Co-facilitated by individuals in long-term SUD recovery through Planned Parenthood of Michigan’s Sexual Health Ambassadors (SHA) program; this training will help attendees understand the connection between recovery and sexual health.
Sexual behavior has long been stigmatized which can lead to intense feelings of shame, guilt, rapid declines in self-esteem, and unhealthy behaviors. Working to reduce the stigma of sex in early recovery helps to remove barriers and build the confidence necessary to set sexual and relationship boundaries.
We believe that focusing on a more inclusive approach to the messages about sex and relationships – an approach that includes opportunities to educate clients on abstinence as well as consent, supportive relationships, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), contraceptives, and barrier methods like condoms, can empower clients to make healthier decisions for themselves and support
Carrie Ullery-Smith, CPRC – Planned Parenthood
Kim Johnson, CPRC – Planned Parenthood
Jeff Lange, CPRC – Planned Parenthood
Jennifer Stratton – Planned Parenthood
Marina Bigger, CPRC – Planned Parenthood
If you’ve ever wanted to advocate for positive mental health change from a peer perspective, this workshop is for you. If you’ve ever felt like there is too much to do and you’re just one person, this workshop is for you. If you’ve ever felt like nothing ever changes, this workshop is for you.
Workshop presenters will discuss ways peers are already making big changes on a state and national level through collaborations like Michigan Peer Specialists United, Michigan Peer Recovery Coalition, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery and more.
Braunwynn Franklin – CPSS
Johanna Nicolia – Adkins
Ann E. Cole – CPSS
Sean Harris – PhD
Pain and resentment can keep us stuck- but they can also fuel profound transformation. In this interactive workshop, the presenter will share their journey from bitterness to betterment, offering practical tools for turning personal struggles into strengths. Participants will explore ethical self-disclosure, trauma-informed support, and resilience-building strategies to enhance their effectiveness as peer supporters. Through engaging discussions, real-world scenarios, and hands-on exercises, attendees will develop emotional wellness tools, set healthy boundaries, and create a personal transformation roadmap. Whether navigating your own recovery or guiding others, these sessions will empower you to shift from bitterness to betterment-one step at a time.
Tobias Neal – Mcomm, ThM, CPRC
The session will cover recovery coaches’ critical role in fostering community connections. The presenter will explain how introducing participants to community resources and providing warm hand-offs can lead to improved outcomes, not just during the service but also as participants transition into their futures and potentially pursue careers in the recovery field. Attendees will learn practical strategies for implementing and incentivizing multiple recovery pathways. Increasing recovery capital, and offering complimentary services. Amy will demonstrate how leveraging the lived experiences of recovery professionals can inspire participants and reinforce the message that their voices and choices are valuable.
Amy Brune – CPRC
Come learn the value of flexibility in your life’s challenges and successes. We identify ways of how your mind and body really do work to respond between being flexible and being not flexible. We will become aware of how we can create flexibility within our day-to-day happenings. This workshop will help you develop some positive opportunities to be flexible and celebrate success.
Linda Rama – CPSS
Introduction to Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery is designed to provide peer support specialists and recovery coaches with functional and practical tools, enabling them to learn and better understand the crime of human trafficking, the different types of human trafficking that exist, and an understanding of the scope of the problem. This course will support peers in the field to better identify human trafficking and provide greater assistance.
Deborah Monroe – CPRC, CPSS
Moral injury refers to the deep psychological, emotional, and spiritual wounds that occur when individuals engage in, witness, or fail to prevent actions that violate their moral or ethical beliefs. Unlike PTSD, which is a fear-based trauma response, moral injury is predicted on a guilt/shame based internal wound stemming from acts of commission and/or omission. Moral injury is most pervasive in high-stakes professions such as military service, healthcare, law enforcement/first responders, and justice-involved individuals.
Kevin Scott Sr. – PhD, CPRC, CPSS
