Lori Vrebosch
Oshawa Or St.Catherines,ON
Summary
Empathetic, effective, and certified Peer Support Worker and Program Manager who possesses a lifetime of lived experience. Offering more than 6 years of personal sobriety as a dedicated professional with a strong background in providing evidence-based support services to individuals and families who have been impacted by substance use disorders and related harms and death. A bereaved mother who lost a child to toxic substance poisoning and whose personal journey of grief recovery led to becoming a Provincial Team Lead with Moms Stop the Harm. An exceptionally impactful, well-recognized, and vocal advocate for Indigenous people, families, and communities who has led numerous high profile recovery campaigns and initiatives. Proven ability to build trusting and healthy relationships with clients and their families through responsive, non-judgmental care and genuine concern for wellbeing of peers. A dedicated individual who is passionate about recovery, overdose prevention, destigmatizing mental health, and supporting the well-being of clients.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Director & Peer Support Program Manager
We Will Recover Society
08.2021 - Current
- Founder, Executive Director, and Peer Support Program Manager for We Will Recover– an Indigenous-led peer support society for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders and related harms and death
- Providing high-quality leadership and group facilitation for in-person Peer Support and recovery groups for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders and related harms and death
- Training of 6 new staff members to become certified Peer Support Workers
- Management of regular distribution of over 2,000 kits of Narcan Nasal Sprays per month
- Provided onsite training to over 8,000 people on when and how to respond to an overdose using Narcan Spray / Naloxone injectable medications
- Grant writing which has secured over $100,000 for sponsoring organizations
- Leading fundraising programs which has generated over $150,000 in 2 years
- Website and social media management
- Procurement of vast amounts of equipment, materials, and supplies for ongoing arts, crafts, and fundraising programs
- Hosting of “Unbroken Together” which included participation of over 600 community members from the Oliver and Osoyoos areas and secured over $7000 in corporate sponsorships
- Provided inbound and outreach support services to individuals and families impacted by mental health or addictions.
Volunteer Provincial Team Leader
Moms Stop The Harm
01.2019 - Current
- Provided peer support to new and existing members online, by phone and/or in person.
- Supported countless campaigns to encourage political reform that would activate sensible drug policy reform.
- Initiated several community educational events to raise awareness about the toxic drug crisis.
- Engaged in media opportunities through interviews and reports to share insight about the opioid crisis and share insight as a bereaved mother.
- Established a direct relationship with the pharmaceutical maker of Narcan Nasal Spray (Emergent BioSolutions) to introduce Narcan Nasal Spray to the First Nations tribes located in South Western Alberta.
- Cordinated the first and only Moms Stop the Harm iconic memorial photoshoot on a First Nations Reserve.
- Participated in focus groups, round table discussions, panel reviews, and lobbying related activities regarding the opioid crisis and efforts supporting nding the failed war on drugs.
- Preformed compassionate outreach services working directly with homeless and other vulnerable individuals to provide peer support, engagement and wellness checks, distribution of harm reduction tools supplies, food, clothing, and responding to critical overdoses.
- Creation of extensive networks to grow the mass distribution and barrier-free availability of Narcan Nasal Spray throughout Alberta and British Columbia.
Crisis Worker, Consultant, Advocate
Aakom-Kayii Health Services
10.2020 - 04.2021
- Supported clients in developing coping skills
- Conducted follow-ups with clients to determine need for extended assistance
- Triaged and responded to telephone mental health crisis intervention
- Documented all client interactions and interventions
- Used skills such as active listening and collaborative problem-solving daily to connect with patients and address concerns
- Evaluated risk to client or others by gathering information and conducting assessments
- Built safety plans to lower risk of crisis and intervened in specific manners outlined by procedures
- Documented risk to each client and context of concerns
- Provided emergency response in crisis situations to diffuse tensions and prevent violence
- Counseled and helped to stabilize clients and caregivers in crisis situations
- Offered supportive counseling and crisis intervention to individuals in crisis
- Collaborated with mental health professionals to coordinate comprehensive care for clients
- Maintained client records to document assessment, treatment plans and progress
- Worked with family members to develop support networks and multifaceted coping techniques focused on client needs
- Providing outreach support services and harm reduction to vulnerable people
- Responding to crisis situations involving individuals in distress or families with loved ones with mental health or substance use disorders, or grief support.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
Trent University
Associate of Arts - General Arts And Sciences
Durham College
Oshawa, ONSkills
- Non-judgmental Emotional Support
- Case Planning and Management
- Client Needs Assessment
- Identifying Client Goals
- Recovery Support & Guidance
- Effective Collaboration and Interaction
- Peer Support Group Facilitation
- Community Services Navigation
- Event Coordination
- Harm Reduction Training
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Treatment Recommendations
- Program & Resource Development
- Victim Services Support
- Individual & Group Meeting Facilitation
- Bereavement & Grief Support
- Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity
- Program Support
- Advanced Computer Skills
- Excellent Interpersonal and Written Communication Skills
- Media & PR Management
- Public Speaking
- Ability to Handle Stressful or Emergency Situation
- Crisis Intervention
- Ability to Engage with Clients and Build Rapport with Families
- Knowledgeable in Area Community Services and Support
- Conflict Resolution and Crisis Intervention Skills
- Non-judgemental Emotional Support
- Individual and Group Meeting Facilitation
- Program support
- Program Management
- Grant Writing
- Strategic Planning
- Staff Management
- Community Engagement
- Marketing
- Report compilation
- Case Management
- Fundraising
- Operations Management
- Relationship Building
- Education
- Client Services
- Outreach Programs
- Program Leadership
- Government relations
- Human Resources Management
- Innovation and Creativity
- Training Methods
- Crisis Management
- Performance feedback
- Corporate Governance
- Team Bonding
- Business Planning
- Business Management
- Consulting
- Operational planning
- Partnership Development
- Business Administration
- Project Management
- Budgeting and financial management
- Media Relations
- Social Media
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Certification
- Peer Support Certificate of Completion, B.C. Peer Connect – 09/2022
- Brian Story Certification, Alberta Family Wellness Initiative - 01/2020
- Psychological First Aid - Self Care, Canadian Red Cross - 12/2022
- Psychological First Aid - Caring for Others, Canadian Red Cross - 12/2022
- Opioid Harm Reduction Champion, Canadian Red Cross - 06/2022
Accomplishments
- Initiated, managed, and coordinated the first-ever "Opioid Awareness and Overdose Prevention" exhibition at the 62nd Annual Piikani Nation Pow Wow (Aug. 3 - 5, 2019), Brocket, AB. This initiative included mass training and distribution of Narcan Nasal Spray to over 1500 attendees, and saved 5 lives over the course of the weekend.
- Assisted with successfully lobbying Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) and Alberta Health Services in removing barriers for Indigenous people on-reserve to access Narcan Nasal Spray without the need for personal Status Cards
- Initiated the first iconic memorial photoshoot on a First Nations Reserve to assist Moms Stop the Harm in creating public awareness about the Opioid Crisis and the need for escalated Government response during Covid pandemic
- A Provincial Team Leader and active member of Moms Stop the Harm who is well-recognized as a vocal advocate and supporter of First Nations people, families, and communities
- Founder and Executive Director of an Indigenous-led non-profit peer support group called "We Will Recover"
- Hosted the largest community event in Southern Alberta in honor of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, 2021)
- Hosted a month-long immersive and powerful community building campaign of Indigenous-lead education, awareness, and recovery called "Napi's Gift" in the Park Place Mall in Lethbridge, AB
Affiliations
- Moms Stop the Harm - www.momsstoptheharm.com
- Peer Support Canada - www.peersupportcanada.ca
- Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs - www.capud.ca
- Sage Clan (Lethbridge) - www.sageclan.ca
- Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy - www.cssdp.ca
Achievements In The News
- UNBROKEN TOGETHER – 06/12/2023 – 07/01/2023: A community tipi painting and raising in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day in Oliver, BC - https://www.castanet.net/news/Oliver-Osoyoos/431927/Tipi-raising-in-South-Okanagan-for-a-community-unbroken-together-
- NAPI’S GIFT – 12/2020 – 01/2021: A 30-day Indigenous educational, recovery, and awareness campaign in Lethbridge, AB - https://globalnews.ca/news/8418556/indigenous-led-addiction-recovery-lethbridge/
- Moms Stop The Harm Iconic Memorial Photoshoot to Raise Awareness – 07/2020: The first-ever iconic memorial photoshoot hosted on a Canadian First Nations Reserve to raise awareness and government response to the Opioid Crisis during the Covid pandemic. This media campaign achieved over 3 million unique impressions in 30 days, Piikani Nation, Brocket, AB - https://globalnews.ca/news/7171478/piikani-nation-photoshoot-overdoses-substance-deaths/
- Opioid Awareness – Mom on a Mission – 01/2022: Globe and Mail National Story on Advocacy Work of Lori Vrebosch - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-a-mom-on-a-mission-to-tackle-the-opioid-epidemic/
Timeline
Executive Director & Peer Support Program Manager
We Will Recover Society
08.2021 - Current
Crisis Worker, Consultant, Advocate
Aakom-Kayii Health Services
10.2020 - 04.2021
Volunteer Provincial Team Leader
Moms Stop The Harm
01.2019 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
Trent University
Associate of Arts - General Arts And Sciences
Durham College