Healing Kinships: Alaska Peer Support Conference 2023
Love in Action
Tuesday, June 6 - Wednesday, June 7, 2023
William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage, AK
AGENDA
SPEAKERS
AGENDA
Day 1
June 6, 2023
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast (in Person Only)
Meditation
Ryen Richards, Ptery Lieght
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome & Housekeeping
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Keynote
Caring for Our Community: The Power of Healing Kinship
Session Description
Speaker:
Vesper Moore
Description:
This keynote presentation will explore the critical role of peer support, relationships, and genuine human connection in reindiginizing and decolonizing society. The approach of peer support is deeply rooted in the values of Indigenous cultures, where healing takes place within sacred circles and through ancestral healing. Peer support offers a holistic and community-centered approach to wellness that can help address the harmful effects of colonization and assimilation. By embracing the principles of community-created ideas, peer supporters can help individuals and communities connect with their cultural heritage and strengthen their sense of identity. This keynote will provide a deeper understanding of how peer support can be an effective tool for reclaiming cultural practices, reconnecting with nature, and healing intergenerational trauma. We will also explore the challenges of integrating peer support into mainstream healthcare systems, where traditional healing practices are often marginalized or ignored. Attendees of this keynote presentation will come away with a renewed appreciation for the power of peer support.
BREAK
Panel
Youth and Family Peer Support
Jen Galvan, Carlos Diaz, Sarah Weber
LUNCH
12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
Awards Ceremony
Panel
Mobile Crisis Panel
Sean Morton, Sarah Koogle, Keyda Lampkin
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
BREAK
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Presentation
How Peer Support Specialist Can Support Harm Reduction
Session Description
Speaker:
Venus Woods
Jennifer Douglas
Description:
This presentation will include an overview of Harm Reduction and talk about how Peer Support Specialists can be an asset to Agencies that provide harm reduction services.
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Closing
Day 2
June 7, 2023
Registration & Breakfast (in Person Only)
8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
Meditation
Ryen Richards, Ptery Lieght
Welcome & Housekeeping
Keynote
Radical Kinships
Jose Arellano
BREAK
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Presentation
What does it mean to be a recovery ready community?
Session Description
Speakers:
Sarah Platt
Marlene Adams
Description:
Provide context story around the need to surround someone as a community. Introduce components of recovery ready communities. Facilitate discussion around what it means to be a recovery ready community in Alaska. Highlight the work already being done in community as peers. Dream together what the next steps could be in working together towards change and progress in the recovery movement statewide. Connect peers to potential resources for moving plans forward.
LUNCH
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Presentation
Wellbriety Presentation
Tara Kern
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
BREAK
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Presentation
Alternative Approaches to Pain
Session Description
Speakers:
Dr. Adam Grove
Eliza Eller
Description:
There is a dance between each person and their pain, and each person’s dance looks different and is influenced by past experiences, strengths and traumas. We will explore new information coming out about how the brain processes pain, and natural options for treating pain, both physical and emotional.
Presentation
Emerging Research on Peer Support Specialists integrated Into Care
Sasha Tsurnos, Heidi Brocious
Session Description
Speakers:
Sasha Tsurnos,
Heidi Brocious
Description:
Sasha and Heidi will present their research on the values of peer support and how they translate to Alaska. Sasha conducted extensive research in her graduate program on the peer movement specifically obtaining much-needed data to further champion peer participation in the recovery model for behavioral health fields. They have since researched updated information that continues to explore emerging research that merits peer support roles in the larger continuum of care.
Closing remarks
2023 Awards
This year, we would like to offer 3 awards to individuals and organizations who go above and beyond in the peer support community. Please see the nomination form links below.
- Lee Breinig Advocacy Award – This award is dedicated to Peer Support Specialists and/or Peers who go above and beyond for their individuals, roles, community, and policy. Congratulations to this year’s award recipient Sam Garcia.
- Marlene Johnson Advancement Award – This award is dedicated to Peer Support Specialists and/or Peers who has contributed their time, skill, and efforts to improve and uplift the peer community. Congratulations to this year’s award recipient Rob Seay.
- Outstanding Peer Support Organization Award – This award is dedicated to organizations that go above and beyond in the growth, empowerment, integration, and employment of peer support specialists and integrating peer support services. Congratulations to this year’s award recipient organization, Volunteers of America, Alaska.
About the Conference
The Healing Kinships: Alaska Peer Support Conference 2023 will occur in person, June 6-7, 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska. During this two day conference, we will bring together Alaska Peer Support Providers of all types to discuss many recovery-oriented topics. With individuals, community providers, local and national keynote speakers, we will build on two main values in peer support, connection and healing. We are hoping to provide inspiration for this ever-growing workforce, create opportunities to meet and interact, and to learn.