When I joined, the PR CoE operated under a traditional system-led model. Over the years, we have laid the groundwork for the next iteration of the PR CoE to be a peer-led organization. This shift has been challenging and rewarding as we focused on community and peer leadership. We’ve worked diligently to begin to overcome systemic biases and empower those of us with lived experiences to guide our initiatives.
We’ve accomplished much together. We excel in integrating peer recovery support services into diverse settings, building the capacity of Recovery Community Organizations, and developing the peer workforce. Our dedication to health equity and evidence-based practices ensures our services are increasingly more effective and accessible.
Preparing for the upcoming torch transfer, we mark a significant milestone in our journey. This accomplishment reflects our collective effort to create a more compassionate and understanding system for people in recovery. I am optimistic about the future and excited to see the continued growth and impact of a peer-led PR CoE.
That leaves us with many possibilities in the next evolutionary step to lean in. Leaning in requires understanding who we are and the opportunities in front of us.
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We are resourceful and resilient. Many of us seek advancement in our roles as peers. Imagine if we lean into that desire and become the scholars and researchers who advance the resources created at the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence.
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We are focused on equity and recovery for all. Many of us intentionally seek to ensure that health equity is realized in our lifetimes. Imagine leaning into that desire and acting to make our world more equitable – and recovery available for all of us.
We are relationship and community-oriented. We peers are some of the most well connected folx I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Imagine if we use our networking skills to lift each other up, share best practices from around the country, and meet in person and online more often. -
We meet people where they are – jail to Yale, park bench to Park Avenue. Many of us run organizations as peers anonymously. We owe it to ourselves to not limit what we can do as peers so that those who want to do peer work as community outreach, researchers, or in leadership positions can do it. After all, isn’t taking the limits off people in recovery one of the reasons we advocate ending stigma and cultivating recovery-friendly organizations?
This transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our many partners. I am incredibly grateful to our stakeholders, the Center Teams, SAMHSA, the Office of Recovery, our fearless leaders, my fellows on the steering committee, and everyone else who made this possible.
I couldn’t be more proud or grateful for the journey we’ve undertaken and the progress we’ve made. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive future for recovery.
