Sara Bellorado
Why are you nominating this individual?
"I am nominating Sara not just because of the work she does now, but because of the growth I have personally seen in her over time.
I had the opportunity to hire Sara when she first started at Archways, and since then, I have watched her grow into a strong and confident leader. She has taken on more responsibility over time, and now she is supervising others, including myself as a CRSW supervisor, and helping lead parts of the DOC programming. She has also stepped into leading a volunteer program that supports incarcerated individuals as they prepare for release, helping them build the skills and confidence to move into peer roles and eventually employment. That kind of growth does not happen by chance. It shows her dedication and how seriously she takes this work.
She has continued to invest in herself by completing trauma-informed training, DOC training, and CRSW supervisor training, and is close to finishing the Building Futures Together program. She is always looking to grow so she can better support both participants and her team.
What has always stood out about Sara is how much she genuinely cares about the participants she works with. She does not treat this like just a job. She builds real relationships, meets people where they are at, and shows up consistently. Participants trust her because she is real and because she follows through.
She brings that same support to her team. She is approachable, supportive, and leads in a way that helps others grow. She sets a strong example of what peer support should look like.
Watching her go from someone I hired into someone who is now supervising and leading within the program, including supervising me, has been really meaningful. She has put in the work, stayed committed, and continues to grow while staying grounded in the values of peer support.
Sara represents what this field needs. She is authentic, dedicated, and truly cares about the people she serves. That is why I believe she is very deserving of the Peer Recovery Support Worker of the Year Award."
Biography:
Sara Bellorado is a recovery support leader at Archways, where she supports individuals in recovery while supervising peer staff and helping lead programming, including work connected to the Department of Corrections.
She brings over 15 years of personal recovery and has grown into a strong leader within the peer workforce. Sara has completed trauma-informed care training, Department of Corrections (DOC) training, and CRSW supervisor training, and is currently completing the Building Futures Together program to further strengthen her understanding of trauma, family systems, and recovery.
In her role, Sara has taken on leadership in DOC-related programming, including overseeing a volunteer-based initiative that supports incarcerated individuals as they prepare for release. Through this program, individuals are given the opportunity to build recovery skills, work their way into peer roles, and transition into employment as recovery coaches. Sara plays a key role in mentoring, training, and supporting these individuals as they move through that process.
She is known for being genuine, consistent, and someone people can rely on, both as a leader and as a peer.