Westchester Reporter

The Westchester County Departments of Correction (WCDOC) recently hosted a graduation ceremony at its Valhalla campus to honor ten students who successfully completed the first stage of the innovative “Lives Forward” program. The program, a collaborative effort between the Westchester County Jail and Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), aims to provide individuals with addiction, mental health, and criminal justice backgrounds the opportunity to receive dual certifications in mental health and recovery peer advocacy.

During the ceremony, Department of Correction First Deputy Commissioner Nory Padilla highlighted the significance of the program, stating, “Lives Forward brings together two separate community training providers, and for the first time, consecutively trains the two certifications to one group of students.” The certifications are overseen by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), with training provided by the Mental Health Empowerment Project and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence/Westchester, Inc.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer expressed his confidence in the program's success, stating, “I believe that this new model program will be a huge success, and we will soon see it being replicated in other parts of our state and country.” He commended the students for their dedication and emphasized the importance of the program in addressing the shortage of trained para-professionals in mental health and addiction treatment.

Commissioner of DCMH Michael Orth also praised the graduates, noting, “The impact that this program will have in developing well-qualified peers who will help people navigate the array of service provider and treatment modalities is extraordinary.” Deputy Commissioner of Community Mental Health Joseph Glazer added, “The coursework is not easy, nor is the personal and emotional reckoning that is required to become a peer. But these individuals are trailblazers.”

Keynote Speaker Angela DeRossi, a formerly incarcerated individual who turned her life around, shared her experience and highlighted the importance of programs like Lives Forward in supporting individuals in their journey towards recovery and rehabilitation. Lives Forward Student Idris Sutton expressed his gratitude for the training, stating, “The training was very encouraging and inspirational. It really opened my eyes to recognize mental health issues when I’m faced with them.” Another student, Constance Koeper, shared her belief in the transformative power of the program, stating, “I believe taking the first step to become a certified peer specialist and taking these classes is like spinning hay into gold.”

The Westchester County Department of Correction, known for its comprehensive rehabilitation programs, celebrates the success of the first cohort of Lives Forward graduates, who are now poised to make a positive impact in their communities as certified behavioral health peers.