Wanda Cummings

Wanda Cummings is the Family Peer Training Coordinator for University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Youth and Family Training Institute (YFTI). Wanda joined YFTI in August 2020. Her position includes facilitating FREDLA Family Peer, Family Peer Supervisor, Train the Trainer trainings and coaching for family peers. Wanda also cofacilitates Roadmap and Young Adult Roadmap training. Wanda is a credentialed Roadmap and Family Run Executive Directors and Leadership Association (FREDLA) trainer. Wanda regularly collaborates with state, county state stakeholders and providers to assist with their training needs. She also provides ongoing coaching support for Pennsylvania’s family peers and supervisors working at various organizations throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining the team at YFTI, Wanda’s career included over twenty-five years in behavioral health and addictions treatment as a therapist, clinical manager and the director of behavioral health services at some of Philadelphia’s largest Hospitals. As the director of behavioral health
Wanda lead with championing the importance of peer support for BH in-patients. After receiving buy in from hospital leaders, she volunteered to take lead with hiring and supporting behavioral health new certified peer workforce. She successfully supported the hospital’s CPS for over ten
years. Her extensive experience with trauma informed principles provided an opportunity to cocreate a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for patients with serious mental illness on long-term behavioral health units. Wanda later joined Dr. Aaron Beck and team to present the CBT Program at American Psychiatric Association (APA).

As a family member Wanda provided family voice in several county and statewide meetings as well as speaking at legislative hearings in
Harrisburg, Pa. Wanda have unique experience of understanding behavioral healthcare from the perspective, of a family member and as a provider of services. She regularly uses her skills to inform providers about the importance of family voice and support families with understanding
Pennsylvania’s child and adult behavioral healthcare systems. Wanda’s formal education includes a Baccalaureate degree in Addictions Studies/ Human Services from Alvernia University and a Master of Science Degree in Social work from Widener University.