within Oregon's political landscape. Participants will gain a strong understanding of legislative processes, health funding mechanisms, and how to engage with key political players.
Outcomes:
Navigate legislative processes effectively
Understand health funding mechanisms
Engage strategically with policymakers
Build powerful alliances for peer support
Shape state health policy through advocacy
Rebooting the Portland VA's Veterans Advocacy Council - Lessons and Innovations
Lead Presenter: Aaron Barrow
Workshop Description: The Portland chapter of the VA's Veterans Advocacy Council lost steam during covid and slowly withered away. Our small but mighty group of Veteran consumer volunteers are working to build it back up, better then ever. We will share what we have been learning about building community, advocacy and what it really takes to produce incremental change in a large bureaucracy. And we will be asking you to share your experience and ideas with us.
Peer Supervisor Fundamentals: Community Building & Leading Change
Lead Presenter: Linda May Wacker
Workshop Description: Chrystal Hohn and Linda May Wacker will host a workshop on Peer Supervisor competencies and fundamental skills. Participants will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of the role of a peer supervisor, and a copy of several peer supervisory competency tools. Come learn with us about the role of peer group supervision in community building and eliminating siloes in behavioral health! This workshop is for peers interested in leadership work, and seasoned peer supervisors.
Effective Legislative Advocacy: Advancing Better Mental Health Policy and Budgets
Lead Presenter: Dave Hunt, Executive Director
Workshop Description: Participants in this workshop will discover:
1) How to effectively use their voice as a peer to educate elected officials.
2) How to support and advance better mental health public policies and budgets to promote systemic change.
3) How to build long-term mutually-beneficial relationships with elected officials.
4) How to engage peers and others with marginalized voices in legislative advocacy.
5) How to host a Candidate Forum to hold elected officials accountable.
Building Up Leaders
Lead Presenter: Tiffany Atkinson, Director of Community Corrections Programs
Workshop Description: In this workshop we will describe specific strategies and tools our agencies has implemented and cultivates a successful shared leadership program, leveraging every individuals' unique strengths and skill. We will share how we ensure succession plans are in place to promote folks from within the agency, and how we build up other peers in our County through community of practice sessions where peers from all agencies are invited to attend learn, collaborate and fellowship together.
Supporting Our Peers Through a Bi-Racial and Multi-Racial Lens
Lead Presenter: Allysia Williams
Workshop Description: In this workshop, I would like to touch on how important it is to actively acknowledge and validate the unique experiences of individuals with mixed racial heritage—educating our peers to create an inclusive space where they feel seen and heard, while actively challenging stereotypes and microaggressions that may arise from their complex identities. Ensuring everyone the opportunity to express their full selves without feeling pressured to choose one side of their heritage.
Oregon Consumer Advisory Committee (OCAC) Full Council Meeting
Lead Presenter: Molly Griggs
Workshop Description: OCAC will have a meeting and share the work that we do, what is needed on the committee, and the changes that we have made within the year. To inform peers of OCAC, with hopes that they will apply; with hopes of making OCAC more Diverse to promote Equity and inclusion. We need some fresh ears, minds, and hearts on the council.
Queer Peer Support for Young People: Intersectional Identities & Allyship
Presenter: Bee DeGraw, LGBTQIA2S+ Peer Support Specialist
Workshop Description: This workshop focuses on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ young people engaging in peer support services, emphasizing the intersection of queerness and other marginalized identities. Participants will engage in group discussions and visual presentations to explore mental health, substance use, queer identities, and actionable allyship strategies to better support young queer and trans individuals facing multiple marginalizations.
The New First Responder: Crisis Peers
Presenter: Jake Harold
Workshop Description: In 2023, Yamhill County Adult Behavioral Health expanded its Mobile Crisis Team to include Peer Support Specialists (PSS), integrating them with clinicians and law enforcement in fieldwork. This session will share insights from a PSS and a QMHA with lived experience, focusing on the role of peer support in crisis response and the benefits and challenges of this emerging model.
Engaging Innovative Approaches to Serving Crime Victims: Leveraging Peer Support
Presenter: Ashtyn Buechler, Program Manager
Workshop Description: This session explores how peer support can revolutionize the victim services field by fostering connections between individuals who have experienced similar adversity. The National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) will share insights on integrating peer models into victim services, offering innovative approaches to enhance support for crime victims.
The Value of Peers in Supported Employment
Presenter: Katie Miranda
Workshop Description: Despite strong evidence supporting peer-delivered services, peers are often overlooked in Supported Employment programs. This session examines how integrating peer support with employment services enhances mental health outcomes, aligning with the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. Participants will explore best practices for utilizing peers in employment services.
An Honest Chat On Bias
Presenter: Savoyavashi Voyanne
Workshop Description: This session is designed to reflect on our workplace and personal approaches to acknowledging bias - both conscious and unconscious. Through this discussion we will learn more about ourselves, our workplaces, and ways to hold ourselves accountable to our biases when they are negatively impacting ourselves and underserved communities. We will also discuss ways to improve organizationally held biases and what accountability can look like for better inclusion.
Reframing Our Intrusive Negative Thoughts and Impostor Syndrome
Presenter: JD Holt, PWS, CHW, QMHA, CRM2, CGRM, CGAC-R
Workshop Description: By popular request, JD will walk through identifying, naming, claiming and reframing intrusive negative thoughts and imposture syndrome. With this knowledge the group will break into partnerships and practice these skills with each other. As an outcome, participants will hear and have opportunity to practice these skills for selves and others.
Expanding the Concept of Wellness
Presenter: Sandra N. Crespo, LICSW
Workshop Description: Participants will expand their understanding of wellness, incorporating mental, emotional, and social health alongside physical well-being. They’ll gain innovative self-care strategies, create personalized wellness plans, and enhance emotional resilience. Attendees will explore the connection between wellness and relationships, practice mindfulness, and commit to sustainable self-care habits by learning the power of reframing and perspective.
Walk With Me: Supporting BIPOC Individuals in Predominantly White Communities
Presenter: Jay Brown
Workshop Description: Peers will be introduced to and leave with a basic understanding of the mental health needs of BIPOC individuals from real life experiences in Oregon. They will learn how to use practical tools for providing support as non BIPOC peers, and a commitment to advocating alongside them during difficult situations, trauma and advocating for systemic change without overshadowing the voices of those they seek to support.
Owning Your Worth
Presenter: Tori H. Smith, OPTIC Program Manager
Workshop Description: This breakout session will focus on empowering participants to recognize, articulate, and advocate for their value in both personal and professional contexts. It will provide tools and strategies to help individuals understand their worth, overcome self-doubt, and confidently communicate their contributions.
Igniting Hope: Storytelling, Lived Experiences, and Self-Care to Foster Resilience
Presenter: Tinesha Harmon
Workshop Description: My presentation, "Igniting Hope: " aims to explore practical and impactful ways to inspire hope among peers navigating difficult circumstances. This presentation will address the following questions, 1) In what ways can we inspire hope among peers facing challenging circumstances? 2) How can storytelling and lived experiences be leveraged to foster resilience and optimism? 3) What role does self-care play in maintaining a hopeful outlook?
Community After Friction: How to Respond to Bias
Presenter: Makana Agcaoili
Workshop Description: One of the most uncomfortable situations a bystander can be involved in is witnessing a moment of bias involving others. It can be difficult to know how to respond to the situation in private and especially in public settings. In this workshop, I'll review what bias is, how it exists in our interactions, and strategies people can use to deescalate and respond constructively to bias incidents.
The Choice Paradox: Harm Reduction Approaches to SUD and Suicidality
Presenter: Joey Wander, CADC-R
Workshop Description: With a particular focus on houseless and housing unstable youth, this workshop discusses application of harm reduction principles to working with youth who use substances, and youth who experience suicidality. How do we support the youth we serve in making the safest, most informed choices, while still allowing them autonomy and seeing them as whole humans, with agency and choice over their lives and decisions? Let’s talk about it.
The Importance of Holistic Stress Management for the Peer Supporter
Presenter: Michaela I. Fissel, MA
Workshop Description: Holistic stress management is important for the sustainability of people working in peer support. We will explore the concept of best self as it relates to resilience, hope, and optimism. During the workshop, attendees will learn and practice 2 basic breathwork techniques to promote whole person wellbeing across the 8 dimensions of wellness, and develop a daily reset routine. Holistic stress management is more than breath, yet breath is the foundation for life.
Black & Suicidal: Addressing the Rapid Increase of Suicide in the Black Community through Digital Peer Support and Storytelling
Presenter: T-Kea Blackman, MPS, CPRS
Workshop Description: Suicide is often seen as a "white people thing," but the rising rates among the Black community. In this workshop, Jordan Scott and T-Kea Blackman, peer specialists and co-founders of Black People Die By Suicide Too will discuss how digital peer support, social media, and storytelling can dismantle stigma, foster resiliency and hope, and build community. Participants will learn creative strategies and fresh perspectives on peer support.
Leveraging What3Words Technology: Innovative Solutions for Supporting Homeless Clients
Presenter: Sarah Koski, Community Resource Liaison
Workshop Description: The use of technology, particularly innovative platforms like what3words, has the potential to revolutionize peer support services for homeless populations. By providing precise (and free!) geolocation services, what3words can bridge critical gaps in locating and delivering services to unhoused individuals, especially during emergencies or crises. Attendees will learn how adopting what3words and can create more equitable, efficient, and responsive support systems for vulnerable populations, especially when clients do not reside at a particular address.
Case Management: Supporting the Latino Community
Presenter: Elva Ruiz
Workshop Description: The workshop will focus on case management in the Latino Community. Transforming lives through individualized care plans that help clients achieve their personal goals. Teaching participants to be self-sufficient and integrating back into the community. Advocating and coordinating with other community partners.
ASAM Basics for Peers (Spanish Language)
Presenter: Fernando Pena
Workshop Description: Workshop will teach a basic history of the ASAM PPC LOC, what the 6 ASAM dimensions mean and how peers/ case managers can aid in treatment and recovery plan success by monitoring client growth or struggles using the 6 ASAM dimensions.
Immigration Law Topics for Mental Health and Social Service Providers
Presenter: Alexandra Blodget
Workshop Description: The topics are flexible according to the group's needs, but I have experience providing trainings on topics such as: an introduction to how the immigration legal system works; immigration options for survivors of crimes, domestic violence, and trafficking; recent changes to immigration policies; how to find legal resources; etc. The intended outcome is to increase understanding of what mentors' clients may be going through and to answer questions that come up frequently in their work.
Fundamentos de la Reducción de Riesgos (Harm Reduction Fundamentals - Spanish Language)
Presenter: Israel Pineda
Workshop Description: Esta presentación proporciona una descripción general de la reducción de riesgos por uso de sustancias, abarcando sus principios, estrategias y conceptos erróneos comunes, destacando su papel en el apoyo a la salud de las personas que consumen drogas. (This presentation provides an overview of substance use harm reduction, covering its principles, strategies, and common misconceptions, highlighting its role in supporting the health of individuals who use drugs.)
Elevating Lived Experience in the Homeless Response System
Presenter: Bill Boyd
Workshop Description: This session reviews the work to date of the Multnomah County Community of Practice, a learning and practice community of people with lived experience and expertise of homelessness. Established by the County’s Continuum of Care, The CoP began in the Fall of 2024 with the intention of working with four other communities across the country to elevate the presence and power of people with lived experience in decision making positions within our homelessness response system.
Critical National & International Policy Issues Impacting the Peer Workforce
Presenter: Paolo del Vecchio
Workshop Description: Paolo del Vecchio, a person in long-term recovery from mental health and addictions, has been a leader in the peer recovery movement for 40 years. He recently completed a 30 year career at the US Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) where he served in multiple roles including the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services and the founding Director of the Office of Recovery. Paolo is now an independent advocate to advance recovery-oriented policies and practices on national and international levels