Bold North Recovery and Consulting

🔥Registration OPEN🔥 July Online Peer Recovery Specialist Training ACT NOW & reserve your spot TODAY. Click Here 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 boldnorthrecoveryandconsulting.com/recovery-coach…

I'm excited to share @BoldRecovery’s first-ever research project focused on Minnesota’s peer recovery workforce. Now entering its fourth year, Bold North Recovery’s grant‑funded peer recovery workforce development program is expanding access to high‑quality, affordable Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) training across Minnesota and helping remove the structural barriers identified in the Minnesota Peer Recovery Workforce Survey 2022–2025. Supported by the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (OERAC), this initiative provides low‑cost CPRS certification preparation and ongoing education at a time when “PRS training is still unaffordable, hard to find, and difficult to access due to employment obligations.” By investing in accessible training, scholarships, and peer‑centered workforce development, Bold North Recovery is strengthening Minnesota’s behavioral health system and building a more sustainable, well‑supported peer recovery workforce. Thank you to Justin Bell, PhD, for helping build this report from the data I’ve been collecting since 2022. drive.google.com/file/d/1ilWUMp…

🔥Registration OPEN🔥 July Online Peer Recovery Specialist Training ACT NOW & reserve your spot TODAY. Click Here 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 boldnorthrecoveryandconsulting.com/recovery-coach…

💡 Protect your friends. Save a life. Naloxone can reverse a fentanyl overdose in minutes—and anyone can learn to use it. Being prepared means looking out for the people you care about. 📖 Learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose: thenewdrugtalk.org/articles/narca…

With only 7 weeks away we’re gearing up for our 2026 activation and we hope you’ll join us! Mark your calendars to spread the word & take action on April 29, 2026. Stay tuned for more updates here 🌟

Spring is Coming - mailchi.mp/boldnorthrecov…

🚨🚨Long Post Alert🚨🚨 The following question continues to come up: 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 Does the state of Minnesota have to pay all valid Medicaid claims regardless if the federal government freezes reimbursement, and how long does the state have to pay those claims? Minnesota remains legally responsible for paying valid Medicaid claims even if the federal government freezes reimbursement. The state must continue administering its Medicaid program, and that includes processing and paying claims that meet eligibility and documentation requirements. Federal law does not give states an option to pause payments simply because federal matching funds are delayed or withheld. There is no federal rule that sets a specific time limit for how long Minnesota must keep paying during a freeze. The obligation continues as long as the state operates Medicaid and has appropriated funds available. Minnesota can use its general fund, special reserves, or emergency appropriations to cover the federal share during a freeze. Once those resources are exhausted, the state may need legislative action, payment delays, or service reductions to remain solvent. In practice, Minnesota will keep paying claims until it no longer has the financial capacity to do so. State officials have already warned that a prolonged freeze could force significant operational changes, including delayed payments or suspended services, because the financial burden shifts entirely to the state. Several phrases in that answer deserve close attention: “appropriated funds available,” “financial capacity,” and “financial burden.” These terms point directly to the reality that Minnesota is still heading toward a projected budget deficit in the 2030-2031 biennium. When the state is already facing a major shortfall, any additional unfunded obligation, especially one as large as the federal share of Medicaid, becomes a serious structural risk. What makes this even more frustrating is that the state has not communicated any of this clearly. The government may argue that it is not responsible for explaining the legal framework to the public. It should be. Transparency is essential when people’s health care, livelihoods, and trust are at stake. As I have said before, the lack of transparency and poor communication are major reasons so many Americans have lost trust in their government. Rebuilding that trust requires honesty, clarity, and proactive communication. How the government regains the trust of the people remains the billion-dollar question.

Do you remember when you joined X? I do! #MyXAnniversary

Thank you @WCCO for asking my thoughts on the Trump Administration’s announcement about withholding $259 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota. We all want to stop fraud, and we can do that without harming our current workforce or our most vulnerable citizens.

From the article: Randy Anderson, an addiction counselor in Minnesota, said state officials have already warned that a prolonged freeze on Medicaid reimbursement could force significant operational changes because the financial burden shifts entirely to the state. The extended standoff with the Trump administration has been compounded by limited communication from Minnesota officials, he added. “We aren’t even sure what this means yet,” Anderson wrote in a text message Wednesday night. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Ppl in ALL stages of recovery should understand recent changes to 42 CFR Part 2, the federal confidentiality protections for #addictiontreatment records. Our new short video offers key info re: effectively advocating for & protecting your health privacy! bit.ly/42CFRPart2Video

Whether you’re considering addiction treatment, are currently in treatment, or were in treatment previously, you should understand recent changes to 42 CFR Part 2—the federal confidentiality protections for addiction treatment records—so you can advocate for and protect your health privacy. @lac_news Deputy Director of Health Privacy covers the basics of these protections, including how to navigate new consent forms, the complaint-filing process, and more. Check it out here and please share widely: youtu.be/bIu755oxCpI

1976: The Year That Changed Recovery Advocacy Forever Join Mobilize Recovery for our FIRST Virtual Workshop of 2026! We're marking the 50th Anniversary of Operation Understanding & Freedom Fest, the events that shattered stigma around alcoholism. From Buzz Aldrin & Dick Van Dyke going public with their recovery, to the largest advocacy gathering in US history! Join us as filmmaker Greg Williams (The Anonymous People) & Jeremiah Gardner (Hazelden Betty Ford) discuss 1976's impact, the movement's evolution, and how YOU can shape the future. 📅 Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 | 7-8 PM ET RSVP now: mobilizerecovery.org/history_of_the… #MobilizeRecovery

The Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. served as the venue for this historic press conference. The event was timed to coincide with a period of significant legislative debate regarding federal funding for alcoholism research. #mobilizerecovery

I ranked #1 on the Whova leaderboard at MSSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo! #MSSAconference - via #Whova event app

🚨 DEADLINE ONLY TWO DAYS AWAY! Mobilize Recovery 2026 is heading back to LAS VEGAS! We’re offering 250 registration passes for just $250! Applications are open now through Feb 15. Don't wait—apply here: bit.ly/4aTce8L We’re bringing the community back together in person at the iconic MGM Grand, Dec 6–9, 2026! We’ve partnered with The Global Exchange Conference (GXC) to bridge the gap between grassroots advocacy and clinical excellence. What to expect: ✅ A dedicated Mobilize Recovery programming track. ✅ Our largest convening to date. ✅ High-energy advocacy meets professional clinical insights. ✨ SECURE YOUR SPOT: Can't wait? Register via the GXC website now for Super Early Bird rates! Note: Be sure to select “Partner – Mobilize Recovery” at Step 6. See you under the Vegas lights! 🌉✨

🚨 DEADLINE IS THREE DAYS AWAY! Mobilize Recovery 2026 is heading back to LAS VEGAS! We’re bringing the community back together in person at the iconic MGM Grand, Dec 6–9, 2026! We’ve partnered with The Global Exchange Conference (GXC) to bridge the gap between grassroots advocacy and clinical excellence. What to expect: ✅ A dedicated Mobilize Recovery programming track. ✅ Our largest convening to date. ✅ High-energy advocacy meets professional clinical insights. 🎟️ SCHOLARSHIPS: We’re offering 250 registration passes for just $250! Applications are open now through Feb 15. Don't wait—apply here: bit.ly/4aTce8L ✨ SECURE YOUR SPOT: Can't wait? Register via the GXC website now for Super Early Bird rates! Note: Be sure to select “Partner – Mobilize Recovery” at Step 6. See you under the Vegas lights! 🌉✨

Minnesota Heatwave - mailchi.mp/boldnorthrecov…

I’m profoundly humbled to share that I’ve been named to TIME100 Health, recognizing the 100 most influential people shaping global health in 2026. @TIME When we started Mobilize Recovery, our goal was clear. We set out to give a voice to those who have been left behind by a system that ignored them, to end the overdose crisis, and to take on the billionaires who profited off our pain. This recognition by TIME isn’t just a personal milestone. It’s a massive spotlight on our entire movement and the advocates doing the hard work on the ground every single day. To be included alongside such an extraordinary group of global health leaders is surreal, but this recognition truly belongs to all of us. Thank you to TIME, my incredible team, and everyone who has supported this mission. We won’t stop until every voice is heard, every person is valued and supported, and no more lives are lost to this preventable crisis. Let's keep fighting. With love, R. Read the 2026 list here: time.com/time100-health…

Come check us out at MSSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo. #MSSAconference - via #Whova event app