Connecting Individuals with Lived Experience

Peer Fusion Throughout the Year

Peer Fusion is a dynamic movement that unites individuals with lived experience in the behavioral health systems. Throughout the year, participants actively engage in providing valuable feedback and insights to the Oregon Health Authority, through its Office of Recovery and Resilience, playing a crucial role in shaping policies and advocating for systemic change. This ongoing collaboration ensures that the voices of those with lived experience are heard and integrated into the decision-making process, fostering a more inclusive and effective approach to mental health and substance use support.

Peer Fusion Retreat

The highlight of the Peer Fusion movement is the annual Peer Fusion Retreat. This retreat is a transformative gathering designed to offer participants a chance to reflect on their experiences, both personal and professional. The 2024 event will be held September 3rd-6th at the picturesque Sunriver Resort. The retreat provides a serene and supportive environment where attendees can focus on self-reflection, skill enhancement, and professional/personal growth. This year's retreat theme centers around this concept:

Elevating the Voice of Lived Experience in Advocacy and Policy

Participants at the Peer Fusion Retreat benefit from a range of workshops and activities aimed at professional and personal development. These sessions are facilitated by experienced peers and experts, covering topics such as leadership, advocacy, policy influence, and self-care. The retreat also emphasizes the importance of building a strong network of peers from across the state, fostering connections that can provide ongoing support and collaboration throughout the year.

In addition to the structured activities, the Peer Fusion Retreat offers ample opportunities for informal networking and community building. Whether it's through shared meals, group discussions, or recreational activities, attendees have the chance to form meaningful relationships and gain a sense of belonging within the peer community.

The Peer Fusion movement, with its year-round engagement culminating in the annual retreat, empowers individuals with lived experience to be active agents of change. By providing a platform for their voices and fostering a supportive network, Peer Fusion contributes to the creation of more responsive and compassionate mental health and substance use systems in Oregon.

How to apply

The Peer Fusion Retreat is a scholarship-based opportunity open to individuals who reside in Oregon and have lived and/or living experience of behavioral health challenges (including mental health, substance use, process addictions, and family support). You do not need to be part of the Peer Workforce, a registered Traditional Health Worker, or a Certified Recovery Mentor to apply.

We warmly welcome everyone who lives in Oregon and has the foregoing lived experience, but space is limited. If you would like to join us this year, please apply as early as you can to ensure that you are able to reserve your place at the retreat.

Those who have not attended a peer fusion retreat will have precedence over those who have been before.

We look forward to receiving your application and potentially welcoming you to an enriching and transformative retreat experience at Sunriver Resort!