About

Compassionate and resourceful Integrated Social Worker / Certified Peer Support Specialist / Community Health Worker with 30+ years of experience providing trauma-informed care, case management, and peer support across diverse populations. Skilled in care coordination, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, health education, and resource navigation. Passionate about reducing barriers to care, addressing social determinants of health, and empowering individuals toward recovery, stability, and self-sufficiency.

Skills

  • Care Coordination & Case Management
    8
  • Peer Support & Recovery Coaching
    8

Recommendations

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Bertha Allen

 10/16/2025
Provided a score of  
10
  for Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Philly Graham

 10/15/2025
10

"Donella is an amazing person that really enjoys her profession and she is absolutely great about helping people. If I had to sum Donella up in one word the word would be Professional. "

Experience

Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Education
  • Pre-work (10 hrs, asynchronous)
  • Recovery 101 & language of respect (person-first, non-stigmatizing)
  • Overview: NCCPSS role vs. clinical roles; scope & boundaries
  • Lived experience, self-care, and disclosure basics
  • Read & sign NCCPSS Code of Ethics; prep reflections (1–2 pages)
  • pss.unc.edu
  • Day 1 (8 hrs, in-person) — Foundations
  • Peers & recovery principles; trauma-informed, culturally humble practice
  • Building trust and psychological safety; empathetic listening and non-judgmental stance
  • Communication skills: verbal/nonverbal, reflective responses, motivational basics
  • Practice labs/role-plays (supportive conversations)
  • Maps to NCCPSS Training Core Concepts (trust, empathy, communication).
  • pss.unc.edu
  • Day 2 (8 hrs) — Ethics, Boundaries, & Lived Experience
  • Ethics & Conduct (conflicts, dual relationships, safeguarding privacy)
  • Boundaries & role clarity (CPSS vs. clinician/case manager)
  • Appropriate self-disclosure: when, how, and when not
  • Documentation do’s/don’ts; confidentiality basics (HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2—awareness)
  • Lab: boundary scenarios & ethical decision frameworks
  • Anchored to the NCCPSS Code of Ethics & Conduct.
  • pss.unc.edu
  • Day 3 (8 hrs) — Skills for Navigation & Advocacy
  • SDoH navigation (housing, food, transport, benefits); warm handoffs
  • Advocacy: person-led goals, shared decision-making, rights education
  • Groups & facilitation (safe space, participation, de-escalation)
  • Lab: resource mapping & advocacy scripts (call, email, ROI workflows)
  • Day 4 (8 hrs) — Crisis, Safety, & Wellness Planning
  • Recognizing distress vs. crisis; crisis response within peer scope
  • Safety collaboration with clinical teams; documentation signals vs. assessments
  • WRAP concepts; relapse prevention and coping skill-building
  • Lab: crisis role-plays; WRAP elements & check-ins (peer appropriate)
  • Day 5 (8 hrs) — Practice Integration & Professional Growth
  • Working on interdisciplinary teams; supervision & feedback
  • Practice settings (community, ED, FQHC, MAT, courts) & referral pathways
  • Employment readiness: job search, interview, ethics in employment
  • Capstone: observed peer support session (role-play), feedback, next-steps roadmap

Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Education
  • Community Health Worker grounded in lived experience. I connect people to care, remove real-life barriers (transport, benefits, meds), and turn “no-shows” into “new plans.” Trauma-informed, culturally humble, documentation-reliable, and deeply committed to warm handoffs and measurable follow-through.

Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Work experience
  • Provide direct care coordination for special populations (Ryan White, PrEP, Hep-C, FIT).
  • Facilitate linkage to care, including transportation, housing referrals, medication assistance, and benefits enrollment.
  • Collaborate with providers, RNs, CHWs, and external agencies to ensure holistic patient support.
  • Conduct social determinant screenings, address barriers to care, and create individualized care plans.
  • Maintain accurate data entry into, EPIC, CareWare, REEDS, RWISE, and grant reporting systems for compliance.

Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Work experience
  • November, 2014 - February, 2022
  • Fulltime
  • Utilized lived experience to build trust, provide hope, and model recovery to individuals living with chronic illness, substance use, or mental health challenges.
  • Facilitate peer support groups and one-on-one sessions focused on wellness, recovery planning, and relapse prevention.
  • Advocate for clients navigating stigma, systemic barriers, and healthcare systems.
  • Document services in compliance with Ryan White programmatic requirements.

Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Work experience
  • Delivered outreach and education in community settings (shelters, transitional housing, re-entry programs, and high-risk areas).
  • Conducted health screenings (HIV/STI testing, Hep-C, RPR) and facilitated linkage to primary care.
  • Provided health education on HIV prevention, PrEP, harm reduction, and chronic disease management.
  • Supported clients in accessing employment, education, and supportive housing resources.

Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Education
  • Health Education/Community Health

Bertha Allen

 10/16/2025
Provided a score of  
10
  for Donella Richardson-Graham AA, BS, CHW, CPSS

Philly Graham

 10/15/2025
10

"Donella is an amazing person that really enjoys her profession and she is absolutely great about helping people. If I had to sum Donella up in one word the word would be Professional. "