HOPE | Stronger Together: Embracing Relationships, Well-being, & Community

May 29, 2019, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm Augusta Civic CenterSAMHS, CCSM, MAPSRC

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ABOUT THE KEYNOTES

Seth Blais Seth Blais is living in recovery from substance use disorder. After a decade of struggling with heroin and cocaine addiction, he dedicates most of his time reaching out to peers who share his experience. Through his work with several recovery-focused organizations, he advocates for individuals seeking recovery and/or living with active addiction.

Seth volunteers as a recovery coach, works with the State on a PSA campaign, writes an ongoing addiction column with the Portland Press Herald, and serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Crossroads, a non-profit residential treatment program.

Tamra Oman Tamra Oman’s life has been all about never giving up. She is a living example of being persistent both personally and professionally. Tamra has utilized her own healing journey and her professional experience to develop trainings, presentations, and programs to broaden the understanding of how to assist others to engage, heal, and grow. Tamra Oman is a human services program coordinator (the first Peer Role in a correctional setting in Wisconsin) at the Wisconsin Resource Center; a mental health treatment facility classified as a prison and has been an AODA Counselor for the past 8 years. Her focus over the last 10 years has been working with clients in the criminal justice system with addiction and mental health challenges. She has created programming being used in correctional facilities and continues to seek ways to be of service. She is a co-founder of Voices Beyond Bars and the non-profit SISTER HOUSE. Ms. Oman brings a unique perspective based on her own experiences. She has spent the years since her own incarceration and release from prison developing relationships, seeking education, providing presentations, creating relevant programming, educating agencies, individuals, and systems about the journey of addiction and imprisonment. She has been an advocate for others who have been in and are in similar situations as her own.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

Choosing to Live
Seth Blais | Vice President of the Board of Directors for Crossroads

Seth will share his journey through a decade of substance use, how he found himself living in addiction and feeling hopeless to how he finally found recovery. The address will examine why not all substance users become addicted, what prevents the ones who do from getting help, and how we as a community can make it easier for everyone to find recovery.

Light It Up
Tamra Oman | Human Services Program Coordinator, Wisconsin Resource Center

Each one of us has special talents and gifts- each one of us has a unique space to fill in this world! We need a world of individuals who have found their fire, their voice, and their “soul tribe”. Together we can support and compassionately challenge one another to build the kind of community we desire! Let’s Light This Place Up with Love!! We are who we have been waiting for! In this Session Participants will: explore the kind of community they would like to have and identify 3 areas they would like to see positive change, out of those 3 areas pick one place they might start, identify 2 people from their “soul tribe” they might discuss this with, set a date for an action towards creating the community they desire, and scribe commitment date on paper and post.

HOPE 2019 Brochure
For the agenda, conference information, and workshop presenters and descriptions view the brochure.

To register by mail, print and complete the Registration Form.

To register online, click HOPE Registration.

Cancellation Policy – There will be no refunds for cancellations given the week of the conference. Cancellations provided more than one week in advance will receive a partial refund. Please provide your name and address to where you would like the refund check mailed. Contact ccsme@ccsme.org | 207-878-6170

This conference is presented by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, in collaboration with the Consumer Council System of Maine and the Maine Association of Peer Support and Recovery Centers.