About me
Alethea Lambert has been employed in the Office of Recovery (ORS) with the Department of Behavioral
Health and Developmental Services since July 2019. Alethea first operated as the ORS Recovery Services
Coordinator and oversaw 30+ ongoing contractual relationships with recovery community organizations
and other entities throughout the state. In 2021, she was promoted to Recovery-Oriented Services
Manager, where she was responsible for the Peer and Family STEPVA implementation and oversight for
four regional positions. Currently serving as the ORS Director, Alethea is responsible for carrying out the
Office of Recovery Services' mission of leveraging the voice of personal lived experience in the
development of policies, legislation, and the peer and family support workforce. She oversees 6 direct
reports, budget development, and manages over $40M in state and federal fund allocations. She
obtained her BA in Human Services Counseling with a Substance Abuse Certification in May of 2021 and
completed the DBHDS leadership development program, SystemLead, and the Recovery Leadership
Academy the same year. Previously, Ms. Lambert worked as the Peer Recovery Coordinator for the
Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board (H-NNCSB) before moving on to the state level.
During her tenure at H-NNCSB, she was awarded the Patty L. Gilbertson Excellence in Service Award in
May of 2019. Alethea is a Virginia Registered-Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with a National Peer
Recovery Support Specialist Certification with the National Association of Addiction Professionals
(NAADAC), and a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Assistant (CSAC-A) in Virginia. Alethea has been
involved in peer recovery support services and advocacy for over 20 years. She was the President of the
Board of Directors for SAARA Virginia, a member of the Board with MHAV, and the Peer voice on the
Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP) Board. Alethea is a DBHDS Master REVIVE
Trainer, Qualified Advanced Directive Facilitator (QADF), DBHDS PRS Trainer, and co-facilitates the PRS
Peer Recovery Specialist Trainer of the Trainer. Recently, Alethea formed her first business, I Can & I
Must Recovery Solutions of Virginia, whose mission surrounds wellness in all its forms. Alethea works to
champion recovery support, peer support, and an understanding of multiple recovery pathways in her
personal, community, and professional life. As a person in long-term recovery, Ms. Lambert embodies
her belief that individuals living with substance use disorder and mental illness can lead self-directed,
meaningful, recovery-oriented lifestyles. Alethea enjoys her
grandchildren and line dancing. Alethea says that line dancing is
her happy place and a form of self-care.
