Hello;

My name is Amy Jo Young-BS. It has been a journey since May 14th, 2021, when my husband and I decided to establish a non-profit, L- aPs, Inc. (Learning, Living, and Loving after/along with Programs), that will serve and benefit Morrow and Umatilla County by providing a bridge from lapse support when people are coming out of, going into, in-between, and deciding to try other services for their addiction, life, and/or behavioral health recovery.

This is a non-traditional organization that is enthusiastic about developing program/s that will allow folks to "Belong" while also focusing on building abilities in a new self-directed recovery atmosphere. With a history of numerous Peer Support Certifications (Family Support, Adult Addiction Support, Adult Mental Health Support, and Employment Support) since October 2014, employed at Lifeways, Inc., Eastern Oregon Recovery Center (EORC), and currently at Maple Star Oregon, as well as my own lived experiences living in recovery for the past 15 years, I am uniquely qualified to support, encourage, empathize, and advocate for others in their self-directed recovery.

I am certified through Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as a Traditional Health Worker (THW) and hold a Qualified Mental Health Assistant 1 Certification through the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACCBO).

My husband and I have both lived experiences with houselessness, addiction, and life recovery from the justice system. We are creating an organization to encourage individuals and community partners to collaborate for the betterment of all those who require the services being explored to support their self-directed recovery. Developing a person-first approach that meets people where they are at and what they need, rather than what one assumes they should work on first. Recognizing that an individual is more knowledgeable about their circumstances than anyone else. Providing options that aid in the progression of the circumstances and knowing that by supporting is powerful. Developing our Mission so that people can "Belong" (noun) to be seen, understood, and be loved without having to change themselves."

We have a vision for this organization for the next ten years. That vision includes the following:

2022-2023 Free Mobile Thrift/Community Fridge

Our organization decided to develop a project that would help the people of Umatilla/Morrow County, who are now experiencing difficulties even getting what they need, let alone something they want. We all have wanted to buy at yard sales and thrift stores, and visit local fruit stands and farmer markets, yet due to financial limitations at this moment in our economy, those excursions might not be happening. As a brand-new peer-driven organization, we want to engage with the communities, we want to serve and gather goods that can be distributed to those who need what they need for themselves and their homes, whether it be furniture, food, clothing, or assistance finding and comprehending the numerous community resources that can be accessible for supportive services.

2023-2024 Online Peer Support Platform

Online platform for connecting to supportive listening and connecting with other humans who have lived through similar experiences. Our organization has the chance to collaborate with an already established and recognized online platform Hey Peers! which believes peer support should be simple, safe, personalized, and affordable. Hey Peers! is on a mission to assist more people in bettering their lives by combining innovative technologies and evidence-based peer support programs. L -aPs, Inc., wishes to provide this incredible online capability that will be created to be supportive and tailored to Umatilla and Morrow County needs, allowing users to connect to personalized peer support and access groups to join, being convenient and experiencing the ability to connect from your own home, being anonymous or known and sharing what is comfortable to share, and ultimately offering flexible access for those who have difficulty attending site-based support sessions.

2024-2025 Community Peer Drop-In Center

A friendly setting that provides peer support, case management, a community resource center for social activities, job support, and referrals to other agencies. Games, drinks, and the ability to do laundry, take a shower, relax, and revitalize oneself, among other things, are available. Creating that sense of "Belonging" that everyone needs and desires.

2025-2027 Working Recovery Farm (1) and Halfway House (2)

(1) Offering a short-term to long-term living environment for individuals who are recovering from alcohol and addiction. Working and providing a safe environment for people to self-direct their recovery. This will be a non-traditional program where people can find a place to belong and focus on acquiring new skills in their new recovery. Individuals will garden, care for animals, participate in meetings and workshops, build work skills, explore career prospects and community service connections, and participate in self-evaluations to guide their recovery. With both programs, the person is getting time and support to strengthen their recovery choices from the beginning thoughts to the achievement of time within recovery. (

2) Offering a place to rest, renew, and re-integrate self to obtain skills and support to go forward.

Within ten to fifteen years the hope of having our organization within other rural communities tailored to their needs for their communities would be priceless for all that self-direct their recovery from addiction, life, and behavioral health.

Respectfully,

Amy Jo Young-BS

PSS/THW/QMHA 1

President/Founder L- aPs, Inc.