On Our Own of Maryland, Inc.

08/10/2026

FREE Young Adult Addiction Recovery Trainings in Maryland!

Are you between 18 and 29? We’re offering full scholarships to attend up to 3 virtual CCAR trainings!

Learn the art and science of recovery coaching to support others on their paths to recovery. Each training offers CEU hours towards Maryland peer recovery specialist certification.

🗓️ CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© (RCA) | 8/31 - 9/4: CCAR's flagship program covering foundational skills, ethical frameworks, and communication techniques needed to effectively mentor individuals in addiction recovery.
🗓️ CCAR Recovery Coaching Professionalism | 9/10 - 9/11: Learn how to navigate formal systems (such as hospitals, courts, and treatment centers) while maintaining proper boundaries.
🗓️ CCAR Ethical Considerations | 9/23 - 9/25: Learn how to resolve real-world ethical dilemmas in peer support roles.

Learn more and apply for a scholarship here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdheBTlEBIwfypB88BjINZ_hNTWK171B3ksD1gUldT5NK5YlQ/viewform

Questions? Contact [email protected]

On Our Own of Maryland, Inc. (OOOMD) is a statewide peer-operated behavioral health advocacy and education organization which promotes equality, justice, autonomy, and choice about life decisions for individuals with mental health and substance use needs.

07/22/2026

FREE Young Adult Mental Health Workshop in Maryland!

Are you between 18 and 29? We’re offering full scholarships to attend our upcoming Seminar 1: Basic WRAP® for Young Adults for free!

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) is a practical, evidence-based, peer-led framework to help you identify what keeps you feeling grounded, manage everyday stress, and build a personalized self-care plan that works for your life.

Date: Thursday and Friday, August 6th and 7th, 2026
Time: 9am - 5pm both days
Location: Elkridge, Maryland
CEUs: 11 CPRS CEUs offered

Learn more and apply for a scholarship here: https://forms.gle/qcR8LWeNqoK3RMcd6

06/09/2026

We are wrapping up our annual conference spotlight series with an incredible milestone for peer support integration in Maryland’s legal system. Please join us in honoring Christina Hawkins, the recipient of the 2026 OOOMD Award of Special Recognition! 🎉

This honor celebrates exceptional leadership and groundbreaking milestones in the behavioral health field. As the first-ever Peer Recovery Specialist for the MD Office of the Public Defender, and now its Statewide Peer Support Manager, Christina has led an incredible 2,000% increase in peer support availability across public defense.

Christina initially joined OPD as a parent advocate, drawing from her own lived experience to build a model that helped mothers safely reunify with their children. She guided families through addiction recovery resources, stable housing, and court advocacy. Her success proved the undeniable value of peer recovery coaches in legal defense, leading to a flourishing team of 26 peer professionals. Today, these advocates drive systems-level change across three vital specialties: Parental Advocate Peers, Forensic Peers for adult criminal defense, and a Youth Defense Unit offering dedicated mentorship to young people.

Thank you to all of our 2026 award winners for their dedicated service, bravery, and leadership in the mental health movement!

🔗 Want to read the full recap of Christina’s historic impact and catch up on the rest of our series? Head to the link in our bio to explore the stories of all this year’s incredible honorees!

06/05/2026

Our award spotlight series continues as we recognize an exceptional leader fighting for equitable, trauma-informed care in Maryland. Please join us in celebrating Angel Traynor, the recipient of the 2026 Michele Dear Advocacy Award!

Named after a founding pioneer of the peer support movement who fiercely championed the rights of individuals with psychiatric disabilities, this award honors those who use their lived experience to build accessible, peer-driven behavioral health services. Angel embodies this fearless spirit completely.

After finding her own path to recovery in 2007, she became an addictions counselor and certified Peer Health Educator. Noticing a critical shortage of sober living homes in her community, she took action in 2012 by founding Serenity Sistas. Today, this incredible peer-led recovery housing nonprofit has expanded to six locations across Annapolis, providing safe, supportive environments for single women, men, parents with their children, and vital crisis beds.

Beyond expanding housing access, Angel is a relentless champion for substance use recovery and mental health advocacy throughout Anne Arundel County and across the state. Through her leadership on local prevention coalitions and public education initiatives like the "Not My Child" campaign, she has spent years breaking down barriers, reducing stigma, and facilitating honest community conversations. Described by colleagues as a resilient "go-getter" who leads with genuine kindness and compassion, Angel ensures that vulnerable populations are never overlooked.

Want to learn more about Angel’s inspiring journey and our other incredible award winners? Head to the Linktree in our bio for the full story!

06/03/2026

Congratulations to Katie and the other awardees for this well-deserved recognition! Thank you to the CBH team for all the work you do, and for celebrating with us 🎉

06/03/2026

Our award spotlight series continues as we celebrate incredible community leadership and dedication within the peer support movement. Please join us in honoring Neil Donnelly, the recipient of the 2026 Gus Retalis Exemplary Service Award!

This special award recognizes the vital, behind-the-scenes leadership that helps local behavioral health organizations truly flourish. Since taking the reins at On Our Own Of Frederick County in 2023, Neil has perfectly blended nonprofit expertise with a deep passion for mental health advocacy. Under his guidance, the center has rapidly expanded its community partnerships (including hosting the innovative Fresh Step Laundry Bus) extended its evening and weekend hours, and successfully grown its team of paid peer support professionals.

Neil’s commitment to inclusive community impact recently achieved a major milestone, securing nearly $200,000 through the RAMP grant from the Maryland Department of Labor to expand workforce peer support training into the local Spanish-speaking community. From empowering local members to driving strategic planning across our statewide affiliate network, Neil embodies the heart and dedication of peer-led recovery.

🔗 Want to read more about Neil’s incredible impact and our other honorees? Head to the Linktree in our bio for the full story!

06/01/2026

We are continuing our award spotlight series by celebrating a true pioneer in Maryland’s public behavioral health system. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Robert “Bob” Buchanan, the recipient of the 2026 OOOMD Distinguished Service Award!

This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary commitment and service to Maryland’s public behavioral health system.

Dr. Buchanan recently retired as the Director of the Maryland Early Intervention Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine . Throughout his career, his groundbreaking schizophrenia treatment research and innovative approaches to psychosis recovery have fundamentally transformed the landscape of modern psychiatric care.

As an internationally recognized researcher and one of the world’s top cited scientists in his field, his work provides vital evidence that long-term mental health recovery is entirely possible through coordinated, community-based care and early intervention services. Dr. Buchanan’s dedication offers a compassionate, evidence-based blueprint for public behavioral health support. At a time when stigma and fear can cloud public policy, Dr. Buchanan has met the most complex mental health challenges with profound curiosity, expertise, and hope. At a time when stigma can heavily cloud public policy,

Head to the link in our bio to learn more about Dr. Buchanan’s legendary career and celebrate all of this year’s honorees! 🔗

05/29/2026

Next up in our spotlight series honoring this year's incredible OOOMD conference winners, we are deeply honored to present the 2026 Lou Ann Townsend Courage Award to Darlene Smith!

Named after a pioneering advocate who fought tirelessly against stigma, this award celebrates those who show immense bravery and dedication in helping others. Darlene embodies this courage completely, as a resilient cancer survivor who has spent over 30 years working in substance use recovery. Darlene famously shared her personal journey in the 2018 Emmy-winning documentary "Breaking Heroin's Grip: Road to Recovery," proving to countless viewers across Maryland that hope, healing, and transformation are always possible.

Throughout her extraordinary career, spanning vital roles at Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc., Sinai Hospital, and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Darlene has provided life-saving counseling, housing support, and crisis intervention. Today, she channels her lived expertise into her work as a clinical counselor in Baltimore City and an educator at Anne Arundel Community College, where she helps strengthen best practices for justice-involved peers. Described by her community as a "source of light" who brings "compassion, resilience, and authenticity to every space she serves," Darlene’s open heart continues to lift others up with ultimate dignity.

Check out our conference awardees site to learn more about Darlene’s impactful story and all of this year’s honorees!
https://sites.google.com/onourownmd.org/2026conference/awards

05/27/2026

Next up in our spotlight series honoring this year’s incredible OOOMD conference winners, we are overjoyed to celebrate the recipient of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award: Kate Farinholt!

Known across the state as an absolute powerhouse, Kate’s legacy as the longtime Executive Director of NAMI Metro Baltimore and NAMI Maryland is defined not only by her formidable advocacy, but by how she chose to use her power.

A beautiful story shared at her recent retirement celebration perfectly captures her heart: when a woman in deep crisis tentatively walked into her office, Kate pushed a massive stack of urgent paperwork aside, looked up, and said, “Please, come sit here and tell me about you.” Her intention and compassion to get to truly know the person in front of her, even in the midst of a busy day, represents a career built on lifting others up.

On a systemic level, Kate has been a major player in transforming Maryland’s behavioral health landscape through groundbreaking policies and programs. Among her countless achievements, she pioneered the In Our Own Voice presentation series as a national model, literally wrote the book on helping individuals with mental illness navigate Maryland’s criminal justice system, and served as a lead advocate for the development of the 988 national crisis hotline. As Kate enters her well-deserved retirement, we are profoundly grateful for her decades of fierce leadership and grace.

Head to the link in our bio to read more about Kate’s legendary impact and celebrate all of this year’s honorees!