Leadership fueled by lived experience and hope

Our team members have lived experience with substance use disorders and have traveled diverse roads to recovery. We know that strengthening and expanding the peer support system will help save lives and restore hope to thousands of Arkansas residents. Our offices are located in Little Rock, but we visit and collaborate with organizations and individuals throughout the state. 

Casey Copeland
Director of Peer Services

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.

Cheyenne Delaney
Program Coordinator, Peer Recovery Specialist

Cheyenne Delaney is a woman in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health disorders. She has been an advocate for Peer Support services since 2021. She is a Peer Recovery Specialist for the state of Arkansas. She is the Secretary of the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC) and coordinates the Peer Recovery Trainings on all levels. She has been working in the recovery field since 2021 helping individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders receiving treatment and is an active member of her recovery community.

Amanda Vardaman
Program Coordinator

Amanda Vardaman has been in long-term recovery from substance use disorder since October 4, 2014, beginning her journey at the age of 19. She has a diverse professional background, with experience in management, accounting, event planning, communications, graphic design, and administration.

In her role at the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Office of Recovery, Amanda leverages her expertise to enhance peer services across the state. She was hired as a Program Coordinator at DHS in March 2023, initially managing the Peer Achieving Collaborative Treatment (PACT) program. Amanda has since taken on additional responsibilities, including management of the Specialty Courts Program, direction and training of the Good Grid data reporting platform, and data reporting for federal grants.

Amanda is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist as of June 2024. She serves as the co-chair of the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC), serves as a board member of The Copeland Foundation (TCF) and Saline Recovery Connection, and is greatly connected to a twelve-step program, participating in sponsorship, actively working the 12 steps, and engaging in service work at the group, area, and regional levels.

Kathleen Stancliff
Peer Recovery Specialist

Kathleen Stancliff is an Advanced Peer Recovery Specialist who has three decades of recovery experience.  She has a passion for helping individuals find a better way to live through advocating, mentoring, and sharing her lived recovery experience to ignite hope. Kathleen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She loves God, her children, animals, and gardening. She is active in her recovery and enjoys visiting friends over a cup of coffee.