2024
Conference Sessions

2024 Conference Schedule

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Registration – Lower Lobby

Coffee Service and Continental Breakfast – Oscar Wilde II + III
Exhibits Open – Promenade

Opening Remarks and Introductions

(.75 CEUs)

Keynote Address (9 am start)

Daryl McGraw, MA, CAC, CCJP, Founder
Formerly Inc

Workshop Series I (4 Workshops)

(1.25 CEUs)

The Sequential Intercept Model and the Role of Recovery Coaches

Michael Johnson, CEO
Turning Point of Springfield

Astrid Hoyt, COO
Turning Point of Springfield

Jeffery Burnham, Police Chief
Springfield Police Department

Daryl McGraw, MA, CAC, CCJP, Forensic Peer Support Trainer
Formerly Inc

Jon Hoyt , Peer Recovery Coach Specialist
Turning Point of Springfield

Anthony Giordano, Volunteer Coordinator
Southern State Correctional Facility

Nick Merrill, Supervisor
Springfield Probation and Parole

Mike Groner, Probation and Parole Officer
Southern State Correctional Facility

Polly Mahoney, Reentry & Panel Coordinator for Springfield​
Greater Falls Community Justice Center

Doug Hayden, Tamarack and Pretrial Services Coordinator
Valley Court Diversion Program

Description: The presentation will explore the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) and its intersection with the roles and impact of Recovery Coaches in justice-involved settings and behavioral health systems.

Shifting Paradigms: The Jenna’s Promise Recovery Village Model and Lessons From Our First Five Years

Dawn Tatro, Founder
Lex Arthers, Admissions Manager
Madison Perry, Workforce Development and Education Program Manager
Jenna’s Promise

Description: Jenna’s Promise is a paradigm-shifting model for caring for individuals with substance use disorders. Our approach is known as the “recovery village model” because healing often takes a proverbial village of connections and supports but also because we have worked to build a recovery-oriented community and to positively affect the environment in the town and village of Johnson of which we are a part. Many of the people we serve are survivors of sexual or domestic violence, human trafficking, incarceration, and other barriers and traumas that contributed to or stemmed from substance use. Our three certified recovery homes, serving up to 16 women from across Vermont, offer trauma-informed, structured, mental health/substance use treatment in a clinical setting, healthcare, workforce development, education/vocational training, health and wellness programming, and a strong focus on community connections in the hope of improved long-term outcomes.

“The New Normal” – how to grow and manage a peer recovery organization during post-pandemic affected staffing shortages, dwindling resources, and an ever-increasing acuity of substance use

Cameron Lauf, Executive Director
Emily Korkosz, Director of Coaching Services
Turning Point of Chittenden County

Description: Discuss and learn how the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County developed recovery center operations, post-pandemic, for serving the most populous county in Vermont, remaining open 365 days per year, 24/7 hospital recovery coaching services, eliminating barriers associated with procuring peer recovery supports, and sustaining the model.

Understanding the Vermont Budget Process to Fund our Recovery Goals

Meg Fuerst, Consultant
Action Circles

Description: Understanding the budget process is key to getting legislation passed that requires funding, and the influx of federal funds due to the covid pandemic has created an unprecedented opportunity of available one-time funds for the budgeting process. In this workshop, you will learn what the Vermont budget process is and how/when you can get involved to advocate for specific funding requests. Participants will get an overview of the federal money that has come to Vermont in the past year and a half, how decisions are made, and who makes them. By the end of the workshop, you will have tips for talking with legislators about your funding request, as well as an understanding of why we recommend you “do all the things” (and what those things are) for policy goals that include state funding.

Workshop Series II (4 Workshops)

(1 CEU)

Aiding Recovery through Trauma-Sensitive Yoga

Danielle Wallace, Executive Director
Esther Palmer, Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator
Turning Point Center of Addison County

Description: Peer Recovery Coaches often come to this work with deep childhood or adult trauma. They often meet with participants that have similar trauma that can be triggering. It is essential for all coaches to have coping skills to reduce the likelihood of compassion fatigue and burn out. Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga is an evidence-based cost-effective method to support our recovery workforce. Trauma can disrupt a person’s sense of self and agency in their body. TCTSY has the potential to help folks who’ve experienced trauma gradually move into some harmony with their bodies –however they define that. TCTSY can help practitioners build skills of self-care (self-regulation) that give them the agency to continue healing. Adverse experiences and trauma can disrupt the development of self-regulation skills, making even “normal” life management a challenge. Body- based self-regulation skills are necessary for children and adults to move with ease through life. TCTSY is one evidence-based, cost-effective intervention for building movement-based self/body regulation skills – and healing some of the effects of trauma.

Reducing Teen Substance Use and Increasing Teen Coping Skills

Lila Bennett, Executive Director
Melissa Mosley, Assistant Director
Jay Caroli, School Recovery Coach
Journey to Recovery Community Center

Description: JTRCC works in multiple high schools and middle schools in the Northeast Kingdom. Come learn about the work we do and how we do it!

Sustainable Recovery Organizations: Strategies for Leveraging Partnerships to Ensure Member and Staff Well Being

David Riegel, Executive Director
Candace Gale, Director of Community Relations
Vermont Foundation of Recovery

Description: This workshop is designed to provide practical strategies and actionable insights to ensure the sustainability of recovery organizations through partnerships, benefiting both members and staff. It is tailored for recovery organization staff and board members, community partners, funders, and sponsors. Participants will gain an understanding of key factors influencing sustainability and best practices for leveraging partnerships to create a supportive and resilient recovery community.

The Power of Presence: Tools and Practices to Take with You in Your Everyday Life (meditation/breathwork)

Description: Meditation continues to be one of Roxanne’s most powerful daily practices in her own recovery. During this session, Roxanne will guide participants in a vipassana style meditation using breath work to ground ourselves in our bodies, do a 15 minute body scan and discuss how meditation has been invaluable as a tool. She will show us how meditation can be used both personally and professionally.

Lunch

Running slide-show focusing on recovery center achievements.

Sponsors Hall

Attendees will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for one of four prizes. A raffle entry will be earned by completing a “visit our sponsors” passport.

Psychological First Aid Training

(2 CEUs)

Sander Koyfman, MD, Director
April Naturale, PhD, VP Disaster Services
Vibrant Emotional Health

Description: Through guided interactions in relevant scenarios, participants will utilize the 8 components of Psychological First Aid (PFA) to model compassionate support in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Presented by Vibrant Emotional Health and supported by the VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, this active role-playing workshop aims to prepare PFA training participants to effectively intervene and support in the aftermath of a disaster within their context.

• RPV members have priority attendance at this workshop.
• Non-RPV members are welcome to attend provided there is room. It is requested non-RPV members who wish to attend this training complete the Psychological First Aid training available online at The National Child Traumatic Stress Network prior to the conference.

Wellness Hour

AA 12-Step Meeting

All Recovery Meeting

Hosted by: Turning Point of Windham County

A Window Between Worlds Art Expressions (mantra bracelet crafting)

Arial Beaulac, Executive Director
Kingdom Recovery Center

Description: This workshop offers participants an opportunity to celebrate their journey towards healing and growth, by creating personal mantra bracelets, while also learning about A Window Between Worlds, Art Transforming Trauma as a tool for your participants, workers and self-
care.

Quiet Break Room

Hosted by: Journey to Recovery Community Center

Visit Our Sponsors” Prize Draw

Break

Recovery Stars Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction (separate ticket)

Continental Breakfast with Coffee Service

Intention Setting for the Day
Roxanne Scully, meditation instructor

Panel Presentation: Institutional Change Through Partnership: How Turning Point’s Peer Coaching Model is Reforming Vermont’s Prison System

(1.5 CEUs)

Moderator – Ena Backus, Senior Consultant
Friedman HealthCare

Tracie Hauck, Executive Director
Turning Point Center of Rutland
Isaac Dayno, Policy Director
Department of Corrections
Emily Korkosz, Coaching Services Coordinator
Turning Point Center of Chittenden County
Michael Johnson, Executive Director
Turning Point of Springfield
Michael St. Pierre, individual with lived experience
Alex Lucci, Recovery Coach, individual with lived experience
Turning Point Center of Rutland
Michael Daly, Recovery Coach
Turning Point Center of Rutland

Description: In May 2023, peer recovery coaching in Vermont prisons was limited to one site despite launching seven years earlier. By May 2024, the program was scaling statewide with more than $1.5 million in support from the Vermont Legislature and interest from the federal delegation. What changed? This workshop will explore how innovative partnership between community providers and state government officials – and healing years of mutual distrust – turbocharged the correctional peer coaching model developed in Rutland for statewide expansion. The discussion will focus on how this process changed the correctional system in Vermont and how the state’s prisons interact with their communities.

Break

Workshop Series IV (4 Workshops)

(1 CEU)

The Mind Body Connection

Jen Burt, Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor and Recovery Coach
Turning Point of Bennington

Description: An interactive immersion in mind and body relaxation

Emotional Sobriety 101

Melanie Gulde, Program Director
Divided Sky Foundation

Description: Understanding what ES is and how we can all use it in our lives

From Trail to Transformation

Christine Allen, Executive Director
Turning Point of Windham County

Description: Christine will talk about her experiences hiking the appalachian trail. During this, Christine will explain how she found inner peace. How Christine was able to work through difficult times, appreciate the little things and once finally surrounding to her circumstance was able to find beauty in all things. Let go of anger and fear. Christine will talk about how hiking was a gift to find her true authentic self.

Win/Win: Where Recovery Housing and Recovery Center Meet

Sheila Young, Executive Director
Karl Coleman, Jack’s House Manager
Maggie Fellows, Willow Grove Manager
Upper Valley Turning Point

Description: How recovery homes coupled with a recovery center increases
the likelihood that recovery housing residents will achieve and appreciate
sustained recovery. This workshop is intended for:

• Anyone who wants to learn about recovery homes and recovery
  centers.
• Recovery centers that may be considering adding housing to the
  services they provide.
• Any recovery organization that wants to understand how peer
  recovery can be helpful to their clients/guests.

Closing Remarks

Gary De Carolis, Executive Director
Recovery Partners of Vermont

Daryl McGraw, MA, CAC, CCJP, Founder
Formerly Inc

Peter Welch, US Senator

Complete and Submit Evaluation Forms, Return Lanyards.