Laura Stanley, B.Sc., NCPS, PRSS, RPSS, I-FPRS

Laura Stanley celebrates her journey of long-term recovery since November 28, 2016, drawing strength from her personal battles with domestic violence, childhood trauma, the intricacies of the criminal justice system, and the challenges associated with mental health and substance use. Laura's dedication to her growth and helping others is reflected in her attainment of several prestigious certifications: the Recognized Peer Support Specialist Certification through the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health, the IC/RC Peer Recovery Support Specialist Certification through Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers, the National Certified Peer Specialist Credential through The National Certification Board for Behavioral Health Professionals and most recently the Integrated Forensic Peer Recovery Specialist certification with the SAFE Project and Hand2Heart collaborative.

Over the past five years, Laura has devoted herself to the role of Peer Support Specialist, offering unwavering support to individuals grappling with mental health and substance use challenges. Her commitment extends to various fronts, including working with a mobile outreach crisis team for the Louisiana State Opioid Response, manning a crisis call line, and providing personalized support to clients and groups within a clinical setting. Laura is a member of the Special Therapies Addiction Treatment Team at Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Louisiana, where she continues her passionate work, now focusing on individuals within the correctional system, employing her vast experience and deep empathy to support their journey toward recovery.

In her role at Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, Laura:

• Ensures that the people she serves have the community resources and social support to re-enter society successfully

• Serves as a role model, advocate, and motivator to prevent return to use and promotes lifelong recovery from mental health and substance use challenges

• Facilitates recovery planning, life skills, coping skills, parenting, and substance abuse education classes

• Provides one-on-one and group peer support sessions to help people identify their goals post-release and assists with treatment planning

Laura's academic journey has recently culminated in her graduation Cum Laude from Northwestern State University of Louisiana on December 13, 2023, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a major concentration in substance abuse and a minor in addiction studies, underscoring her passion for dismantling the stigma surrounding substance use and mental health. She is currently pursuing her master’s at Louisiana State University, focusing on Social Work.

A highlight of Laura's advocacy work occurred in 2019 when she was honored with a medallion from the Office of National Drug Control Policy by James Carroll in recognition of her courage in sharing her recovery story. Laura lives by the mantra, “Recovery is no longer the exception. It is the expectation!” and actively encourages those facing difficulties to seek the support needed to navigate their challenges. As a proud mother to three beautiful daughters, Laura makes her home in Houma, LA, where she continues to inspire and advocate for change, demonstrating through her life and work that recovery and resilience can flourish even in the most challenging circumstances.