The Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) recently supported a specialized Forensic Peer Support Training, hosted in partnership with ACE (Appalachian Community Services) and Operation Gateway. The training was made possible through the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, which provides technical assistance and support to organizations advancing recovery services in underserved communities.
Designed for peer support specialists with lived experience in both the mental health and criminal justice systems, the Forensic Peer Support Training equips participants to support others navigating the complex journey of mental health recovery while also involved with incarceration, probation, parole, or reentry into the community. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ TERO program generously provided space to host the event.
Three CIHA staff members participated in the training: Cody Brady and Justice Littlejohn, Recovery Peers with Analenisgi, and Fidel Raya, a Peer with the Galvgwodiyu residential program. Each of these team members brings vital lived experience and deep compassion to their work and will now be even better equipped to support community members facing intersecting challenges related to justice involvement and behavioral health.
“This training strengthens our ability to provide responsive, relationship-based, and trauma-informed care to those who need it most,” said Dr. Freida Saylor, Behavioral Health Director at CIHA. “It builds a bridge for individuals reentering the community, giving them the tools and support to advocate for their recovery, reclaim their wellness, and reintegrate with dignity.”
This partnership underscores CIHA’s ongoing commitment to healing-centered approaches rooted in lived experience, cultural connection, and community resilience.
For more information about CIHA’s peer support programs or recovery services, visit www.cherokeehospital.org.