Christine Zimmerly, PRS, RSPS, CMA, PSS, JI-RPS
Professional Biography
Peer Support Specialist | Recovery Advocate | Community Organizer
Christine Zimmerly is a dedicated person with lived experience with a rich background in the recovery community. Her extensive experience and certifications (PRS, RSPS, CMA, PSS, JI-RPS) reflect a deep commitment to health and recovery education and to helping individuals on their journey to wellness. Christine is a certified recovery house manager and a certified art therapist. Christine has an associate degree in art and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Christine is dedicated to helping others and herself to continue to grow.
Professional Experience: Christine is currently employed as the Peer to Career coordinator for RecoveryPeople, helping coordinate peers in becoming certified Recovery House Managers, and in helping peers to the recovery education they need to continue to develop themselves as addiction professionals. Christine practices aroma healing, music healing, and art healing, creating a nurturing environment for wellness.
During her tenure with Project Punto de Partida (A division of Recovery Alliance) from 2019 to 2023, Christine served as a mentor, a resource broker, a guide, a trainer, a project coordinator for various projects, and a supervisor. In this role, she supervised a team of twenty peer support specialists, and organized many wellness supportive events. Her responsibilities included implementing virtual and physical peer support within the El Paso County jail system, and coordinating the opening of a local harm reduction center.
Christine founded the local Medication Assisted Recovery Anonymous meeting, offering a judgment-free space for open discussion on active recovery, and initiated the local Reentry and Peer Harm Reduction Advisory councils. Christine is an innovator and a creative problem solver, with extensive training and experience in conflict resolution and motivational interviewing.
Christine’s leadership extends to her role as a chair of the El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance, where she has helped orchestrate numerous community wellness events, including job fairs, compassionate care fairs, and warm winter clothing drives. Her proficiency in grant writing and data research further demonstrates her dedication to the cause.
Christine is an advocate for continuous learning and growth, both professionally and personally, evident in her completion of various certifications, including ASIST suicide prevention, Harm Reduction, HHS HIPAA compliance, and Cybersecurity.
Additional Roles and Contributions: Christine’s dedication to the recovery community extends beyond her professional roles. She provides referrals, continuing education options, and practical support to anyone in the community who reaches out to her, demonstrating a deep commitment to the El Paso community’s success. Christine volunteers with various local organizations to improve education and quality of life through harm reduction outreach, education, and food distribution.
Fun fact about Christine: She completed an internship in robotics with NASA, as part of her college education.