Join us for a powerful and inspiring closing keynote session that brings together two influential voices in the mental health and substance use recovery peer movement:

Former Director of SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery, Paolo del Vecchio and Special Assistant, Kristen Harper will explore the rich history, dynamic present, and bold future of peer support, with a special focus on unifying our collective efforts across mental health and substance use fields regardless of service setting.

In this unique keynote format, Kristen will engage Paolo—longtime advocate, national leader, and pioneer in the recovery movement—in a candid conversation that draws on their shared commitment to advancing peer-led services and systems transformation. Together, they will reflect on the evolution of the peer movement, highlighting pivotal moments, policy milestones, and grassroots efforts that have shaped the landscape we navigate today.

This session will not be a one-way presentation. It will be an invitation to interact with Paolo and Kristen and the audience. Participants will gain deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the peer workforce, especially at the intersection of mental health and substance use. The discussion will address the historical silos that have often divided our efforts and examine how a unified, person-centered approach can strengthen outcomes and promote greater inclusion, equity, and impact across the system of care.

As the conversation unfolds, Paolo and Kristen will offer practical recommendations for peer specialists, organizational leaders, and system advocates looking to build a more integrated and empowered workforce, while also reviewing the current Administration's policies that could impact the future of peer support. They will discuss how peer roles can be elevated, how values like mutuality and lived experience can remain central in evolving systems, and how to ensure that peer support continues to drive meaningful changes in people’s lives.

Key themes will include:

• The origins and trajectory of the peer support movement

• Strategies to bridge the divide between mental health and substance use peer work

• Policy and system-level changes needed to advance workforce integration

• The importance of leadership, advocacy, and cultural humility in peer practice

• A call to action for unifying around a person-centered, trauma-informed approach

Whether you are a seasoned peer professional, a new advocate, or a system leader committed to recovery values, this closing keynote will leave you with renewed energy.