HOPE 2025 Workshop Descriptions & Presenter Bios

B1: Adverse Childhood Events | Presenters: Kayleigh Farrell, MHRT/C, CADC; Colby Lee, LPN; Renee Lewis; Deanne Ochoa Durrell, LCSW, CCS; Lucie Stewart, FNP
This presentation offers background information about the Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) study and the information gained from it. We’ll then move into discussing how this information relates to working with folks within the Opioid Health Home (OHH) model and supporting people in their recovery. You’ll gain an understanding of the ACE study, how it relates to real people in the real world (including yourself), and how we can keep that information in mind when working with people in recovery or in our own recovery processes.

B2: How the Eight Domains of Wellness Can Build Social or Personal Capital | Presenter: Eddie Greyfox Burgess
The eight dimensions of wellness will be covered and additional stories of how we use them traveling around Central Maine to support peers looking for connections. We will additionally cover things like stress first aide and when we are with a peer how we can be a tool to aid them. We will share resources that are no longer available and what have been replaced at the present time with new commissioners.

B3: Expanding Peer Support in Maine’s Crisis System | Presenter: Amanda Thompson
As the state of Maine’s crisis system reform efforts continue, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Behavioral Health will share the new training model for Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist – Crisis Service Provider. (CIPSS-CSP) In this session, along with sharing about the training model, we’ll talk about the new dual-responder model for mobile crisis which includes a peer support role. We’ll talk about the ways that working within the crisis system offers people with lived experience opportunities to provide support to our community members in crisis, influence systems of care, and educate the members of multidisciplinary teams about peer support.

B4: Finding Freedom: Stories of Food Addiction Recovery | Presenter: Shirley H. & Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Panel
The workshop offers a powerful exploration of recovery from food addiction, featuring personal stories from four members of the FA recovery community. Participants will gain an understanding of food addiction, and hear first hand accounts of the journey to recovery. Through storytelling, and interactive discussion, the workshop will inspire hope and provide resources for those seeking food addiction recovery or supporting loved ones.

B5: PLEASE Skills: Why Physical Needs Must be Met in Order to Mentally Thrive | Presenter: Charlie Hall
There is a skill that is taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy that help identify what physical need may currently be missing and causing more mental distress. This is the PLEASE needs skill. In this workshop, we will discuss the 5 needs that the skill focuses on and then discuss what personal work can be done in the moment to recognize and fulfill them. Lastly, we will look at how the needs can be used when interacting with others who are in distress.

B6: ROVER: Expanding Access – Harm Reduction with a Capital H and Capital R | Presenter: Mark Jenkins
The Rover is:
• An established, turnkey, and scalable model that can be deployed in any setting with no disruption to established services.
• A self-contained, multi-compartmental unit that is outfitted with a full range of harm reduction supplies organized into easy-to-access compartments.
• On wheels and easy to navigate in and out of private and public spaces, while lending itself to efficient inventory control.
• Securable, with 2 external locks, and the model can be adapted to any setting.
• The Rover has proven to be an innovative engagement tool for facilitating materials, information, and support.
At present there are over 80 Rovers in use in CT serving roughly 26 Communities in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, including OTPs, FQHCs, Mental Health Centers, Infectious Disease programs, Re-entry programs, and more. We have successfully placed Rovers in seven states and recently Three Rovers were installed within the VA Caribbean HealthCare System in Puerto Rico and Danville Illinois.

C1: Empowering Pregnant and Postpartum Women Through Recovery: A Lived Experience of Loss & Enlightenment | Presenter: Kassandra Kuzil, MSW
This presentation aims to share a personal and professional journey focused on the multifaceted impact of substance use disorder (SUD) on women, specifically mothers, and to explore effective strategies for supporting disclosure and recovery. Through the lens of my experiences, we will delve into the themes of personal wellness and recovery, connections within the community, and the broader implications for impacting systems that support vulnerable populations.

C2: Introduction to the Board Readiness Training for People with Lived Experience | Presenters: Laurie Cavanaugh & Randy Morrison
With the help of a thoughtful advisory committee from various sectors of the behavioral health field, and two great organizational partners, the Office of Behavioral Health has supported the creation of two trainings. One for people with lived experience to learn the key elements to prepare them for joining a behavioral health nonprofit board of directors. This includes considering how we share our stories, what to look out for in terms of understanding the culture of a board, tokenization and power dynamics, and what questions to ask prospective boards. The second training is for the behavioral health nonprofits to thoughtfully and meaningfully bring new voices of those with lived experience into their boards. This training will focus on the elements related to the first training for people with lived experience. It will cover some of those key elements that were identified and offer
attendees an introduction to preparing to join boards of directors. There will be a time for questions and answers at the end. We will share resources for exploring board service and a website with videos about the basics of board operations.

C3: Rethinking Creativity: How It Can Support our Mental Health and Recovery Journeys | Presenter: Hope Becker
I will be sharing my own personal creativity journey and how it has supported my mental health over the years. I’ll also talk a bit about the discoveries I’ve made about what creativity means and how to rethink the ways we define creativity in our everyday lives. I’d love to help expand our definition of creativity and how it can be utilized for support. My goal is to ultimately begin a conversation that can be taken out of the room to continue exploration of the subject of creativity and its role in our lives.

C4: So, You Want to Work in Peer Support – What Does that Really Look Like? | Presenters: Bobby-Jo Bechard; Polly Finlay; Alaina Knox
Join Bobby-Jo, Alaina, and Polly—directors of Peer Support teams in various agencies—as we explore the diverse and dynamic world of Peer Support roles. Through our work, we’ve noticed that many individuals completing CIPSS training lack exposure to the full spectrum of Peer Support opportunities and the expectations tied to these roles. In this workshop, we will:
• Share insights about our agencies and the teams we oversee.
• Discuss the variety of Peer Support roles, including positions in Behavioral Health Homes (BHH), Peer Support Lines, Peer-Run Recovery Centers, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC), Recovery Coaching, and Riverview Peer Support.
• Highlight the differences between these roles, their unique responsibilities, and the varying types of support provided.
We’ll also address key topics such as:
• What these jobs entail, including expectations and misconceptions.
• Flexibility in roles for those balancing other commitments or income sources.
• Common questions about benefits and working in the Peer Support field.
This session is designed to give attendees a clear understanding of the Peer Support workforce, whether they are exploring CIPSS training, have recently become certified, or are considering a career shift. Attendees will leave with a deeper knowledge of available opportunities, what to expect from these roles, and how to find the right fit for their skills and lifestyle. Bring your questions, curiosity, and an open mind—let’s demystify the Peer Support field together!

C5: Your Story, Your Power: Sharing with Confidence and Dignity | Presenters: Abby Frutchey, LMSW, LADC, CCS; Kerri Pitts
This interactive session will guide participants through the storytelling process using the Share Your Story framework. Through reflection and discussion, participants will explore past experiences of sharing their story, recognizing how their narrative may have evolved over time. We will discuss key considerations for knowing when and with whom to share, as well as strategies for setting healthy boundaries to protect personal well-being. Participants will also examine the power of storytelling, understanding that comparison is unnecessary—every story is unique and has the potential to create a ripple effect of impact. Additionally, we will emphasize the importance of validation and confidence in owning one’s story, recognizing that perception shapes personal reality. Finally, we will explore ways to honor and respect others’ stories as listeners, whether in a professional or peer support role. This session is designed for individuals with lived experience, service providers, and advocates who wish to share stories in a way that is both empowering and purposeful.

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