Today’s show focuses on local systems of care to support recovery from addiction and mental health. Centers providing peer to peer support, advocacy, and community support systems are speaking on how they support people in recovery.

You can listen to the show here.

Today’s Guests:

• Honesty Liller – CEO of the McShin Foundation 

The McShin Foundation is Virginia’s leading non-profit, full–service Recovery Community Organization (RCO), committed to serving individuals and families in their fight against Substance Use Disorders(SUDs).  While providing the tools for recovering individuals to create positive lifestyles, we aim to spread the word of recovery and educate families, communities, and government regarding SUDs as well as reduce the stigma attached to them.

• Ed Blackwell – Substance Abuse Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA)

SAARA of Virginia is a grassroots recovery community organization. All friends of recovery are invited and welcome to join. Members include individuals in recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction, their families, friends, and dedicated community supporters. SAARA promotes social, educational, legal, research and health care resources and services that support accessible, effective and accountable addiction prevention, intervention, treatment and Recovery. We envision the day when the stigma of addiction will be eradicated, and all who seek recovery will find it. Recovery happens!

• Bonnie Nabor –  Executive Director Virginia Organization of Consumer Asserting Leadership (VOCAL)

VOCAL is a statewide community, support network, social change movement and self-help education program created by and for persons who live with conditions commonly referred to as mental health disorders.

• Bonnie Morgan – President of Rams in Recovery at Virginia Commonwealth University 

RAMS mission is to promote recovery from addiction and celebrate living in sobriety. Their aim is to create a collegiate recovery-based community for VCU students, a safe space where anyone struggling with addiction can connect with like-minded people.