For training questions and information about the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative, please call or email us at:
Phone: 319-467-4296
University of Iowa Staff
Kellee Thorburn McCrory, MPH, LMSW
Title/Position
Program Manager
Kellee Thorburn McCrory, MPH, LMSW is the training and technical manager at The University of Iowa School of Social Work, National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice (NRC). She is currently responsible for the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative project. Ms. McCrory has managed projects employing multiple methods for a broad range of public health, child welfare, substance abuse and prevention research and evaluation grants. Ms. McCrory also provides training and technical assistance on focus groups, program evaluation, and evaluation.
Carol Coohey, MSW, PhD
Title/Position
Curriculum Development and Training Specialist
Carol Coohey, MSW, PhD, is a curriculum development and training specialist for the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative. As a former professor at the University of Iowa, she has substantial experience in teaching and a broad background in research methods, with expertise in community-engaged program development and evaluation. Dr. Coohey also has substantial direct social work practice experience with children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma and are in crisis or experiencing persistent mental health challenges.
Trish Peyton
Title/Position
Program Coordinator
Trish Peyton is the Program Coordinator at the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice, coordinating daily operations for the NRC, and providing administrative support to the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative and the training programs of the NRC. Trish received her bachelor’s degree at Mount Mercy University and prior to joining the NRC, worked with the Mount Mercy Social Work program, Office of the Provost, and the Office for the Vice President of Mission and Ministry.
Lauren Vorwald
Title/Position
Training and Development Associate
Lauren Vorwald is a Certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialist (MHPSS) and works with the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative (IPWC) as Training and Workforce Development Associate. Prior to joining the IPWC, Lauren worked for the Iowa Peer & Family Peer Support Training Program within the University of Iowa Division of Child and Community Health (UI-DCCH) in collaboration with Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC). Lauren completed Peer Support Specialist training in 2018 and is qualified to train the IPWC Peer Support Specialist Training curriculum. She is also a graduate of the Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery (CCAR) Recovery Coach Academy (RCA). Lauren is a Certified Personal Medicine Coach (CPMC) and Certified Personal Medicine Coach Trainer (CPMC-T) through Pat Deegan PhD & Associates, LLC. Lauren appreciates the strength-based, person-centered approach of peer support.
Trainers
Katelyn Akright
Title/Position
Peer Workforce Coordinator
Katelyn is the Peer Workforce Coordinator with Life Connections Peer Recovery Services under contract with the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative. She focuses on community outreach and works on introducing behavioral health agencies in Iowa to peer support. Katelyn is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Katelyn was a Residential Treatment Supervisor & a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist prior to her current position. She was involved in community support programs as well as group homes. Katelyn is living in her recovery of her mental illness and is passionate about sharing her experience to support others.
Diane Zaerr Brenneman, DMin
Title/Position
FPSS Training Administrator
Certified Family Peer Support Specialist
Diane Zaerr Brenneman, DMin, Certified Family Peer Support Specialist and Family Navigator for the Division of Child and Community Health and Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC), is the parent of kids with special needs. She is happy to find a way to use her lived experience by coaching other families of kids with disabilities. She has been a teacher, pastor, administrator and farmer (thankfully, not all at the same time). A thread that weaves through all is the amazing resilience of the human spirit. Children and their families truly can thrive despite what life has thrown at them. She feels privileged to walk alongside families in their journeys.
Rachel Charlot, FPSS
Title/Position
Family Navigator, Division of Child and Community Health and Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC)
Certified Family Peer Support Specialist
Rachel Charlot is a Certified Family Peer Support Specialist and Family Navigator for the Division of Child and Community Health and Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC). Rachel has been serving families through CHSC for 12 years as both a Family Navigator and in the Early ACCESS program as a Service Coordinator. Rachel is passionate about helping empower families with the knowledge and resources to help support their child throughout the life course.
Ron Gilbert, PSS
Ron is a Peer Support Specialist with Abbe Center for Community Mental Health in Cedar Rapids. He supports peers served at the Linn County Mental Health Access Center and other Abbe Center clients. Ron has worked in adult mental health since 2005, including at the “Clubhouse” model program Passageway in Des Moines. Ron was a supervisor in the AbbeHealth Crisis Stabilization Program in Cedar Rapids before taking his current PSS role in January 2022. Ron chose this field due to his lived experience with mental illness. Prior to that, Ron worked in business and has a degree in Economics from the University of California at Davis and a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. Ron is also a grandpa, dad, theatre actor/director/designer, and lover of jazz.
Josh Gitch, MPHSS
Title/Position
Certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialist
Josh Gitch, Certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialist (MHPSS), has worked in the field the past five years with Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health and served the Iowa Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) in various capacities. Josh graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from the University of Northern Iowa and is certified as a Whole Health Action Management (WHAM), NAMI Connections, and NAMI Peer-to-Peer facilitator. Josh is the father of two young daughters, and they help keep him on the difficult yet wonderful journey of recovery. Giving back what's been given is a passion for Josh and he's excited to be a part of this evidence-based, growing profession.
Faraji Hubbard, PRS, RCP, RCPF
Title/Position
Comprehensive Recovery Coordinator of the GuideLink Center
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Recovery Coach Professional
Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator
Faraji Hubbard, PRS, RCP, RCPF, is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS), Recovery Coach Professional (RCP), and Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator (RCPF). He was the first in the state of Iowa to achieve the Recovery Coach Professional (RCP) designation from CCAR's Center for Addiction Recovery Training. Along with these achievements, he is a Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) trained Recovery Coach and Authorized Facilitator and Certified Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) facilitator. Faraji is a member of the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative's Peer Advisory Committee and serves on the Iowa Board of Certification’s (IBC) Board of Directors. Faraji is also an appointed Steering Committee member of The State of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) Project.
His current role for the Abbe Center for Community Mental Health is the Comprehensive Recovery Coordinator at GuideLink Center in Iowa City. GuideLink Center is one of the designated access centers in Iowa and provides immediate access to substance use and mental health services. Faraji has a unique position at GuideLink Center. His leadership role enhances peer services and care coordination internally but also promotes connections beyond GuideLink Center to improve peer outcomes.
Todd Noack, PRS
Title/Position
Executive Director of Life Connections Peer Recovery Services
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Todd Noack, PRS, is the Executive Director of Life Connections Peer Recovery Services, a peer-run non-profit. He directs Iowa’s only peer-run respite house, and is one of two advanced level Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Facilitators in Iowa. Todd’s volunteer & advocacy experience includes serving as a Board Member for the Iowa Advocates for Mental Health Recovery and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Iowa Peer & Family Peer Support Training Program. Todd is now actively involved in all aspects of Mental Health Recovery, by overseeing and facilitating support groups, public relations, and business management. He keeps up-to -date with the latest developments in Peer Support Recovery movements and ongoing changes in state and local capacities involving individuals, their family members, and children.