- Blair Gaston
- May 27
- 5 min read
Welcome to the latest edition of Recovery & YOU!—your go-to source for updates, upcoming events, and community highlights.
Legislative Wins: Recovery Wins Big
We’re proud to share some MAJOR victories from the 2025 legislative session—the result of tireless advocacy from our community.
Capital Budget Includes Historic Investment in Recovery Housing
For the first time ever, the Washington State capital budget includes $14 million to expand access to quality recovery housing. These funds will help cover the cost of opening new recovery homes across the state. This was a top priority at Recovery Advocacy Day 2025 and YOU helped make it happen. Together, we are building equity and access into the recovery landscape.
On Monday, May 19, Governor Ferguson signed this bill into law, permitting primary care clinics and hospitals to begin billing for peer services starting in July 2025. It also guarantees priority access to peer services during the Medicaid re-procurement process, which will help enhance the behavioral health workforce across the state. We were privileged to be present in the Governor’s Office for the signing alongside the remarkable Representative Lauren Davis, as well as coalition leaders and peers Heather Venegas and April Provost, who courageously testified in favor of this bill.
This bill advances true parity between mental/behavioral health and physical health insurance coverage by requiring evidence-based clinical review standards. A win for fairness and access.
This law expands the Community Parenting Alternative program so eligible individuals can reintegrate into community life up to 18 months before release. It’s a compassionate step toward healing families and reducing recidivism.
Thanks to your voices, the Recovery Navigator Program was saved from total elimination and will continue with 80% of its original funding over the next two years. This vital program offers law enforcement a pathway to connect people to care instead of jail.
Thank You, Public Policy Committee!
We couldn’t have done it without the incredible leadership of our Public Policy Committee (PPC), whose dedication and vision helped shape our priorities and amplify the voice of the recovery community.
PPC Members: Christopher Archiopoli, Brian Burwell, Joe Conniff, DeAunte Damper, Michele Gerber, Annette Jones, Melody McKee, April Provost, Nancy Roach, E.V. Velez, and Joshua Wallace
Thank you for your dedication, insight, and fierce commitment to recovery.
Stay Connected!
Launching this month, our Advocacy & Public Policy Check-In is your monthly Zoom space for updates and planning.
May 27 | 12 PM — 1 PM
Hosted by: Tristan SeikelWhen: Last Tuesday of every month
🔗 Join here: https://tinyurl.com/WRAPublicPolicy
Want to suggest a topic? Email Tristan at tristan@washingtonrecoveryalliance.org
Join Us for Elevate Recovery Advocacy Training – June 17
Elevate is more than a training—it’s the foundation of a statewide recovery movement. The Washington Recovery Alliance and King County Recovery Coalition are teaming up to host a free, virtual Elevate Recovery Advocacy training on Tuesday, June 17, from 5:00–7:30 PM.
Reserve your spot now: tinyurl.com/elevatejune2025
Questions? Reach out to Tristan at tristan@washingtonrecoveryalliance.org.
Recovery Day at the Mariners
Join the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA) and King County Recovery Coalition (KCRC) for a powerful day of community, connection, and celebration at our annual Recovery Day at the Mariners on Sunday, September 14, 2025!
Peer Wellness Campout
The first-ever Peer Wellness Campout is almost here!
June 6–8 | Easton, WA
Campfires, meals, self-care workshops, nature, and healing. This peer-designed weekend is free and open to all.
🎬 You're Invited: Recovery City – Film Screening
Join the Snohomish County Recovery Coalition and King County Recovery Coalition for an inspiring afternoon at Recovery City, an award-winning documentary that follows four courageous women on their journey through addiction, stigma, and recovery.
This free event will take place on Saturday, May 31 from 2:00–5:00 PM at the Black Box Theater at Edmonds College. After the screening, stick around for a powerful panel discussion with the filmmaker, cast members, and local leaders, plus community tabling, free refreshments, and a raffle giveaway!
Friday, June 13th, SCRC is hosting their annual Spring Into Recovery Event!
Spring Into Recovery is almost here!
Join us Friday, June 13th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM for SCRC’s Annual Spring Into Recovery Event.
This event is made possible because of YOU. It takes a village, and we're so grateful to be together. Let’s make this year’s event unforgettable! 💜
They already have 90+ amazing organizations tabling — and there’s still time to grab a spot before the deadline!
National Spotlight: Collegiate Recovery in Washington
We’re thrilled to share that Washington’s Collegiate Recovery Support Initiative (CRSI) is featured in a national publication by the American Association of Colleges and Universities.
The article, In Recovery: How Campus Programs Are Changing the Narrative Around Substance Use, highlights how CRSI is helping Washington campuses develop strong peer-led recovery communities, blending both abstinence and harm reduction approaches.
With quotes from Patricia Maarhuis, WSU’s leader of the CRSI effort, and features on multiple campuses across our state—including Skagit Valley College—this piece showcases Washington’s leadership in expanding recovery-ready campuses.
Join us in welcoming our new leaders!
We're excited to announce new additions to our leadership team!
Please join us in welcoming WRA’s Subject Matter Experts and Regional Advisors, whose insights and lived experience will help guide our work statewide.
• Bishop Ivy Gaines – Purposeful Growth and Human Potential Advisor
• Jody Haight – Tribal Recovery, Spokane• Ramon Razo – Regional Advisor, Yakima County• Tawn Smith-McQueen – Regional Advisor, Walla Walla County
Peer Policy Resource
In keeping with this month’s theme of “Recovery Wins,” we’re sharing a powerful national resource: a new peer-developed policy template titled "Building a Recovery-Ready Nation: Fixing the Broken Behavioral Health System" by Paolo del Vecchio.
This peer-led call to action outlines urgent steps our country must take to center recovery in behavioral health policy, funding, and systems reform. It was shared through a national Signal group focused on federal-level recovery advocacy. We encourage everyone in our network to check it out!
Recovery Podcasts
King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you're someone seeking recovery, someone in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.
Listen Now
Join host Carolyn Presnell on King County Recovery Conversations as she sits down with Ashley McGirt, founder of the Washington Therapy Fund, psychotherapist, and acclaimed author and speaker.
Ashley shares her powerful personal journey, from growing up amid the crack epidemic to founding a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers to Black healing.
🎧 Listen Now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
WRA Out in the World
YOU can stay connected!
Stay engaged, see what we’re up to, and join the recovery movement.
Thank YOU for being part of this vibrant and resilient community. Together, we’ve accomplished so much, and with your continued support, the future is full of possibility.