peer recovery

in the pink

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pink and yellow

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.

Buddha

an orchestrated move is happening within the Peer Coach Academy. a cross-city training at a very affordable rate is taking place with the hopes that a larger network of peer coaches in denver will begin to emerge. it seems to be garnering attention as we are saving enough seats to fill our capacity. we hope payments reflect interest, but we shall see.

simultaneously, we are in discussion with a local drug court to begin a training process for coaches within that system, with the introduction of ongoing supervision, recovery support connection, and alumni development. it’s a lot to offer, however we also know that the system needs to change in order to be more effective, and that change may begin at this time with us.

the colorado peer support credential has begun to move forward as well. i received a letter asking to submit the trainings to CDPHE along with a crosswalk to verify that the content satisfies the standards of both the IC & RC domains as well as the colorado core competencies. there are 6 trainings to submit before may 6.

this is definitely a plethora of activity for a couple of weeks.  i have been plugging away with outreach and “bam!” there are responses. in responding to all this interest, i am fortunate enough to have support that i can tap into and that is just what i  am doing. thomas hernandez, larry wall, lacey berumen, stacy charpentier, fell cadwallader , art woodard, jennifer hill, amanda kearney-smith, allison harden  are just a few people whose generosity and support may make all this happen in a timely fashion.  their talent, their know how, and their kindness are keeping me in the pink. thank you!!!

This entry was posted in peer recovery, peer-to-peer support, recovery movement, recovery oriented systems of care, Uncategorized.

trouble me

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PCA--LOGO
Recovery Coaching and Training for Individuals and Organizations We proudly offer peer-based trainings for not only individuals in recovery, but family members and organizations interested in being part of the solution. In 2016 we are collaboraing with peer run not-for-profits to produce affordable trainings that can increase the number of eligible recovery coaches in Colorado and help create a network of peer. Colorado is developing an IC & RC Peer Specialist Credential which should be ready for rollout in 2016. We have assembled Recovery Coach Trainings with the guidance and mentorship of Connecticut Community of Addiction Recovery (CCAR) who are IC & RC approved. – You can visit CCAR at http://www.ccar.us. PCA Colorado believes in collaboration and is now working with Bobby Hornbuckle Foundation, Second Chance Center Colorado, Beyond Betty, as well as several other peer run organizations to match the diverse needs within our community. http://www.rodrushing.com

Please open the docs below to learn more about our business plans.

spring training copy

PCA 4 day

CCAR Peer Code of Ethics 2003

 

This entry was posted in peer recovery, peer-to-peer support, Uncategorized and tagged , , .

pot luck

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i am still adjusting to having mondays off work. it is strange, but it is becoming part of the routine. i went to cardio class this morning, fell during class and sprained my foot. i hit the cleaners, the grocery store, and watched a really sweet gay hip-hop film titled “bashment”.

we are having a pot luck at the peer recovery group on wednesday so i bought the goods to make sausage, peppers, and onions. i may need to cut everything tonight as i have theater plans tomorrow. strangely, i will be going with a catering friend to see “priscilla” at dpmc with dinner first. thought i would do the cooking in a slow cooker on tuesday night.

Sausage, Peppers, and Onions re posted from foodnetwork.com
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage
2 red bell peppers, sliced
2 yellow onions, sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup Marsala wine
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
4 to 6 fresh Italian sandwich rolls, optional
Directions
Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausages and cook until brown on both sides, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain.

Keeping the pan over medium heat, add the peppers, onions, salt, and pepper and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the oregano, basil, and garlic and cook 2 more minutes.

Add the tomato paste and stir. Add the Marsala wine, tomatoes, and chili flakes, if using. Stir to combine, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the browned bits. Bring to a simmer.

Cut the sausages into 4 to 6 pieces each, about 1-inch cubes. Add the sausage back to the pan and stir to combine. Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.

Serve in bowls. Or, if serving as a sandwich, split the rolls in half lengthwise. Hollow out the bread from the bottom side of each roll, being careful not to puncture the crust. Fill the bottom half of the roll with sausage mixture. Top and serve sandwiches immediately.

i worked a hella lot last week. regular work week plus 4 parties. i was pooped today really. i trimmed some bushes, did some laundry, and am planning on re potting about 10 plants i got at paulino gardens. i have a busy week finishing with 2 parties this weekend. rosh hashana on saturday signals the end of the crazy holiday month. but i do love spending time with other communities and circles. i prolly long for a life that includes these circles, and this may be as good as it gets.

september is recovery month and this will be the 7th year that i actually recognize this.. in  2006, i spoke at a rally for recovery in downtown denver and have been involved in some sort of recovery celebration  this year, is kinda special as i have been working with people in recovery on campus. the pr department seems to have taken a liking to our efforts. they produced a 9 foot banner to hang in our entrance way, have produced brochures for the peer recovery network- with some mention of treatment options, and are featuring one of our group on the company intranet each week throughout the month. so much to do and it’s only september 9th.

last week, i posted jacob arnold’s article about medusas music hall. please read it if you get the chance. it happened 30 years ago and i still find myself musically travelling down memory lane.

This entry was posted in 2nd stage recovery, medusa's on sheffield, national recovery month, obhs, peer recovery, september.

here comes the sun

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But I wouldn’t be happy anywhere else
Nobody to tell us what to do, all by ourselves
Isn’t this a fine hello, I wish I hadn’t seen you go
It’s always been a bitter pill, the broken mirror’s broken still
The letters never made the post, a thousand more I never wrote
And here on dark unfriendly streets
I find the comfort that I seek
And I’m happy, and I’ve been happy,…shaun escoffery
today, the marketing rep who has been working with our department for the last few months came by today with a photographer to secure images for a brochure and some in house promotions.  the brochure will depict the peer support network that has ignited at our campus. 
the day was full, hectic, and lit by a very positive buzz. there are 4 individual peers chosen for tiny recovery bios, all of whom have been in relationship with methadone for over a decade.  we all took lunch together after the flashbulbs and the labyrinth of portraits. these conquerors that were heralded today let their inner lights shine as they spun tales of old which were braided with the changes upon the clinic and this new network. i am proudest most of the glee and incredulity involved when they talk about the changes they perceive. 
their joy was so big it filled my cup today. and i took a long cool drink. i love days like this. the  particular song posted  i first heard at an early morning jaunt at the endup in san francisco. the]morning light was bright, the sky a perfect blue, and the sense of peace that  encircled me like glenda the goodwitch. 

This entry was posted in 2nd stage recovery, counseling, methadone, peer recovery, peer-to-peer support, recovery, recovery support services.

don’t jump over yourself

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Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can’t simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment. We feel that someone else knows what’s going on, but that there’s something missing in us, and therefore something is lacking in our world.
Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look. That’s the compassionate thing to do. That’s the brave thing to do. We can’t just jump over ourselves as if we were not there. It’s better to take a straight look at all our hopes and fears. Then some kind of confidence in our basic sanity arises.


what a hella week for me. how about you? we were on lock down cuz some ex devotee called in a bomb scare. we had swat teams on several corners with machine guns in tow. add to this the fact that we interface work with many people who have schizophrenia and are paranoid and restless without the presence of ammo. false alarm and no one hurt, however. 
i have been struggling with an acquaintance who probably has dementia and lives on their own. i believe it’s dementia which is caused by their advancing liver disease. i am at once trying to get them to see a doctor or cease their drug use. neither plan is actualizing very easily. and they have now presented with an infection on their leg which encompasses the complete surface from ankle to knee and resembles the  terrain of a red clay volcano with a concave center revealing some bone. 

earlier this week, i helped someone who was struggling with walking, moving hunched over almost in half. they went to their doctor and then referred to another. the term “life-threatening” was strewn about. a coupla days later, they appeared in a too small wheelchair because they were still unable to walk. i gave them the name of an organization that provides free temporary wheelchairs- hoping a better fit could be had. i received a call yesterday from the hospital they had been admitted into. and today i received another more whimpering call today in fear of impending surgery.

a peer to peer recovery group we started last year had it’s 1 year anniversary this week. there was a celebratory pot luck and over 35 persons participated. the participants shared about their success. the core participants in our effort have tripled or more within this year. and the discussion of problems is gently folding into a much more audible conversation about change and possibility. 

there is a sweeping wind of change that is moving through my daily life. it is bending me into an emotional posture resembling munsch’s “screamer” with the skill of rodin. i am playing a part. a part in a much larger story. i don’t know my exact role now, but these dry runs are exhausting. exhausting and exhilarating. there is a deeper dream that is being tapped in me. i am able to discuss some of this with my supervisor with candor. 

i really love this interview with patti smith… give it a listen

Patti Smith: Advice to the young from Louisiana Channel on Vimeo.

This entry was posted in 2nd stage recovery, Buddhism, chaos, empathy, peer recovery, peer-to-peer support, pema chodron, service work, when things fall apart., zen.