Aaron Cozad is a man who has faced adversity from early on in his life. During his
teenage years Aaron began experimenting with drugs and alcohol, which would later turn into a destructive substance abuse addiction because of something Aaron discovered about himself: he was gay.
 

Aaron comes from a family that didn't immediately accept his sexuality and who he was. This conflict of values caused him to slide into a depression and often contemplate suicide. Realizing that he needed help, Aaron checked himself into a behavioral health unit with the help of his neighbor, whom he had become extremely close with through this tough ordeal. After receiving supportive treatment, he came out to his classmates at the end of his eighth grade year. Once he entered high school, he began to feel more support and love from his classmates. In addition to his struggles with acceptance, Aaron was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

From the ages of 14 to 17, Aaron saw a counselor once a week in an attempt to cope with his feelings and emotions, and to deal with the coldness he had been subjected to from his family. However, he began struggling with substance abuse. At the age of 16, Aaron convinced his mother to attend a DBTeen meeting with him, which was designed to teach families how to function more effectively with an emphasis on the youth. Aaron credits DBTeen with giving him the tools to synthesize both his rational mindset and his emotional mindset, and he began advocating for his own needs and well being through this program. Aaron received an M.I.P. in high school and was treated as an inferior for his actions. He continued to struggle with drugs; in the hopes of controlling this habit he went to programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. It wasn't until age 19 that Aaron realized he had a serious problem. He was admitted to an inpatient dual­diagnosis rehab against his will in October of 2010. After losing
everything and hitting complete rock bottom, he realized he had to start the process of changing his life. Upon his discharge from rehab, Aaron cut ties with anyone who had been associated with his toxic past and decided to surround himself with new and supportive friends.
 

After a full year of sobriety, Aaron was offered a position as a Peer Support Specialist on the Child Resource Team of the rehab program that he himself had benefited from. He found the experience very rewarding, and saw it as a perfect opportunity to express his thanks for the treatment he had received.
 

Aaron has now been sober for over two and a half years. He has been on Options for
Southern Oregon’s Youth Advisory Council, and has also worked as a Peer Support Specialist on the Wraparound Project with Option’s Child Resource Team. He first came into contact with Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon through the YMO and OFSN's Peer Delivered Service Provider Training while working in southern Oregon. After experiencing Youth M.O.V.E. and learning what being a Peer Delivered Service Provider position entailed, he realized he wanted to work for YMO. Aaron then moved to the Portland metro area, and pursued a career with YMO. He lives in the Portland
area and continues to work in the area of Peer Delivered Services. Aaron is making a true difference in the lives of struggling youth all over the state, and is empowering them to defeat whatever challenges they may be facing through his voice of experience.

Aaron Cozad

Wraparound Support Partner

Washington County

Contact: AaronC@youthmoveoregon.com