ROCKVILLE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A group of women who are incarcerated at a local correctional facility can now help other women in recovery.
On Friday, the Rockville Correctional Facility celebrated the certifications of the first incarcerated Women Peer Recovery Coaches in Indiana and the women were awarded their credentials.
Now that they’ve received their certifications, they’ll be able to use their lived experiences to help other incarcerated women recover.
“I was in a pit of darkness and for me getting the certification, coming to prison saved my life, and now I get to go out and reach my hand into that pit of darkness for the next woman who’s struggling,” said Natashia Jackson, Peer Recovery Coach.
The women received their training from the ICAADA, an Indiana Behavioral Health Credentialing Association in partnership with the MHAI Stanley W. Dekemper Training Institute.
“Just an amazing opportunity. This is just the beginning of the journey that we’re going to embark on together that’s just going to do many great things for the future inside here and hopefully outside of here. I hope this spreads like a ripple effect,” said Jessica Olson, Peer Recovery Coach.
Justin Beattey, the Vice President of Education and Credentialing at Mental Health America of Indiana commented on the benefits of the partnership with the Indiana Department of Corrections.
“We’ve had an amazing partnership with the Indiana Department of Corrections to really utilize people’s lived experience of not only recovery from substance use and mental health conditions but also recovery from the justice system,” Beattey said.
The program also helps with re-entry as these women can use their credentials to work as peer recovery coaches in the community after release.
“They realize the benefit it’s going to bring to them and to their peers. So I just think this is going to open up a door of really good conversations and support that they’re just not going to seek from the licensed professionals here and [Instead] going to seek maybe from someone they know on the unit,” said Deanna Dwenger Executive Director of Behavioral Health of the Indiana Department of Corrections.
