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PA Peer Support Coalition

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Board of Directors

Apply to Serve on the Board

We are looking for leaders who are passionate about promoting professional peer services in Pennsylvania. If you want to help promote peer services, support those who deliver peer services, and increase the voice of peer professionals, please consider joining our Board of Directors.

The Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition (PaPSC) bylaws allow for 18 members on the Board of Directors with a stipulation that every effort be made to have representatives from all regions of the commonwealth. Applications to join the Board of Directors are accepted throughout the year

If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition please complete the below application form. After submitting the below form you must also send at least one letter of recommendation to:

Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition

Attn: Nominating and Leadership Committee

1653 Lititz Pike #427

Lancaster, PA 17601

-or-

info@papsc.org

 

PaPSC Board of Directors Application

All individuals seeking election to the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition must complete this application and submit at least one letter of recommendation. Applications will be accepted throughout the year. Election and reelection occur at the annual meeting of the board at the PaPSC Annual Strategic Planning Meeting or when members are needed based on resignation or removal. Appointments will be made based on the needs of the board.

Section 1: Contact Information

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Preferred Phone(Required)
Alternate Phone
Preferred Email(Required)
Alternate Email

Section 2: Demographic Information

Demographic information is voluntary, but helps us to assure that membership reflects the demographic diversity of individuals receiving public mental health and substance use services in Pennsylvania.
Ethnicity and Race (check all that apply)

Section 3: Qualifications

You must be able to answer yes to all the following to qualify to serve on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition:
Do you have or can you obtain an individual membership to the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition ($27 annual membership fee)?(Required)
Are you a resident of or are you employed in Pennsylvania?(Required)
Are you able to attend the annual in-person PaPSC Strategic Planning Meeting?(Required)
Are you able to participate in teleconference board of directors’ meetings held for 1.5 hours every other month?(Required)
Are you able to be active on at least one PaPSC Committee? (for more information see Section 5: Committees)(Required)

Section 4: Experience and Skills

To maintain a well-rounded board of directors the PaPSC makes every attempt to have board members who represent a diverse background of skills that assist in the successful operation of the organization.
I am (check all that apply)
Please indicate if you have training or expertise in any of the following areas:

Section 5: Committees and Workgroups

The Board shall establish both standing committees and ad hoc committees and work groups as may be deemed necessary for compliance with bylaws and to maintain the effective operations of the organization. It is required that all board members participate in at least one committee.
On which committee(s) would you be interested and able to participate?(Required)

Section 6: Letter of Recommendation

This application will not be considered complete until we receive at least one letter of recommendation sent to the Nominating and Leadership Committee of the Board: Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition Attn: Nominating and Leadership Committee 1653 Lititz Pike #427 Lancaster, PA 17601 -or- info@papsc.org

 

Regina Ford - President President

Regina Ford is CEO and Principal of Willow Communication Strategies, LLC (WCS), a communication agency for public health organizations. Regina started her career as a Certified Peer Specialist educating and advocating underserved populations. Regina spent over a decade in human services and most recently spearheaded a warm handoff project that connected opioid-overdose survivors to recovery support services. Now, Regina provides professional development, designs and evaluates complex care projects, and educates clients about the connection between wellness and culture. Regina is also an adjunct professor at Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication, and speaker for Michael’s Giving H.A.N.D., a non-profit that raises awareness for youth mental health. Regina holds an MS in Globalization and Development Communication (with a focus on health communication) and a BA in Strategic Communication.

Trish Nye - Vice President Vice-President

Trish oversees the Peer Support Department for St Luke’s Penn Foundation in Sellersville, PA. She is a Certified Peer Specialist, an LCSW, a CPRP and has her CAADC. Trish is also an adjunct for Widener University’s MSW program. She previously worked as a clinician in both the MH and D&A worlds, providing individual and group therapy. Her goal in Peer Support is to advocate and educate on Mental Health Parity to ensure individuals who receive commercial insurance and Medicare are able to engage in effective, evidenced-based services such as Peer Support. Trish is passionate about person-first language and empowering individuals to find their own path in recovery. Trish first began her path to recovery in 2007 at 20 years old from major depression and an alcohol/substance use disorder. She recognizes recovery is a daily process and unique to each person.

Patrick B. Henry - Treasurer Treasurer

Patrick has been employed in the Financial Services Industry for the past 26 years. His current employment is as AVP Commercial Relationship Manager at the Ephrata National Bank. He is responsible for the sales and service of commercial clientele situated in South Central PA. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy from The Pennsylvania State University in December 1994. Patrick spends his free time doing home improvement projects, traveling with his wife, Amber, and their six children, and coaching AAU basketball.

Patrick joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer in 2003.

Emily Ferris - Secretary Secretary

Emily Ferris is the National Director of Youth Empowerment at Magellan Healthcare. Her role is to implement strategies designed to promote youth leadership development, youth focused recovery and resiliency programming, as well as to provide oversight to the Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future Empowerment (MY LIFE) Program.

Prior to this role, Emily was the Manager of Recovery and Resiliency Services at Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, where she supported the provision of effective peer services in the communities that Magellan serves, as well as to provided supervision to the Recovery Support Coordination (RSC) team.

Emily began her career in peer support as the Coordinator of the Youth Connections Program at Voice and Vision, Inc., providing person-centered planning and leadership development opportunities for young adults. In a next role, as Magellan’s Youth and Young Adult Support Coordinator in Pennsylvania, her work focused on enhancing supports and resources for youth and young adults transitioning out of the child serving system. Additionally, she has additional managerial experience in Medicaid funded fee for youth peer support programming with the Trail Guides program at Mental Health Partnerships.

Emily graduated from Vassar College and is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Certified Peer Support Specialist Supervisor. She is currently a master’s level student at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University.

Tracy Carney Board Member

Tracy Carney, CPS, CPRP has almost two decades of experience in the behavioral health services field as a person in recovery, a service professional, and an advocate for individuals living with behavioral health challenges. She worked for ten years as a Certified Peer Specialist and the Director of Recovery Central Clubhouse at Columbia Montour Snyder Union Behavioral Health Service. She has served on the PA Mental Health Consumers’ Association Board, the PA Peer Support Coalition Board, OMHSAS Mental Health Planning Council and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Patient Engagement Panel. In her current position, as a Senior Recovery Specialist at Community Care Behavioral Health, she is involved in member engagement, facilitating the Statewide Member Advisory Board, and assisting Peer Support programs across Community Care contract areas. Her professional roles have focused on providing BH service users with positive experiences that support them on their journey to mental health recovery.

Owen Dougherty Board Member

It has been 39 years since Owen’s diagnosis with Bi-Polar illness. For the past 14 years he has worked as a Certified Peer Specialist. Owen has worked for the Advocacy Alliance, Clarks Summit State Hospital and currently is at The Wright Center for Community Health as their Recovery Supports Manager and Community Liaison. He has been married to his wife Charlene for over 30 years. He is the Chairman of Katie’s Place Clubhouse’s Board and serves on the NAMI NEPA’s Board. Owen feels privileged to work as a Peer specialist and is honored to be on the PaPSC’s board of Directors.

Diana Dubbs Board Member

Diana joined the Board in May 2023.

Donna Giordano Board Member

Donna joined the Board in December 2021.

Marissa MacKeverican Board Member

Marissa MacKeverican is the Community Support Program (CSP) Coordinator with NAMI Bucks County PA. Marissa’s role is to oversee and support the development and ongoing membership of local CSP committees. She is also responsible for facilitating, communicating, and collaborating with local, county and state partners to advocate for the improvement of behavioral health services. Marissa began her career with becoming a Certified Peer Specialist working for Access Services, which was the same company that provided her the life changing services she needed on her recovery journey.

In Marissa’s previous role, she was the Youth Support Coordinator for Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania’s Bucks County contract. She brought both lived and systems experience to assist youth, families, and system partners in various mental health and substance use issues with a focus on resiliency and recovery. Marissa is currently in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in social work and looks forward to utilizing both her knowledge and lived experience to continue to break the stigma around behavioral health.