Ensuring a quality state system
The Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC) is appointed by the Arkansas Drug Director. Members include the Department of Human Services (DHS) Recovery Team and up to 15 community stakeholders, who are certified peer workers with extensive knowledge and experience. APAC serves as a key resource for the Department of Human Services/Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DHS/OSAMH) on all matters related to peer recovery. This includes evaluating and approving the eligibility of Peer Recovery Supervisors (PRS) prior to their certification testing and approving continued education hours eligible for peer workers’ necessary hours to receive accreditation.
APAC Mission Statement: Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC) unites the skills, passions, and experiences of Peer Recovery Support Specialists through outreach and advocating for Peer services. To provide Career and Personal Development to ensure the sustainability of the Peer Recovery Profession.
APAC Vision Statement: To be the subject matter experts for Peer Services while upholding the ethical responsibilities of Peer Support in the State of Arkansas.
Download the Continued Education Application
Download the APAC Regional Seat Application
Chair: Casey Copeland, PRS
Casey Copeland is the Director of Recovery Services for the State of Arkansas and a Peer Support Peer Supervisor. Living in long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorder since 2017, Casey began his path as a Peer Support Specialist, known for his genuine empathy and knack for connecting with people battling substance use and mental health challenges. His first year of recovery was dedicated to volunteering with various organizations in Central Arkansas.
Once he achieved abstinence from substances, Casey met and married his wonderful wife, Megan, and in 2020, they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Adilynn. Deeply committed to his faith, Casey gives all the credit for his achievements to God and stays focused on his recovery by actively participating in a recovery program. When he’s not working, Casey loves spending quality time with family and friends, working out, and enjoying the great outdoors. He’s also a deacon at his church, which brings him great joy.
Casey has worn many hats over the years, including Director of Arkansas Peers Achieving Recovery Together (APART), Director of Rock of Hope transitional houses, co-founder and president of The Copeland Foundation (TCF), and Chairman of the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC). Now, as the Director of Peer Services for the State of Arkansas, Casey has played a key role in creating, managing, and rolling out numerous programs statewide. His efforts have made a big splash in improving substance use and mental health services in Arkansas, championing inclusivity, and empowering people on their recovery journeys.
Region 1
Joseph Cruz
Joseph Cruz is a person with over a decade of experience in long term recovery from substance misuse disorder and mental health. He started his peer recovery support journey in 2019 and received certification during November 2020. Following up with advanced certification, then peer recovery supervisor April 2023. He currently has over two hundred hours of specialized training during his tenure. Joseph has been a speaker for several panels as a peer specialist representative. And currently he serves as a committee member for APAC.
Ashley LaHue
Ashley LaHue is the executive director of Positive Energy Affecting Recovering Lives (P.E.A.R.L). She is a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor and serves on the Arkansas Peer Ethics Review Committee.
She knows firsthand the struggles of early recovery and has made it her life’s passion to help end the stigma that comes with substance use disorders. Her work history includes intensive case management for the Arkansas Transitional Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, serving as a workforce specialist with the Department of Workforce Services, and holding positions with Arkansas Community Corrections and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Ashley has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Dangie Casper
We are proud to highlight Dangie, a certified Advanced Peer Recovery Support Specialist and a Peer Recovery Supervisor in Training at Lake Point. With a wealth of lived and professional experience, Dangie is committed to advocating for individuals in addiction recovery, empowering them to set and achieve meaningful goals essential for their journey to wellness. In her role, Dangie serves as a vital bridge between peers and service providers, facilitating communication and collaboration among judges, community leaders, law enforcement, and first responders. Through these connections, she strives to foster understanding and reshape public perceptions of addiction.
Dangie is also a Trainer of Trainers for justice-involved peer specialists and narcan administration, demonstrating her dedication to equipping others with the necessary skills to support those in recovery. She earned her certification from the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors and has a strong educational background in nursing and sports medicine. In addition to her professional roles, Dangie is an active member of the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee and serves as the activities chair for her 12-step recovery group, reflecting her commitment to community engagement. With 5.5 years of sustained recovery, Dangie embodies the resilience and strength she seeks to inspire in others. We are fortunate to have Dangie on our team, where her passion and expertise are making a meaningful impact in the lives of those she serves.
Region 2
Les Cupp
Les is a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Certified Clinical Supervisor. He is a person of long-term recovery and has more than two decades of experience as a counselor and clinical supervisor for substance use disorders. He contributed knowledge and expertise to the development of the Arkansas Model for Peer Support curriculum.
He is currently the peer support coordinator at the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement and is a member of the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board.
Les grew up in Morrilton and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas. He is married to his beautiful wife, Phèdre, and has two sons, Louden and Finley. He enjoys camping and spending time outdoors.
Josh Ramsey
Josh Ramsey is the Peer Recovery Support Specialist working with the Izard County Sheriff’s Department and the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force. Josh struggled for 30 years with a substance use disorder. After being arrested dozens of times, he went to a faith-based treatment facility in 2018 and has lived substance free since then.
Working alongside two investigators, he uses his lived experience to help people who have overdosed get treatment and create effective recovery plans. Josh is currently active in the community and in the church. He is a leader in two Celebrate Recovery programs, conducts NARCAN trainings, participates in jail ministry, and organizes community outreach for drug prevention. Josh resides in Batesville with his wife, Ashley, and their son, Ashton.
Shalinda Woolbright
Shalinda Woolbright is the founder and executive director of NEA Divine Intervention women’s sober living and community peer centers. Her substance use disorder began at age 17, and she acquired four probation officers, one parole officer, and a $22,000 debt for restitution fees. After losing custody of her children for the fourth time, she was determined to find a new way to live. In long-term recovery, she gives back to her community in her role as a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor.
Region 3
Monte Payne
Edward L Payne was born in Los Angeles an his friends called him Monte. Monte graduated from High School and went to the Military where he started drinking and was discharged with a entry level separation. Monte was dejected and started on the road of addiction smoking CRACK. Monte suffered through years of addiction on the streets of Los Angeles. When he finally decided to make a try for a new life, Monte came to Arkansas …. in the trunk of a car to escape murders drug dealers looking for revenge! He tried, but his new life was not to be. Within a few years, Monte was back in the iron grip of crack cocaine. He was once more on the streets, in Arkansas this time.
In 2004, Monte entered Hoover Treatment Center and began a new life in earnest this time. He did so well that, in 2007, the Courts awarded him custody of his then 12-year-old son. Monte raised his son and put him through college at UCA. Pretty impressive for a man who spent years on the streets struggling with his addiction. Equally impressive is the fact that in 2007 Monte also began working at the Hoover Treatment Center as a case manager. He worked in treatment housing and after care and, over time, has helped thousands of individuals get sober. Monte’s life continues its upward spiral. In 2018 Monte began working as a Peer Support Specialist and trainer and, here, found his niche. Monte has trained more Peers in Arkansas than any other trainer by far. In 2019 he was named Trainer of the Year at the first Arkansas Peer Support Conference. Monte is well-credentialed and extensively active in his community:
- Monte is a certified Narcan trainer.
- He is a member of Community Health Worker’s Certification Committee
- He is a UAMS grant reviewer.
- He is a member of TRI (Translation Research Institute).
- He is on the board of the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee.
- He is a member of the Arkansas Peers Achieving Recovery Together Coalition.
- He is on the board of Better Community Development
- He is a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor.
- He is currently working at Wolfe Street Foundation as the Peer Program Manager
Tojuana Greenlaw
Tojuana Greenlaw is a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor. She started her recovery journey in July of 2010. She has completed all 3 levels of the Arkansas Model and is a Trainer of Trainers and sits on the APAC committee. Tojuana currently works with Arkansas Blue Cross/ Blue Shield as the Peer Support Specialists Lead. Tojuana has a passion for helping individuals that may have walked the similarities that she has walked. Working as a Peer Recovery Specialists allows me the opportunity allows me to meet an individual where they are and to walk with individuals on their recovery journey of their choice.
Stacey Franks
Stacey Franks is a person in long-term recovery and works as a PRPS (Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor) at River Valley Medical Wellness. She is passionate about using her lived experience to help as many people as possible overcome the obstacles of substance use disorder. Stacey’s role at River Valley Medical Wellness involves connecting individuals to community resources in order to help them build a foundation for sustainable, long-term recovery.
Additionally, she is active in the State of Arkansas’ Peer Recovery Initiatives, serving on APAC, the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee. She is a Trainer of Trainers for the state of Arkansas to train others to become Peer Recovery Support Specialists. Stacey is also actively involved in her community, leading a recovery life group called G5 Recovery at New Life Church in Cabot. She volunteers at Hoover Treatment Center, helping women in recovery, as well as being the Public Relations Chair for a 12-step recovery fellowship.
Stacey loves the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her family. She’s quirky and fun-loving and enjoys the privilege of being of service to others.
Region 4
Carlotta Powell
Director of Substance Abuse Services
Powell is a person with over 23 years of long-term recovery. She is the Director of Substance Abuse Services for SWACMHC. Powell was one of the first Trainer of Trainers for the State of Arkansas. Powell was instrumental in the development of the AR model of Peer services. She is currently a PRPS as well as a Trainer of Trainers. Powell sits on the APAC board as well as the ASACB.
Lynette Hanley
Lynette Hanley has been in long-term recovery for six years and is currently an Advanced Peer Specialist and Supervisor in Training. Since March 2021, she has worked as a Peer Specialist for the RSAT program at the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to her role there, she serves as a Region 4 representative on the APAC committee, contributing her expertise and dedication to her community.
Region 5
Desi Sims, MA, BS, PRS
Desi is a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor; he holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in biblical studies. He is a person of long-term recovery (25 years) who has also successfully reintegrated society after incarceration. Desi, along with being a PRPS, he is also an Ordained Minister, the Dean of education for the Phillips County Ministerial Alliance, and Chairperson of the board of directors for one of the community health clinics of Arkansas (ONCHC). He is also a long-term member of the NAACP. He is a member of the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC).
Desi plans to do early retirement from his current job with ARISA Health (as of 10/10/2024) and focus on providing Peer Supervision at NEA Divine Intervention (RCO in Jonesboro, Ar.) and for the Arkansas Peer Specialist Program. The rest of his time he plans to focus on doing ministerial works, advocacy works, and community development in the delta region of Arkansas. Desi is currently the Pastor of two churches and hopes to start a third one (via ZOOM) that focuses heavily on using spiritual principles to deal with the societal ills that currently plague the delta region.
