NATIONAL AND STATE PEER LEADERSHIP CENTERS

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 Largest Peer-Started or Peer-Run Mental Health Organizations in the U.S.

1. National Empowerment Center

• One of the most influential national consumer-survivor organizations promoting recovery, empowerment, and peer-run alternatives.
• Known for developing peer respites and recovery education programs.
• Website: https://power2u.org 
• Peer respites are voluntary short-term residential programs. 
• Run by people with lived experience that provide non-clinical crisis support.

2. Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ)

• One of the largest peer-run behavioral health nonprofits in the U.S.
• Provides housing, employment, and wellness programs for thousands of people.
• Website: https://cspnj.org
   

3. Fountain House

• The origin of the Clubhouse model, a global community model where people with mental illness participate in running programs, employment supports, and community life.
• There are 300+ clubhouses worldwide.
• Website: https://fountainhouse.org
   

4. Fireweed Collective (formerly Icarus Project)

• National peer network focused on reframing psychiatric experiences and building mutual-aid support communities.
• Website: https://fireweedcollective.org
   

5. National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery

• Major advocacy network supporting peer-run services such as peer respites, warmlines, and recovery education.
• Website: https://www.ncmhr.org
   

6. Kiva Centers

• Runs multiple peer-run respite houses that serve as alternatives to hospitalization.
• Staffed entirely by people with lived experience. 
• Website: https://kivacenters.org
   

7. Project Return Peer Support Network

• One of the longest-running peer-run organizations providing employment, housing, and peer services.
• Website: https://www.prpsn.org
   

8. Schizophrenia & Psychosis Alliance (Schizophrenics Anonymous)

• International network of peer-led support groups specifically for psychosis and schizophrenia.
• Website: https://sardaa.org
   

9. Active Minds

• The largest peer-to-peer mental health movement on U.S. college campuses with hundreds of chapters.
• Website: https://activeminds.org
   

10. Youth MOVE National

• National youth peer leadership organization promoting youth voice in mental health systems.
• Website: https://youthmovenational.org
   

 Largest Peer-Run Programs in North Carolina

• North Carolina actually has a rapidly growing peer-support ecosystem.
• Thousands of certified peer specialists work in the system.

1. Promise Resource Network (Charlotte / Raleigh)

• One of the most influential peer-run organizations in the Southeast.
• Runs recovery programs, employment support, advocacy, and peer respites.
• Website: https://promiseresourcenetwork.org
• Promise Resource Network also operates the NC Peer Warmline and peer respite programs.

2. Peer Voice North Carolina

• A statewide peer leadership initiative that elevates the voices of people with lived experience in mental health policy and program development. 

3. GreenTree Peer Support Center (Winston-Salem)

• Peer-run wellness center offering support groups, education, and social connection. 
• Website: https://greentreepeersupport.org
  
   

4. Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness (Asheville)

• Recovery community organization providing peer support services and training.
• Website: https://sunriseinasheville.org
   

5. North Carolina Consumer Organization

• Statewide advocacy organization led by people with psychiatric diagnoses.
• Website: https://nccoalition.org
   

6. Peer Support NC

• Statewide training and certification support for peer support specialists.
• Website: https://peersupportnc.com
   

7. NC Peer Warmline

• 24/7 statewide peer support line staffed by people with lived experience. 

1. Patricia Deegan

• Psychologist diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager who became one of the most important voices in the recovery movement.
• Her essay “Recovery: The Lived Experience of Rehabilitation” (1988) transformed how mental health recovery is understood.
• Founder of CommonGround, a shared decision-making model used in clinics.

Website
https://www.patdeegan.com

2. Daniel B. Fisher

• Psychiatrist who experienced schizophrenia and later helped found the National Empowerment Center.
• Major advocate for peer-run services and recovery-oriented mental health systems.

Website
https://power2u.org

3. Judi Chamberlin

• One of the founders of the psychiatric survivor movement.
• Author of the groundbreaking book On Our Own: Patient-Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health System (1978).
• Helped create the idea of consumer-run services.
• 
  

4. Shery Mead

• Developed Intentional Peer Support (IPS), now used internationally.
• Her work emphasizes mutual relationships, shared power, and lived experience.

Website
https://intentionalpeersupport.org

5. Mary Ellen Copeland

• Creator of WRAP – Wellness Recovery Action Plan, one of the most widely used peer-developed mental health self-management tools.
• WRAP is now used worldwide in clinical and peer settings.

Website
https://copelandcenter.com

6. Ron Coleman

• Influential international trainer in hearing voices recovery approaches.
• Works closely with the Hearing Voices Movement and peer recovery training programs.

Website
https://workingtorecovery.co.uk

7. Danielle LaVerne

• Executive leader in the peer movement and former president of the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery.
• Advocate for expanding peer-run services nationwide.

Website
https://www.ncmhr.org

8. Rufus May

• Known for integrating peer approaches with psychology.
• Promotes alternatives to traditional psychiatric treatment models.

Website
https://rufusmay.com

9. Leah Harris

• Influential writer and advocate on trauma-informed care, peer support, and lived experience leadership.
• Former director of the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery.
• 
  

10. Vicki Reynolds

• Developed influential approaches to trauma-informed, collaborative healing and resistance to oppression.
• Her work strongly influences peer-support philosophy.

Website
https://vickireynolds.ca

1. Cherene Allen‑Caraco

• Founder and CEO of Promise Resource Network, one of the most influential peer-run organizations in the Southeast.
• Started the organization in 2005 after her own mental health recovery journey.
• PRN now operates peer respites, a statewide warmline, and recovery programs across North Carolina. 
• Website: https://promiseresourcenetwork.org
   

2. Louise Vincent

• Founder of the North Carolina Survivors Union, a peer-led harm-reduction organization supporting people who use drugs.
• Nationally recognized advocate for dignity and peer leadership in harm-reduction work. 

3. Amanda Martin

• Executive director of GreenTree Peer Support Center in Winston-Salem.
• Advocate for peer-run programs and community-based recovery spaces.
• Formerly worked with Promise Resource Network helping expand peer services statewide. 

Website
https://greentreepeersupport.org

4. Laurie Coker

• Founder of GreenTree Peer Support Center, one of the first peer-run support centers in North Carolina.
• Built a community recovery hub that now provides respite and peer-led programming.

5. Alema Gregg

• Chief Program Officer at Promise Resource Network.
• Known for advocating recovery based on lived experience and trauma-informed community support. 

6. Kelly Crosbie

• Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services.
• Has supported statewide expansion of peer support programs and peer respites.

7. Aaron Wells

• Peer support leader with Promise Resource Network.
• Known for advocacy and training related to peer recovery and community-based crisis alternatives.

8. Nabarun Dasgupta

• UNC Chapel Hill epidemiologist and harm-reduction advocate who collaborates with peer-run drug-user organizations.
• Supports policies that elevate the voices of people with lived experience.

9. Janice Walker

• Early leader in North Carolina consumer advocacy organizations promoting recovery and peer rights.

10. Mark Davis

• Director of the UNC Behavioral Healthcare Resource Program.
• Strong advocate for recovery-oriented and peer-informed approaches to mental health services.

• Implementing Recovery through Organizational Change is a UK-based initiative that helps transform mental health services so they are recovery-focused, co-produced with people who have lived experience, and centered on helping people live meaningful lives.

• Website:
  https://www.imroc.org

• ImROC works internationally through training, consultancy, research, and leadership development programs designed to shift mental health systems toward recovery and lived-experience leadership.

How ImROC Is Connected to King’s College London and Nottingham

• ImROC grew out of collaborations between mental health researchers, the NHS, and universities, particularly:
• King's College London
• University of Nottingham
• Key contributors included researchers and clinicians such as Julie Repper (University of Nottingham) and colleagues working on recovery-focused practice and peer support.
• The program originally launched in 2009 as a partnership between:
• Centre for Mental Health
• NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network
• academic researchers working on recovery practice

The purpose was to answer two questions:

• How to change staff attitudes so they support recovery.
• How to change organizations so recovery-focused practice becomes part of the culture. 
• Because of this research foundation, ImROC has remained closely connected to academic research programs in recovery, peer support, and mental health system transformation.

Core Ideas Behind ImROC

• ImROC promotes the concept of “personal recovery,” meaning people can build meaningful lives even if symptoms continue.

Key elements include:

• 1. Recovery-focused services
• Shifting mental health systems from symptom management to hope, purpose, and life goals.
• 2. Peer support workers
• Employing people with lived experience within mental health services.
• 3. Recovery Colleges
• Educational programs where people learn recovery skills together.
• 4. Co-production
• Services designed jointly by professionals and people with lived experience.
• 5. Organisational culture change
• Transforming the entire mental health system rather than creating small programs.

Major ImROC Programs

1. Recovery Colleges

• One of ImROC’s most influential initiatives.
• Recovery Colleges function like community colleges for mental health recovery.
• Participants enroll in courses such as:
• understanding mental health
• trauma and healing
• self-management skills
• peer support
• employment and life goals
• Courses are co-taught by professionals and people with lived experience.
• Recovery Colleges have now spread to over 200 locations worldwide.

2. Peer Support Workforce Development

• ImROC helps organizations:
• train peer support workers
• integrate lived experience roles into services
• develop leadership pathways for peers
• This has helped create hundreds of peer worker positions in the UK and internationally.

3. Organizational Change Programs

• ImROC works with hospitals, health systems, and governments to implement its framework.
• The original model identified “10 organisational challenges” needed to transform services toward recovery, including:
• changing daily interactions with service users
• developing recovery education programs
• creating recovery colleges
• increasing personal choice and autonomy
• integrating peer workers into teams
• promoting opportunities for life beyond illness

4. Research and Publications

• ImROC publishes many briefing papers and research guides used internationally by mental health systems.
• Topics include:
• trauma-informed care
• peer support workforce development
• recovery colleges
• lived-experience leadership
• You can explore these here:
  https://www.imroc.org/publications

Training, Seminars, and Learning Opportunities

ImROC offers multiple ways to participate in their educational programs.

1. Training Courses

• peer support training
• recovery-focused practice training
• leadership programs for mental health services
• co-production and lived-experience leadership
• Training can be online, hybrid, or in-person.
• Training page:
  https://www.imroc.org/training

2. Webinars and Events

• webinars
• conferences
• learning events
• recovery college workshops
• Events are announced here:
  https://www.imroc.org/events

3. Recovery College Courses

• If you live in the UK or work with a service connected to ImROC, you can enroll in Recovery College courses.
• These typically involve:
• registering with a local recovery college
• selecting courses like a university catalog
• attending classes with peers and professionals

How to Sign Up or Connect With ImROC

• Step 1
• Visit the main website:
• https://www.imroc.org

• Step 2
• Choose one of these sections:
• Training
• Events
• Publications

• Step 3
• You can also contact them directly:
• Email
  imroc@imroc.org
• Head office
  Nottingham, England

Why ImROC Is Important

• ImROC helped shape the modern recovery movement in mental health services by promoting:
• lived-experience leadership
• peer support workforces
• recovery education programs
• system-wide cultural change