Substance Abuse Prevention Month is a time to reflect on the power of compassion, connection, and community. At First 5 Orange County, we see every day how these elements can support families with young children who are navigating challenges. One of the most meaningful ways this happens is through the work of Peer Support Specialists – people who bring their own lived experiences to walk alongside parents on their recovery journeys.
This month, we’re honored to share insights from Dori, a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist whose work centers on offering hope, reducing stigma, and helping families stay connected.
A Journey That Inspires Her Work
For Dori, peer support is deeply personal. Years ago, she watched a close family member struggle with substance use disorder. “It was devastating,” she shared. “Children were removed, CPS was involved, and ultimately they lost everything. I tried to help, but I didn’t know what to do, and looking back, I probably made things worse.”
This experience drove her to learn more – and ultimately led her to peer support. “It’s what I wish had been available for my own family: someone with lived experience who could offer hope even when recovery seemed impossible.” Today, that desire fuels her work with parents who are pregnant or parenting young children. Through Family Wellness Plans, resource navigation, and compassionate support, she walks alongside families as they define their own strengths, goals, and recovery needs.
What Peer Support Looks Like Day to Day
A “typical” day doesn’t really exist in peer support work. Dori might meet a new parent in the hospital, support someone in court as they work to reunify with their child, or spend a day researching housing resources. The work shifts constantly based on what each family needs.
“We respond and adapt daily,” she said. “Every parent’s journey is different.” At the heart of it all is connection, which looks like showing up, listening deeply, and holding hope even when circumstances feel heavy.
The Strengths She Sees in Parents
Despite the challenges families face, Dori sees powerful strengths emerge every day. “Every parent I’ve ever worked with shares how much they love their child and how much they want for their child. This can be a doorway to the beginning of recovery.”
She also highlights how vital community is for long-term healing. Recovery is strengthened not only by formal supports like counseling or group meetings, but also by informal networks like friends, relatives, faith communities, and neighborhood resources. “We all need to feel we’re not alone,” she said. “This is vital in recovery.”
The Power of Being Seen and Supported
One of the most common misunderstandings about peer support, according to Dori, is the idea that peers are meant to convince someone to stop using substances. “Peers honor that each person is the expert on their own life,” she explained. Instead, the role is about listening, affirming strengths, and offering hope.
“Listening, repeating back what was said, being non-judgmental -these things help people feel truly heard. And always having hope. We never know when a person will be ready for recovery, and we want to be there when that happens.” Hope, she says, is something peers bring because they’ve lived it. They know change is possible, even during relapse or active use.
Reducing Stigma, Strengthening Families
Stigma and shame often prevent people from seeking help. But Dori sees positive change happening in Orange County. “We’re shifting from ‘reporting to community supporting’ and offering families the help they need to be in recovery.” At First 5 OC, keeping families together whenever possible is a guiding value. That can mean supporting reunification efforts, helping parents access basic needs, or connecting them to stable housing. Every step is grounded in dignity, compassion, and respect for each family’s unique path.
What Gives Dori Hope
Her answer is simple: “The families I support.”
Every story, every step forward, every moment of connection offers a reminder that recovery is possible, and that no one should have to navigate it alone.