Adults with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), particularly those in underserved communities, face many barriers to receiving treatment. The diverse needs and experiences of individuals in these communities highlight the importance of developing integrated, user-centered models of care. The Virginia Patient Engagement Resource Center (VPERC) is a five-year project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, focused on understanding the needs and treatment barriers faced by adults with SUD in underserved communities in Richmond, Virginia. The theory of change guiding this project emphasizes the value of understanding patients’ experiences and preferences, creating opportunities for meaningful collaboration among patients, researchers, and service providers to support more responsive and effective interventions.
VPERC’s primary goal is to establish proof of concept regarding the impact of patient advisory panels on shaping SUD interventions and the primary objective is to inform SUD treatment services research. The project will gather diverse perspectives on the feasibility, accessibility, and responsiveness of current SUD services to inform program modifications tailored to underserved populations — ultimately aiming to improve SUD treatment initiation and retention rates.
Key project components include:
- Establishing and sustaining a patient advisory panel to ensure ongoing input from individuals with lived experience with SUD to guide research and intervention design;
- Surveying individuals who use substances to better understand the challenges in accessing and completing treatment;
- Implementing qualitative, participatory, arts-based approaches — including a series of creative workshops and in-depth qualitative interviews — to empower marginalized participants to explore and express their experiences with SUD and treatment systems.
Insights gathered from these collaborative, community-informed efforts will inform the design of two pilot interventions, which will introduce new approaches and/or adapt existing evidence-based strategies to improve SUD treatment initiation and retention, with likely emphases on care delivery, patient education, and innovative dissemination approaches.
By centering patient voices and fostering collaboration between community members, researchers, and providers, VPERC aims to create a replicable, responsive framework for SUD treatment that supports long-term recovery and health equity.
Patient Advisory Panel:
The patient advisory panel, referred to as the Peer Recovery Collective, is composed of peer navigators and individuals from the Richmond area with lived experience with SUD and who are in recovery. Panel members participate in capacity-building activities, such as targeted trainings, discussions on SUD-related topics, storytelling, and foundational education on research processes. These efforts are intended to equip panel members to serve as informed consultants to improve SUD research and contribute to the design or adaptation of future interventions aimed at increasing SUD treatment initiation, enhancing retention, and supporting long-term recovery.
Consultation Model:
Under development
Contact form:
If you are interested in learning more about consultation from the Peer Recovery Collective, please fill out this Google form.
|
Amber Harris, NCPRSS, CPRS-PG, I-FPRS, COAPS Amber Harris is a Peer and Outreach Case Manager for a local government's Division of Fire and works on a SUD-related research project at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is in long-term recovery from SUD, specializing in outreach, public safety, reentry, harm reduction and education, program development and implementation, and crisis interventions. Amber is a Trainer of Trainers for Medication-Assisted Recovery Services; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice; Recovery Oriented Work Support; REVIVE!; and Recovery Ally Training. She is also a facilitator for SMART Recovery and SMART Recovery for Family and Friends. She lives in Richmond with her three daughters and two dogs, and loves being near the ocean. |
Brianna Marshall, MPH Brianna is a native of Smithfield, Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia State University in 2022, followed by a Master of Public Health from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2025. Brianna has experience as a program assistant, where she supported a teen health program and a Black maternal health initiative in the Hampton Roads region. She is |
Christopher Packer, CPRS, CFPS Christopher Packer has served individuals by delivering recovery services since 2019. |
|
Crystal Bennett-Girdy, R-CPRS Crystal Bennett-Girdy is an advocate for individuals struggling with SUD and co-occurring disorders. Her professional roles and certifications include Registered Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Project Coordinator, Recovery Coach, Certified Housing Specialist, and Trainer of Trainers. As a Peer Support Specialist for the Henrico County Division of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Crystal provides support and resources to individuals with SUD who have suffered an overdose and/or incarceration due to affiliation with law enforcement. At Virginia Association of Recovery Residences, she ensures those seeking recovery are afforded safe, stable recovery housing. Crystal uses her experience to offer compassionate, practical support, and to provide guidance and resources for navigating life's challenges. |
Deia Weatherman, CPRS Deia Weatherman is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and dedicated student pursuing Human Services and Substance Abuse Counseling in Richmond, Virginia. With four years in recovery herself, she brings both lived experience and academic knowledge to her work in harm reduction, outreach, and peer support. Deia serves with Health Brigade’s Comprehensive Harm Reduction Department, where she helps distribute life-saving resources like Narcan and advocates for inclusive, trauma-informed care. She also contributes her voice on advisory panels and task forces, working to expand recovery-oriented services and promote social justice in her community. |
Destiny Wood Destiny Wood is a psychology student at Western Governors University with over 10 years of experience in healthcare staffing. She is passionate about using psychology to help others. |
|
Dziko Singleton, R-CPRS Dziko Singleton identifies as a Black woman in long-term recovery. |
Emily Zimmerman, PhD, MS, MPH Emily Zimmerman is a faculty member in the Department of Epidemiology and the Director of Community Engaged Research at the Center on Society and Health. She specializes in developing ways to involve people with lived experience as research collaborators and in research on social drivers of health outcomes. |
Ernest Charles, CCMA, RMA, DDLC
|
|
Jacqueline Britz, MD, MSPH Dr. Jacqueline Britz is a family physician and Assistant Professor in the VCU Department of Family Medicine and Population Health. Dr. Britz serves as Co-Director of the Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network (ACORN) and leads studies pertinent to primary care and substance use in Virginia, including work to reduce opioid mortality. |
Jade Boyce, CPRS, I-FPRS, APPR-TOT Jade Boyce is in long-term recovery, and she currently uses her lived experience and professional training to support others in recovery. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and is currently pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in Human Services with a Substance Abuse Counseling certification. Jade has worked in correctional recovery programs as a peer navigator, where she has witnessed the power of hope and community in transforming lives. Her future goal is to earn degrees in social work and psychology. She is committed to advocating for those impacted by addiction and the criminal justice system and to showing others recovery is possible. |
James Bacon Community Engagement and Outreach Program Manager, VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies
|
|
James Swisher James Swisher, the founder and executive director of Creative Recovery Virginia, is a Registered Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia, a certified SMART Recovery Facilitator, Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery Facilitator, Advance Directives Facilitator, REVIVE! Trainer, and Recovery Ally Trainer. James says: "I'm very passionate about peer work - leading by example and letting hope be the guiding light. This helped me and called me to start Creative Recovery Virginia - a peer-run, person-centered, creative approach to recovery. The organization offers mutual aid meetings, peer support, and a traveling makers program to recovery centers and organizations across Virginia. I am honored to be part of VCU's Peer Recovery Collective." |
Jayden LeBlanc Jayden LeBlanc is a Peer Recovery Specialist who directs a small, peer-led LGBTQIA+ nonprofit that addresses LGBTQIA+ recovery, mental health, and neurodivergence. Jayden is a neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ person in long-term recovery. |
Kim Koger Kim Koger is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with 12 years in long-term recovery. Currently, she is working towards her Master of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work includes peer recovery support at the McShin Foundation, harm reduction outreach at Health Brigade, and an internship in the SUD Intensive Outpatient Program at Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. She has sponsored others, facilitated 12-step meetings, and volunteered as a speaker and group facilitator at the Women’s Healing Place, Chesterfield County Jail, and the McShin Foundation. She believes recovery should be compassionate, person-centered, and inclusive. She also believes in a holistic approach to support long-term healing and growth. |
|
Leah Gregory, MPH, MSW Leah Gregory is the Community & Collaboration Program Manager for the VCU Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and has experience working directly with individuals and communities from diverse backgrounds, connecting and strengthening relationships between health researchers and community partners, as well as working collaboratively with teams. |
Lenora Spivey Lenora Spivey is a mental health professional. |
Lori Keyser-Marcus, PhD
|
|
Marva Mallory-McRae, MAOM, MSPH Marva Mallory-McRae is a health professional with a background in public health and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She has experience in formative and community-based participatory research, program development, community outreach, and the application of holistic TCM therapies to support healing and promote whole-person wellness. |
Michael James-Deramo, RCPRS Michael James-Deramo (MJD) is a Registered Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, a longtime mental health and wellness advocate, and a certified Master Trainer on Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Supportive Leadership through the Community Resilience Initiative. MJD is also a certified trainer in Medication-Assisted Recovery Services, REVIVE! Narcan Lay Rescuer Training, Recovery Ally Training, and a Certified FLOW Facilitator for the Good Grief Network. MJD holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid, Seeking Safety, Peer Support in Crisis Services, Peer Activated Resilience, and Emotional CPR. MJD has a background in nonprofit community organizing and engaging in transformative justice, environmental justice, and social justice work. |
Michelle Abercrombie, CPRS Michelle Abercrombie loves serving her community! |
|
Peggy Page, R-CPRS, PRS-TOT Peggy Page is deeply passionate about helping others and has dedicated her career to supporting individuals facing mental health, substance use, homelessness, and justice-related challenges. She works as a Registered Certified Peer Specialist at Richmond Behavioral Health Authority’s Richmond Integrated Community Health Clinic and serves as a Peer Recovery Support Trainer of Trainers. She draws from her lived experience to guide individuals through their recovery journeys, offering empathy, support, and hope. She believes in the power of listening and in empowering others by showing them they have choices. This is a core value she brings to both her professional and personal life. Peggy also enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling. |
Rebecca Leary Rebecca Leary has been substance-free since July 5, 2021. She is a dog mom, an advocate for humanity, and a Master of Social Work student expected to graduate from Walden University in August 2026. |
William Pye, R-CPRS William Pye’s life took a dramatic turn during college when he turned to substances to cope with setbacks and mask pain, leading to multiple incarcerations. While incarcerated, he participated in the Opiate Recovery Based on Intensive Tracking Program, where he began examining unhealthy behaviors and taking steps toward recovery. Since his release in 2018, he has earned his Certified Peer Recovery Specialist certification and now works for Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services in the Substance Use Program, supporting individuals struggling with addiction. He is also a proud member of the Henrico Empower Task Force and a part of the mobile substance use team for Henrico Area Mental Health. |
