McDowell Impact Peer Support Services Aims to Amplify Support...
Published February 21st 2024 in The McDowell News, Written by Audrey Moore
McDowell Impact Peer Support Services (Impact) is a CareReach program serving the people in our community experiencing substance use disorder and seeking recovery. As McDowell County's first-ever peer support program, Impact offers an innovative approach involving a collaboration of multiple agencies that utilize peer support specialists to promote and support recovery. Since Impact's inception in 2018, certified peer support specialists have been embedded in community agencies to provide invaluable assistance to individuals facing substance use disorder and co-occurring challenges, ensuring their safety, health, and connection within the community. Impact has recently opened a Recovery Community Center (Impact Recovery Community) where participants can come and connect with peer support, gain access to Hepatitis C testing and treatment from a medical provider, and access harm reduction resources. Participants can also get assistance with Medicaid enrollment through the MATCH Team, get connected with support groups and other available resources.
Peer Support is at the core of Impact's mission. Peer support specialists are people who have lived experience with substance use disorder or mental health conditions, and have been successful in reaching long term recovery. In turn, they use their experience to relate to others dealing with similar situations through support, information, and connection.
Impact collaborates with many local organizations, including the Foothills Food Hub, a program of the McDowell Local Food Advisory Council. The partnership between Impact and Foothills Food Hub is multifaceted. One of the ways they work together is through the utilization of outreach cabinets. The team at Impact along with other dedicated agencies comes to the Foothills Food Hub and gathers snack bags for their outreach initiative and their participants. Snack bags consist of shelf stable foods that unhoused community members can eat without the use of a stove or refrigerator. These snack bags enable the team at Impact to meet people where they are and to gain the trust of the community members who may benefit from their services. Partnering together, Foothills Food Hub and Impact are able to take steps to achieve both their missions.
Impact knows that their participants encounter unique difficulties and co-occurring challenges as a result of substance misuse, including but not limited to stigma, disease, and homelessness. Impact hopes to address some of those unique barriers by emphasizing the importance of peer support and community education on the services and programs that help these individuals. Sarah Hensley, NCCPSS, Recovery Community Center Coordinator for McDowell Impact Peer Support Services states, "Our goal is to build a strong and growing recovery community in McDowell, we want the community to know that we are here to support the people who are struggling- you belong here." Impact continues to celebrate the successes of participants utilizing their resources. Impact participants have been able to gain employment, get linked to services they are eligible for, and stay on the path to recovery. These successes demonstrate the effectiveness of McDowell Impact Peer Support Services.
Impact RCC is hosting a donation drive during the month of February. Any and all items in good condition are welcome. The community can donate items at 50 Franklin Ave, Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm until February 29th. BigFoot Auction Company LLC will auction off all donations in March to benefit the Impact Recovery Center and the people they serve. Impact RCC is also seeking informed and empathetic volunteers to join their mission. If you are interested in volunteering at the Recovery Community Center, you can reach out through their Facebook page (McDowell Impact Peer Support), or via phone at (828) 527-6014.
McDowell Impact Peer Support Services is committed to supporting individuals on the path to recovery in McDowell County. Their programs' success relies on multi-agency collaboration, partnerships and the community's continued support. For more information, prospective volunteers or individuals seeking assistance can contact Impact at (828) 527-6014, info@carereachnc.org or McDowell Impact Peer Support on Facebook.