Oregon Peer Workforce Conference returns to Pendleton
Published 9:54 pm Thursday, April 2, 2026
PENDLETON — The Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. announced the 2026 Oregon Peer Workforce Conference returns Aug. 20–21 to the Pendleton Convention Center.
This year’s theme, “The Power of Us: Fostering Belonging,” highlights the importance of connection, community and shared experience within the peer support movement.
The two-day conference serves as a hub for peer support specialists and behavioral health professionals from across the state to collaborate and enhance recovery-oriented care. The programming highlights the effect of peer workers — individuals who leverage their own lived experiences with mental health and substance use to assist others, including within Oregon’s rural and frontier communities.
The keynote speaker is Elliot Hinkle, a national advocate and leader in peer support. Hinkle’s work focuses on creating inclusive spaces in behavioral health systems and empowering peer workers to lead change.
The conference is open to:
Peer support specialists of all specialty types.
Individuals who work alongside and support peers in the behavioral health field.
Organizations interested in strengthening peer services and recovery supports.
Registration is open, with early-bird pricing currently available. For more information, to register, visit gobhi.org/peer-conference.