Self-Care for Parents & Caregivers: Thriving, Not Just Surviving

Hello, my name is Douglas Fenoff, I'm a Registered and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist living in central Virginia. I moved here about a decade ago after spending the majority of my life in a small town in northern New Hampshire, a town that consisted of less than a thousand people! I completed my Associate's Degree in Health Science in 2022 and have worked as a behavior/emotional/instructional support assistant for the local high school since I graduated from college. Before that, I worked as a private family nanny for 2, sometimes 3 small children with intensive emotional and behavioral support needs. And before that, I worked off and on with a young man for over a decade with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, OCD, autism, and ODD. I completed my 72-hour PRS training in November of 2023, but before that, I was also certified in Mental Health First Aid from Region Ten and another mental-health-focused organization. I've also recently completed the required 40-hour training to become a Registered Behavior Technician. In 2024, I became a Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist, an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist, and a Parent Peer Support Provider or Family Support Partner. In my current position, I've worked with many children and young adults with social, emotional, and behavioral issues. I've received praise in this field from parents, coworkers, and my supervisors for reaching kids they were unsure anyone would be able to get to. I take great pride in this work and I definitely hope to be able to apply everything I've learned in this setting with any peers who might need this additional support! I've always had a passion for behavioral science and have worked in various roles in the field. My goal is to continue to learn and grow, eventually becoming a leader in the field and making a significant impact on sustainable mental health efforts. I'm excited to work for a company that shares my values and commitment to peer recovery work. In the long term, I would like to become a leader in the field and make a significant impact on the ever-growing mental health treatment necessity.