Local Responses to the Addiction Crisis

 

THANK YOU for being a part of the SW CHAPS Network and helping us support each other while we learn more about Southwest Washington's Local Responses to the Opioid Crisis and how we as community health workers, recovery coaches, and peers can respond. 

We had 16 attendees in total, 15 in person and 1 on our maiden run of the Zoom conference call-in & listen connection.

Jerri Stanley, SWWARC
Tim Ranger, SWWARC
Marie Cooper, Lifeline Connections
Gretchen Hansen, Healthy Generations
Bette Ford, FB Support Group
Estela Clemente, Choice Wellness Centers
Donald Christensen, SWWARC
Thuy Smith, TS Outreach
Suzanne Smith, Clark College
Natasha Elliott, Helping Professionals Wellness
Eric McNair Scott, SWACH
Melissa Berwind, CVAB
Ren Autrey, OutsidersInn
Dominique Horn, HLC
Sara Angelo, VHA
Pattie Marshall, DSHS *via Zoom

 

 20 Apr 18 30

 

Kicking off the conversation was Dr. Estela Clemente of Choice Wellness, LLC, who shared her presentation on Responses to the Opiod Crisis.  It was informative and brought to life with her stories added to the facts.  We learned some history, science and law as well as more specific responses in crisis moments, such as Narcan and how to administer it properly and maybe save a life.  If you would like to have Dr. Clemente come and share her knowledge and expertise with your group, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

 

20 Apr 18 26

 

Marie Cooper, AAS, CDPT, Care Navigator from the Medication-Assisted Treatment also known as the MAT program at Lifeline Connections shared details about how their program can be the difference between successful attempt and relapse. With MAT services people have a 20% decrease in potential relapse over a 12 month person.  (90% on their own versus 70% with MAT). She also shared with us other accessible services that Lifeline Connections offers and some suggestions on how Recovery Coaches or Peers could prepare themselves professionally for work in her field.

 

20 Apr 18 33

 

Eric McNair Scott, MA, VP of Prevention and Program Alignment at SW ACH  - challenged us to look deep inside and consider our biases as we ask questions and learn better responses that are at least some kind of Harm Reduction.  He shared information about SWACH programs to improve Policy and Prevention - and how we can engage in upcoming Opioid Response Listening Sessions in our area.  Please consider joining in these conversations especially the May 25th one! :

 

SWACH Opioid Colloborative May10 25

 
Gretchen Hansen, Health Advocate Coordinator for Healthy Generations helped debrief us of the recent CHW Statewide conference and the CHW's Statewide Network efforts which is intending to create consistency across the state by defining community health workers and their roles.  This can mean a lot to our job roles and growth potential. We all have been formally invited by State Representative June Robinson to be ready for opportunities to add out voice to policies.
 
 
We also welcomed YOUR voices and shared experiences and resources around the table. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S INPUT!!  Here are some notables!
  • Jerri Stanley about The Southwest WA Recovery Community and the upcoming Recovery Cafe and adovacy needed for pay equity for Recovery Coaches and Peers.
  • Bette Ford about What Recovery means to various people and places.
  • Natasha Elliott about the Multi-Cultural Resource Fair April 21, noon-5pm at Geiser Hall at Clark College
  • Ren Autrey about upcoming NAMI Peer Meeting over Lunch, May 14, 2018 Noon-1pm at the Columbia Bank Community Room, Peer Pathways call for presentations and nominations for a Peer serving their community well.
 
If you have any input to bring to the table, we welcome it!  Let's all learn from each other.
 
 
Next Network meeting:

What: SW Washington Community Health Advocates & Peer Support Network Meeting - topic: The Hearing Voices Network - A movement to connect and listen.

When:  5-7pm  Thursday, June 21, 2018
Where: Columbia Bank Community Room
101 E.6th St & Main, Vancouver, WA 98660 (google maps)