Social Model Recovery Systems (SMRS) is pleased to congratulate Somer Harrison-Mierau, PT, on her promotion to Medication Services Manager.
Somer joined SMRS in 2014 as a Medication Support Counselor at River Community Residential in Azusa. Working closely with residents helped her see how deeply mental health and substance use can affect one another. The experience strengthened her passion for helping people feel supported, understood, and hopeful as they move forward in their recovery.
For Somer, River Community was more than the place where her SMRS career began. Surrounded by nature and working closely with individuals during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, she was reminded each day that healing and new beginnings are possible.
“Beginning my journey at River Community was exactly what I needed—it was transformative for me,” Somer shared. “I like to think I was transformative for the program as well.”
Somer brought her knowledge of medication services and State of California requirements to the role, but she also paid close attention to what residents and staff needed each day. She looked for practical ways to make medication rooms safer, strengthen psychiatric and medication support, and help ensure every resident received thoughtful and dependable care.
Early in her career with SMRS, Somer had the honor of working alongside the late Dr. Donald Kurth, SMRS’ former Medical Director, to help formalize the agency’s Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services and establish the MAT Champion role. She had the honor of serving as the agency’s first MAT Champion, helping create a foundation for services that would continue to grow across the organization.
In 2016, Somer transferred to River Community Outpatient and Wellness Program as an Outpatient Medication Support Counselor. She continued to grow alongside SMRS and became the Medication Management Coordinator in 2019.
During an important period of expansion, Somer worked closely with SMRS leadership to develop the policies, procedures, and licensing requirements needed to establish Incidental Medical Services and Withdrawal Management programs at Omni Center and Stepping Stones. Once the programs were licensed, she helped launch operations, trained staff, and welcomed SMRS’ first Withdrawal Management resident at Omni Center.
Throughout her career, Somer has helped strengthen medication services across the agency. As SMRS’ MAT Champion and Medication Management Coordinator, she built valuable partnerships with program MAT Champions, community providers, and educational partners while supporting medication and nursing staff throughout the organization.
When Somer joined SMRS, only three programs offered in-house medication support services. Today, nine programs provide access to medications that support stabilization and recovery. She is proud of how far the agency has come and of SMRS’s continued commitment to reducing the stigma surrounding medication for mental health and substance use treatment.
Over the years, Somer has also witnessed an important change in how medications are viewed within the recovery field. She is especially proud that SMRS continues to respect each person’s choices and recognizes that everyone’s recovery journey may look different.
For Somer, this work is deeply personal. She is a Licensed Psychiatric Technician with more than 20 years of experience, and she also has lived experience that gives her a firsthand understanding of how overwhelming hopelessness can feel.
“When I started my recovery journey, Social Model Recovery Systems gave me an opportunity when I needed it most,” Somer shared. “That environment didn’t just give me a second chance—it ignited a lifelong passion for our mission and a desire to give back what was freely given to me.”
One of the things Somer enjoys most is teaching, role modeling, and helping staff feel confident in their responsibilities. She believes that when employees feel prepared, valued, and supported, they are better able to provide the highest-quality care to residents and participants.
“I love breaking down barriers, pushing past the status quo, and going the distance with our agency’s mission every day,” she shared.
As Medication Services Manager, Somer hopes to create consistent, quality-driven processes, training, and support that reflect clinical best practices across all SMRS programs. She looks forward to working closely with medical teams, strengthening agency systems, and continuing to support the staff who provide medication services each day.
In her new role, Somer will continue helping programs provide compassionate, coordinated, and accessible medication support to the people SMRS serves. Her goal is to build reliable systems that promote continuity, safety, quality, and meaningful improvements in care.
“This promotion means the world to me,” Somer shared. “I am humbled, grateful, and excited to take this next step within an organization that I love. In this new role, I hope to make a lasting and positive impact by working closely with our medical teams, strengthening our systems, supporting our dedicated staff, and ensuring we continue to meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance. Most of all, I want to help improve the lives of the residents we serve.”
Somer expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the people who believed in her and supported her throughout her journey.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Social Model Recovery Systems as a whole,” Somer shared. “The heart and culture here are truly unmatched, and I have felt so blessed and encouraged over the years. I especially want to thank my mentors and leaders—Jim O. and Bruce B. for giving me a chance, Christopher A. for believing in me and helping me rebuild, and Denise for challenging me to grow.”
“I also want to thank all the staff I have worked alongside day in and day out. It is all of you—all of us working together to help others—who continue to inspire me. As I begin this next chapter, I look forward to continuing to learn and grow under Lynetta’s leadership and guidance. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and for the privilege to serve.”
Somer’s journey reflects what can happen when someone is given an opportunity, supported along the way, and inspired to give that same hope to others. Her lived experience, professional knowledge, and dedication to the SMRS mission will continue to guide her as she strengthens medication services and helps programs provide compassionate care to the individuals and communities we serve.
