When someone walks through the doors of the Franklin County Crisis Care Center, they're met not only by clinicians and caretakers, but also by people who have experienced mental health or addiction challenges themselves.
At the crisis center, peer support is woven throughout the care experience. Operated by Recovery Innovations, the facility embraces a "peer first, peer last" philosophy, meaning a peer support specialist is the first person an individual interacts with upon arrival and the last person they interact with at discharge.
Certified Peer Recovery Supporters — often called “peers”— are individuals who use their own lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery to support others on their recovery journeys. They serve as an essential part of the behavioral health workforce by bridging gaps between treatment and recovery, reducing stigma and helping individuals feel seen, understood and empowered to take the next steps in their healing process.
Patrick Kaylor, a Peer Support Specialist at the Franklin County Crisis Care Center, knows firsthand the value of lived experience in helping individuals in their recovery journeys. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick dealt with substance misuse that lasted for several years. He didn’t find the support he needed to begin his recovery journey until he found a center where he felt accepted and understood.
“People at my treatment center showed me love and kindness,” Patrick said. “It really changed my life because it wasn’t something I was used to, but that kindness lit a fire under me. I did what I could to help new guys come in and it was super rewarding, so that was when I decided I wanted to help others like that all the time.”
After receiving his peer recovery supporter certification, Patrick began working at the Franklin County Crisis Care Center in November 2025. As a peer support specialist, Patrick's primary role is to help individuals – or guests, as they’re referred to by Recovery Innovations staff – stay engaged in their recovery by building meaningful relationships and offering support through conversation. He is one of about 14 peer support specialists at the crisis center.
“I think it helps a lot to see somebody who’s been through your struggle,” Patrick said. “Guests know this is a person who understands, and I try to present myself as a professional, which feels surreal, because there was a time when being professional was the last thing on my mind.”
Turning Lived Experience Into Hope
Balancing professionalism with empathy is central to Gerrice Stallworth's role as a peer recovery supporter at the crisis center. He believes that approach helps guests feel safe, supported and understood from the moment they arrive.
“Some people are more affected by their crisis than others, so what you say to somebody can really affect them,” Gerrice said. “You have to be sincere, especially in this type of environment.”
Gerrice views peer support as a calling rooted in his faith and commitment to helping others. Motivated by the chance to use his lived experience to inspire hope, he became a certified peer recovery supporter and has worked at the Franklin County Crisis Care Center for about a year.
“I was in the Marines from 1989-1993 and saw a lot of things that were tough for a young person, so I struggled with PTSD,” Gerrice shared. “I’ve been to prison nine times and struggled with substance abuse, but I’m two years sober. My determination, faith and seeing positive results from being sober helped me get to this point.”
Day or night, peers like Patrick and Gerrice are ready to support those who come to the Franklin County Crisis Care Center. Patrick knows that the messages that can sound like clichés at first can eventually become the words that carry someone forward.
“I used to hear those hopeful clichés and roll my eyes, but over time I realized many of them are true. Now they're the same messages of hope I try to share with others,” Patrick said. “As long as you keep getting back up and keep breathing, you haven’t failed.”