We are pleased to welcome Renee Morrissette, a graduating member of the LSF Health Systems Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) training program who is now working with our Training Institute as a Success Specialist. In this role, Renee helps other peers reach their career goals through the Opioid Impacted Family Support Program (OIFSP). Renee shares her story to help inspire others:
“A few years ago, I was at a place in life where I felt adrift. As a peer, I had been walking my recovery journey for almost five years. I was no longer in my darkest place but I was still struggling to find purpose and direction. As an adult student, with work experience mainly in retail and customer service, I was a little cynical about my future prospects and my ability to find purposeful work that pays the bills. I worked briefly as a campaign associate for my local United Way, which sparked an interest in the ways that nonprofit organizations help their local communities. However, it wasn’t until obtaining a position as a peer specialist with Gainesville Peer Respite that I learned more about recovery-oriented systems of care, peer services and the CRPS training program through LSF.
The more I learned, the more I felt that I had found the sense of direction that I was missing. Like a sponge, I began absorbing as much information as I could while working to finish a graduate degree and secure an exemption for my level two background screening. I have met several LSF employees and every employee of LSF I have ever met seemed to get a sense of fulfillment out of the work they do for their communities. I have wanted to join this dream team ever since the onboarding meeting when the Respite Center first received funding. So when the opportunity arose to apply for this position, I jumped at it. For me, the last few years have been a “full circle” experience because I went from feeling adrift, to working as a peer specialist to now having the chance to help others find that sense of purpose and direction that is vital to a successful recovery journey.”
