UP of WA: Our History

UP of WA began in 2016 due to a mandate from the Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery’s Office of Recovery Partnership statewide meeting of peers. UP of WA is a peer run non-profit organization. We envision a vibrant, inclusive, statewide community of peers that supports wellness and recovery. We engage peers throughout the state of Washington to walk alongside them in building local peer groups. Together we create educational events, calls to advocacy, wellness events, and celebratory gatherings. The goal is for each local group to have autonomy and, if they wish, an overall state identity of proud peers with a potent voice and a strong sense of belonging in their community and state. We envision a vibrant, inclusive, statewide community of peers that supports wellness and recovery.

Due to Covid, UP has worked mostly through its Facebook group (896 members) since the later half of 2020 to share educational and advocacy events and resources. Examples of our past and current activities are:
 

• Leadership trainings in the North Sound Region and in Spokane

• Statewide series of Black Lives Matter trainings in the summer and fall of 2020

• Support and mentoring of a regional peer affiliate: Peers of North Sound

• Sponsorship of Spokane’s peer conference, Peers Empower Peers

• Hospitality Room and hosting support for each speaker for the Peer Pathways conference for each of its seven years

• Membership and support of The Pierce County Accountable Community of Health

• Weekly statewide online Pictionary game hosted by Peers of North Sound (active since 2020).