Mirna Herrera

Co-Director

Mirna Herrera is the Co-Director of the Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS), providing national leadership to advance high-quality, ethical, and sustainable recovery support services across systems of care.

Her work centers on strengthening peer-led, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches that reflect the real-world needs of individuals, families, and communities. 

With a career spanning community-based organizations, state and federal systems, and national technical assistance, Mirna is deeply committed to expanding recovery-oriented infrastructure and advancing the peer workforce. Her leadership has been recognized with the Missouri Mental Health Champion Award in 2018 for innovative and community-driven work advancing peer support services. Her passion for this work is also informed by her own personal lived experience with behavioral health challenges, which shapes her dedication to reducing disparities and fostering systems rooted in dignity, compassion, and hope. 

Mirna is a Certified Peer Specialist, and a Certified Crisis Responsive Support Specialist. She holds a master’s degree in Music Therapy and dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Musicology, and brings extensive training and consultation expertise in peer support supervision, trauma-informed care, risk mitigation, workforce development, and recovery-oriented systems of care.