Sharon Cook

Sharon is a Program Administrator for Supported Employment and Recovery & Resiliency Peer Support with the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH). As an Administrator for Supported Employment, Sharon oversees programs that assist individuals who have serious mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders obtain and maintain employment. She is the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS)/Supported Employment state-wide trainer. In addition, Sharon conducts mental health and substance use disorder awareness training for employers, stakeholders, state agencies and community partners. As the Recovery & Resiliency Peer Support Administrator, Sharon provides supervision at the Division level, manages certification, fosters advocacy and assists with Utah’s Peer Support movement within mental health and substance use disorders providers. Prior to her administering at DSAMH, Sharon was a Business Relations Specialist for Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. As a Business Relations Specialist, she provided statewide disability-related training to businesses and assisted with their hiring and retaining of people with disabilities. Sharon received a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies from Weber State University and a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from University of Phoenix. She is a Licensed Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Sharon is a member of the Disability:IN Steering Committee, Governor’s Committee on Employment for People with Disabilities, National Rehabilitation Association, Utah Rehabilitation Association, Utah Job Placement and Development, Utah’s Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program, US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy Vision Quest (Utah’s co-lead), Utah Department of Corrections Employment and Education subcommittee, Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, Vocational Rehabilitation Supported Employment Focus Group, Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Development Committee, Brain Injury Alliance of Utah’s Council Employment and Education subcommittee, and she is the Chair of DSAMH’s Supported Employment Coordinating Committee, a Train-the-Trainer for Working Minds Suicide Prevention in the Workplace as well as a Certified Train-the-Trainer for Rocky Mountain Americans with Disabilities Act Center. Sharon is passionate about assisting people with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders obtain and retain competitive and integrated employment!