FACES OF CARSON
Editor’s Note: Our Faces of Carson feature shares experiences from the perspective of Behavioral Health Network’s caregivers and program directors in helping individuals and families in our community
Peter Crumb with state Sen. Eric Lesser.
WESTFIELD – Peter Crumb, Chris Barrett and Mike Currie didn’t initially choose careers in the recovery field, so when they were each recognized at this year’s Western Massachusetts Substance Abuse Providers Association (WMSAPA) annual meeting for their work in recovery at BHN, they took some time to share how it is they ended up here.
Mike Currie, Peer Support Specialist for Franklin County Family Drug Court’s MISSION-Hope Program at BHN, received an Outstanding Service in the Field Award. Currie joined BHN after retiring in 2017 from a 36-year career in the newspaper industry. Currie had a desire to work in the recovery services field, which led him to working two days a week at BHN’s Northern Hope Center. According to Currie, “Two days turned to four very quickly, and within a few months the opportunity to be a Peer Support Specialist became available with MISSION-Hope. It’s my dream job, where I work with an amazing team.” Currie describes his role within MISSION-Hope, “is to make a connection, lend support and help with transportation to appointments, lead group topic discussion meetings twice a week and attend self-help meetings with clients.”
Christopher Barrett, Senior Counselor at BHN Hope Center in Springfield, also received an Outstanding Service in the Field Award from WMSAPA. Barrett, who struggled with addiction earlier in his life, began at BHN as a per diem recovery specialist while maintaining a job as a cook at a local restaurant. Within a year, he became a full-time recovery specialist and worked for a short time in Greenfield at BHN’s Northern Hope Center before being offered his current job as a Senior Counselor at the Hope Center. According to Barrett, “I’m forever grateful for that opportunity in Greenfield. Since May 2017, I’ve become a father, started in this position, got married, and bought a house.”
Peter Crumb, a Peer Specialist at BHN’s The Living Room, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from WMSAPA. Crumb started as a volunteer at a detox facility now known as the Carlson Recovery Center, while teaching English and Speech at South Hadley High School. After two years, Crumb was hired part-time and eventually took a leave from teaching to serve as Chief Counselor. Crumb went on to develop South Hadley’s first “Safe and Drug-Free Schools” federal grant program, which led to working for other school districts in a similar capacity, including for Longmeadow schools as their first “Substance Abuse Response Coordinator.” Crumb established the Western Massachusetts School Substance Abuse Counselors Association (WMSSACA), and continues to work part-time as a Peer Specialist at The Living Room and counselor for BHN’s Intensive Outpatient Program.
