Laurie Johnson-Wade

Laurie Johnson-Wade, CBC, CRS, CRC, FPS, RSS

Laurie Johnson-Wade is the Co-Founding Director of Lost Dreams Awakening (LDA) Recovery Community Organization (RCO), New Kensington, PA. Laurie is also an Advanced Implementation Specialist (AIS) with the Opioid Response Network (ORN) at UMKC and a Steering Committee Member for Addiction Peer Recovery Center of Excellence.

Laurie is a graduate of Newport Business Institute with a degree in Health Administration. Laurie is also a Certified Behavioral Consultant (CBC), a Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS); a Recovery Support Supervisor (RSS); and a PA Forensic Peer Specialist (FPS); Laurie is a trainer of the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy and Ethical Considerations for Recovery Coaches; a facilitator of the PFSA Recovering Families Program and PRO-ACTS Family Education Series; Laurie has completed the Arise™ Invitational Interventions & Continuing Care for Families.

Laurie is the Founder of the LDA GAP (Grandparent’s as Parents) Program and served on the Governors’ Opioid Task Force for Grandparents raising Grandchildren due to SUD. Laurie helped co-develop a statewide strength-based Peer Recovery Support Workforce (PRSW) Specialized Training and Supervision Program to assist the PRSW in navigating the delivery of Recovery Support Services during COVID-19 and other crises. `Laurie was chosen as one of five representatives, invited by Faces and Voices of Recovery, to meet with the acting Drug Czar at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to discuss the importance of Recovery Support Services and Recovery Community Organizations.

Laurie’s passion is Advocacy! She is a staunch representative of the Recovery Community locally, statewide, and nationally. Laurie serves on local, state, and national recovery platforms and enjoys mentoring communities in establishing their own Recovery Community Organizations. Laurie serves on the ARCO Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee and brings over 30 years of active, ongoing, lived-recovery experience (Established May 30, 1991), to the rewarding and revolutionary work of Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching. Laurie serves on the Pennsylvania Recovery Rising Advisory Committee.

Laurie was named the 2020 Advocate of the Year by the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk. The Recovery Award is bestowed upon an individual who has worked to change policy or public opinion about addiction and recovery. Laurie received the Award and Proclamation from the Pittsburgh City Council.

Most recently, Laurie joined the Board of Directors at Faces and Voices of Recovery and is a founding member of the African American Federation of Recovery Organizations (AAFRO), and a member of Black Faces Black Voices (BFBV). Laurie seeks to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all systems.