I have been working for Options for Southern Oregon since 2017, where I serve as the Research Associate for the Oregon Center of Excellence for Assertive Community Treatment (OCEACT). I conduct statewide program evaluations on the effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and manage ACT outcome reporting to the Oregon Health Authority.

My team, OCEACT, made a commitment to introduce more recovery-based practices to our Assertive Community Treatment teams in Oregon in 2020. We offered access to Pat Deegan's Academy+Library which first introduced us to Personal Medicine. The simplicity of Personal Medicine empowers individuals to take back ownership of their wellness by acknowledging their own resilience and using their inner wisdom. It certainly was eye opening and encouraging to me to see how I do things daily that keep me well. Acknowledging that I do know what it takes to heal and take care of myself in some areas gave me confidence to know I am resilient enough to tackle issues I feel challenged to overcome.

It is my continued goal to bring this practice into our mental health services so that the people we serve can experience the nonjudgmental guidance toward their own healer within.