Stepping Stones: A Peer Perspective Navigating Through Pregnancy and Postpartum Experiences

Tanya Kraege is the Director of Peer Services at Safe Communities MDC. Tanya works alongside people experiencing substance use, birthing folx using substances during pregnancy, trauma, relationships, formerly incarcerated, and mental health experiences. Tanya has been a part of mental health and substance use work for 15 years. Currently, she oversees programs that use Recovery Coaches and Certified Peer Specialists who work in various environments in Dane County, Rock County, and Jefferson County in Wisconsin to support people with substance use and mental health experiences and their loved ones. Over the years in this role, she launched the Preg2recovery Program, Jail2Recovery Program, Treatment Court2Recovery, and several other programs.  Tanya has secured grant funding to design and implement a Salesforce-based recovery practice management solution that has increased productivity by 40% in peer provider management and has given the flexibility to serve over 4,000 people in her community. Tanya also works as a crisis worker at Dane County Crisis and consults around the Country regarding anti-stigma work and peer provider programs. Tanya played a role in the Health Care Task Force on Safe Opioid Prescribing by participating in the academic detailing program for working with clinicians on co-prescribing Naloxone with opioid prescription medications and anti-stigma work for birthing people. In addition to being a Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, and community advocate, Tanya is a mom, a person with lived experience, and active in the recovery community. Tanya is also a Recovery Coach, Recovery Coach Trainer, and Certified Peer Specialist Trainer, using her story of addiction and recovery to help others gain hope and insight into new ways of living.