Who We Are
Peer Wellness Initiative’s Peer Wellness Coaches (PWC’s) promote healthier behaviors for Tennesseans with Mental Health and/or Substance Use Disorder conditions. Peer Wellness Initiative is a peer led initiative designed to improve the physical health conditions and overall well-being of Tennesseans living with behavioral health conditions. There are a total of 13 PWC’s and 1 statewide coach/trainer across Tennessee. We use evidence-based curriculum that has been based on credible research in our teachings. PWC’s use different workshops, one-on-one coaching, wellness activities, and trainings help participants achieve their wellness goals. The PWC’s provide their services within their respective agencies and Peer Support Centers, as well as in facilitator trainings across the state. More than 1,300 Tennesseans served in 2023.
It is important to focus on mental health because adults living in America with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than other Americans. Focusing on wellness, nutrition, physical exercise, and more can help participants live a long healthy life. PWC’s use the 8 Dimensions of Wellness as a tool to help reach the wellness goals of the participants. Wellness workshops include Chronic Disease, Diabetes, and Chronic Pain Self- Management Workshops, WHAM, NEW-R, and Tobacco Free Workshops.
Find a Peer Wellness Coach Near You
The PWC’s provide their services within their respective agencies and Peer Support Centers, as well as in facilitator trainings across the state. Please feel free to get into contact with the nearest PWC to start your wellness goal today!
Dina Savvenas is the Director of the Peer Wellness Initiative formerly known as My Health My Choice My Life that seeks to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans by offering 1:1 Wellness Coaching, Evidence-Based educational workshops and trainings that focus on improving wellness in 8-Dimensions: Social, Occupational, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Financial, Emotional. She has been doing this wonderful work for the last 8 years, and is personally committed to wellness for herself, her team of Peer Wellness Coaches, and for all others. Dina earned a BS in Psychology and Philosophy, and then an MA in Storytelling from ETSU.
When she isn’t at work, you may find her spending time in the great outdoors, hiking, Bellydancing, cooking, doing Yoga, enjoying time with friends, learning new things, and taking care of her high-maintenance cat companion.
Barry N. Floyd was born in Manchester, Tennessee and raised in Flintstone, Georgia outside of Chattanooga. He joined the U.S. Navy after high school and trained as a Hospital Corpsman spend much of his time with the United States Marine Corps. Barry retired from the U.S. Navy and moved back to Tennessee in 2011. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management from the University Phoenix and obtained his CPRS in 2019. Barry put that certification to work starting as a Program Assistant in psychosocial rehabilitation for Ridgeview in 2020. Barry comes from a family with a history of medical and mental health issues., and he has his own health and mental health issues from his time in the U.S. Navy. Barry wants to help others in the best capacity that he can, so he decided to pursue the Peer Wellness Coach position. As a coach, he has more opportunities to show people there is hope for a positive change and help more people with the same problems that he has experienced.
Brandon was born in Wurzburg, Germany and raised in Oneida, Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from East Tennessee State University. He started working for Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services in October of 2023. Brandon has his own mental health issues that he deals with and hopes to use that lived experience to help others to the best of his abilities. He uses exercise, reading, writing, and other hobbies to cope and would like to pass on the importance of these techniques to those he works with. As a peer wellness coach, Brandon will have the opportunity to show people that there is hope and to make a change for the better if you believe in yourself and trust the people who are a positive influence in your life. One of his favorite quotes that he tries to live by is, “Life doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be lived.”
LeeAnn Crumley is a degreed nutritionist that enjoys working with others to help them achieve their nutrition and wellness goals while exploring other healing modalities to accommodate and encourage balance within the 8-dimensions of wellness. Leeann promotes a whole-body, integrative wellness approach to support mental health. Special interests within the realm of wellness include mental health & Neuro-nutrition, women's health, and functional nutrition. When Leeann isn't working, she enjoys beekeeping, adventuring with her dog, developing recipes, volunteering at Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, and gardening. She aims to live a life that invigorates the lives of those she has the pleasure of working with, as witnessing growth and transformation in clients & peers is a joy-filled, zealous experience. As a Peer Wellness Coach for Frontier Health, Leeann is committed to staying current in her skill set, recovery, and continuity of learning to serve her peers better.
Julie Fann is a peer wellness coach for Frontier Health in Johnson City, TN. She is a former newspaper reporter and adjunct professor who developed a passion for mental health issues due to her father’s serious mental illness as well as her own struggles. This led to a position as a grant writer for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, D.C., the non-profit which was at the fore of the de-institutionalization movement in the 1970’s. She had the honor of meeting Patrick Kennedy who has been an advocate for mental health throughout his career, as well as Reese Butler, founder of 1-800-SUICIDE. With a bachelor’s degree in English from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and a master’s from East Tennessee State University, she considers it a privilege now to help those who are living with mental health, addiction, and co-occurring disorders in a four-county region in Upper East Tennessee where she was born and raised. She lives with two adorable kittens, and several house plants.
Kathleen.Hankins@cherokeehealth.com
Kathy Hankins has worked in the mental health field for more than a decade as a case manager, site coordinator for peer recovery, facilitated CBT, batterer's intervention, and empathy building groups for convicted felons. She has a bachelors degree in psychology with an emphasis in human services. Kathy has two adult daughters and no grandchildren … yet. She loves animals and currently has 2 dogs and 2 cats as part of my family. She finds great peace in nature and enjoys crafts.
Kerri Harris was born and raised in Maryville, TN and received her BA in Psychology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She started her career in integrated healthcare at Cherokee Health Systems as a case manager in 2020. She was inspired to join the Peer Wellness team by her interest in wellness and desire to help others living with mental illness see the impact that even small changes can have. Outside of work, Kerri enjoys reading, writing, yoga, bicycling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Amy is a lifelong resident of Tennessee, more specifically, Rogersville, Tennessee. In 1999 she earned a BA in Human Services with a minor in Psychology from Carson-Newman University in 1999. Amy spent the next 13 years providing case management in first a nursing home, next the Department of Children’s Services, and then finally as the Director of the Family Resource Center with the Hawkins County School System. While working with DCS and the Hawkins County School System, Amy was active in her community while serving locally as the President of the Community Advisory Board and regionally as a 12yr member of the Northeast Commission of Children and Youth.
In 2008 Amy decided that in order to make the greatest impact on the families she served, she must go back to school to earn her Master’s degree. In 2012 Amy graduated from Argosy University Nashville campus with a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. However, it was during these years that opiates began wreaking havoc on the town she had always called home. She knew this was where her focus must lie. From 2012 until 2023, Amy served her community by educating individuals and families about the disease of addiction. As the Coordinator of the Hawkins County Recovery Court from 2015-2023, she made it her mission that if she could only change one life, witness one success no matter how small, it would have a domino effect and real change could begin to occur.
In 2023, after neglecting her own mental health for several years, Amy decided it was time to a take a break and recuperate. This time of healing is what led her to the Peer Wellness Coaching position with Cherokee Health Services. Amy is enjoying offering support and encouragement to patients who struggle not only with their mental health, but also physical health problems that can contribute to their mental health symptoms or vice versa.
Jill Bishop was born and raised in Knoxville, TN and is a peer wellness coach for the McNabb Center and serves individuals at the Friendship House. Jill has struggled with addiction and her own mental health issues since a teenager. In 2004 in hopes of helping Jill get sober her parents sent her to Californian to live with her brother and get away from the people, places, and have a fresh start. Jill has been in recovery for 19 years and through her lived experiences she hopes to help others struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Jill is a huge advocate for talk therapy which helped her understand her addiction, anxiety, and depression. Jill decided to go back to school at 32 years old and has her BA in Psychology from Californian State University Stanislaus. Jill started with McNabb center in February 2024 and is enjoying the journey of helping others just as she was helped. Outside of work she loves laying in the sun, yoga, walking, and spending time with her boyfriend and their two cats and dog.