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Naples, Fl – David Lawrence Centers, Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit mental health and addiction recovery treatment center serving children, adults and families, announced that Debra Lewis, a Peer Recovery Coach working with adults in the Crossroads Addiction Recovery Program, has earned her Recovery Peer Specialist Adult-Family Certification from the Florida Certification Board.

Lewis brings more than 34 years of recovery to her work with adults in substance use disorder treatment at Crossroads. For more than 30 years, she has been active in the recovery community serving in a variety of leadership and volunteer capacities in various 12-step programs. In this capacity, she has brought recovery meetings to correctional facilities, launched specialized meetings for couples and singles and taught classes on body, mind and spirit healing practices.

Professionally, Lewis served as a Transitional Housing Facilitator working with adults in sober living homes at Home Port Transitional Housing in Wisconsin. Additionally, she worked as an office administrator for Scott Construction, Inc. and Payne & Dolan, Inc., also in Wisconsin.

The Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) credential is for people who use their lived experience and skills learned in training to help others achieve and maintain recovery and wellness from mental health and/or substance use conditions. The CRPS credential designates competency in the domains of recovery support, advocacy, mentoring and professional responsibilities.

CRPS credentials also include endorsements to demonstrate the certified professional’s lived experience. Lewis is endorsed as an adult in recovery for a minimum of two years from a mental health and/or substance use condition as well as a family member or caregiver to another person who is living with a mental health and/or substance use condition.

“Deb’s willingness to share her lived experience as well as the strategies that have helped her achieve long term recovery have had meaningful and profound impacts on the individuals she serves,” said Maggie Baldwin, Crossroad Clinical Director and Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional. “Deb is a passionate advocate for those in our community struggling with substance use disorders and is an invaluable member of the Crossroads team.”

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers is a national leader in providing world-class mental health and addiction recovery solutions for children, adolescents and adults. The Center’s innovative, integrated treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, David Lawrence Centers creates life-changing wellness for more than 9,800 people through over 276,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call (239) 491-7602.