Recovery Services
What we do

DBHDS Recovery Services supports those in recovery who believe that recovery, resiliency, and self-advocacy are the foundations of system transformation.
Vision: Hope… Above All Else!
Mission:
DBHDS Recovery Services is comprised of individuals in recovery. Leveraging our personal lived experience, we advocate for, train, and enhance the peer and family support workforce community. We empower individuals exploring and living in successful recovery, as well as their natural supports and family members, throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Values: Compassion – Diversity and Inclusion – Collaboration – Excellence – Integrity – Equality – Justice
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- DBHDS Recovery Services
- Recovery Leadership Academy (RLA)
- Certified Recovery Residences
- Recovery Blast/ORS Flash
About Us
Our team is dedicated to serving Virginia in their recovery endeavors.
Deputy Director: Alethea Lambert (alethea.lambert@dbhds.virginia.gov)
Recovery-Oriented Services Manager: Kim Boyd (kim.boyd@dbhds.virginia.gov)
Recovery Services Workforce Development Coordinator: Mary McQuown (mary.mcquown@dbhds.virginia.gov)
Recovery Services Coordinator: Sherea Ryan (sherea.ryan@dbhds.virginia.gov)
Recovery Residence Quality Assurance Coordinator: Tiffani Wells (tiffani.wells@dbhds.virginia.gov)
Peer Support and Peer Recovery Specialist
What is Peer Support? Peer Support refers to individuals with shared experiences or challenges providing encouragement and understanding to one another. It is an organic, empathetic interaction that emphasizes mutual respect and shared knowledge
What is a Peer Recovery Specialist? A Peer Recovery Specialist “PRS” is a self-identified person with lived experience with a mental health condition and/or substance use challenges and is in successful and ongoing recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders. Peer Support Services and Family Support Partners use their lived experience to support another person’s exploration of recovery-based services that can help them overcome the impact of mental health ands/or substance use challenges.
What are Peer Recovery Specialist
PRS Certification and Registration Pathways
Mental Health Run Peer Programs
What is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist?
Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) provide non-clinical, person-centered, strengths-based, wellness-focused, and trauma-informed support while helping to ensure the person’s wellness-recovery plan reveals the needs and preferences of the person being served to complete their measurable and personalized goals. Certification is not mandatory for employment in Virginia. Certification is mandatory to register with the Department of Health Professions Board of Counseling. Registration with the Board of Counseling is required for billing Medicaid. Certification from any National or State certification body that is approved by Virginia DBHDS is recognized for the purposes of registration.
For more information
- CPRS Practice Guidelines
- CPRS Core Competencies
- Virginia Certification Board Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Application
- CPRS Code of Ethics
- PRS Trainings
PRS Supervisor Training
DBHDS Recovery Services offers training for supervisors of Peer Recovery Specialist for the state of Virginia. This training is available to anyone and is mandatory for those who supervise Registered Peer Recovery Specialists whose services will be billed to Medicaid.
For more additional questions or more information about PRS, PRS training and supervisor training dates please contact Mary McQuown Recovery Services Workforce Development Coordinator.
Medicaid Reimbursement
As July 1, 2017, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) has expanded the Medicaid benefit to allow for reimbursement of Peer Support and Family Support Partner Services. This is in response to a legislative mandate to implement Peer Support Services to eligible children and adults who have mental health and/or substance use challenges . Medicaid will reimburse for Peer services offered at any phase of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria (ASAM Criteria).
[For more information]
Recovery Blast is a periodic email that the DBHDS Recovery Services uses to keep people up to date on trainings & certification, recovery-oriented events, job openings, information on evidence-based practices and other important recovery information.
If interested in being added to the email distribution list send a request email to: Mary McQuown Recovery Services Workforce Development Coordinator.
If you are interested in being removed from with the Recovery send a request email to Mary McQuown Recovery Services Workforce Development Coordinator.
Links to Recovery Resources
Links to Recovery Resources
- VPRSN Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist Network
- Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership (VOCAL)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA) of Virginia
- Mental Health of Virginia (MHAV)
- NAMI Virginia National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Virginia Chapter
- Family Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS)
- Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program (VVFS)
- Virginia Commonwealth University- Rams in Recovery