About me
Bently Wood is a Lead Regional Peer Recovery Specialist Coordinator with Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, supporting and developing the peer workforce in Virginia’s DBHDS Region 4. Currently a Certified and Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (R-CPRS), his work is his passion which drives his commitment and dedication to all peer related concerns. He has lectured on substance use and mental health challenges, stigma, recovery language, and peer support. He is a trainer for peer recovery specialists in Ethics, Leadership, Certified Personal Medicine, emotional CPR, Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery (APPR), Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist (COAPS), and the 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training curriculum required to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia. Drawing on his personal journey from substance use and mental health challenges into recovery, he works as an advocate for social justice in behavioral health, the LGBT community, and promoting a career-path for the CPRS workforce in VA. He currently serves on the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) Workforce Development Sub-Committee, the Behavioral Health Advisory Council of Virginia, and the Virginia Ethics Advisory, Review and Support Committee (EARS).
