Castellano, Cherie MA, CSW, LPC, AAETS

Cherie Castellano, MA, CSW, LPC, AAETS is a national expert in the field of peer support after twenty five years of experience as the creator of the “Reciprocal Peer Support Model” recognized as a national best practice by the American Psychiatric Association (2019) and Department of Defense Center of Excellence (2011.) Today Cherie is the founder of “VolunPEER” a non-profit organization designed to get, give and grow peer support for survivors of disaster, trauma, and medical illness. As the Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare National Center for Peer Support director, Cherie has developed, led and sustained over twenty peer support programs for a variety of specialty populations. Cherie’s Peer programs include Cop 2 Cop, Vet 2 Vet, Mom 2 Mom, Care2caregivers, Vets4warriors, Worker 2 Worker, Teacher2Teacher, Eye2Eye, NJ Fire EMS Lifeline, Nurse 2 Nurse and many more.  Cherie leads The National Center for Peer Support staffed by 150 peers and clinicians providing services on a state and national level yielding millions dollars of funding annually. Cherie is a voluntary faculty member of the Rutgers Department of Psychiatry where she has honed her clinical skills as an expert in peer support and crisis and trauma informed psychological services. 

Ms. Castellano has been recognized internationally as an expert in the field of peer support, behavioral healthcare and crisis intervention. Her experience as a lecturer has included international forums such as Australia and Europe as well as prestigious national forums such as the FBI National Academy. As a member of the 9/11 New York Emergency Services Delegation for the Port Authority Police Departmentshe traveled to Ireland, Belfast and England to share “9/11 Lessons Learned”.

Cherie co-authored two books “Psychological Counterterrorism and World War IV” with Dr. George Everly receiving national attention and “Law Enforcement Families; The Ultimate Back-Up” with Dr. Jim Reese. Cherie has authored several book chapters and over 100 articles in the field of peer support, law enforcement and military crisis intervention. 

Various awards include Governors Proclamations, NJ Governors Excellence Award, N.J. Attorney General Recognition Award, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation World Congress Award, Commerce Bank New Jersey Hometown Hero, Unico Woman of the Year, and the New Jersey Interfaith Coalition for the Disabled Lay Person Award for her faith based activity. Ms. Castellano was selected “People Who Made A Difference in 2005” Star Ledger. 2009 the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey “Woman of the Year” and she received the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Civilian Commendation Medal. Cherie testified to the Department of Defense Military Suicide Prevention Task Force to present the RPS model, and her programs were identified as a “Best Practice” in peer support by the Department of Defense Center of Excellence. Governor’s Council on Mental HealthStigma Ambassador Award. In 2011 Cherie received the “Woman of the Year” Award by the National Police Defense League, also the “2012 New Jersey Health Care Hero” award by NJ Biz / Individual Education Award for founding and directing peer helplines and pioneering efforts in the field of Reciprocal Peer Support. In 2012 “Humanitarian of the Year” Lieberman award from The HealthCare Foundation of New Jersey” for her efforts with the “Mom 2 Mom” program. New Jersey Department of Children & Families Commissioner’s Partnership award for her leadership to serve NJ’s children. 

As a Principal Investigator in a research grant Cherie has partnered with the University of North Carolina’s “Global Peers for Progress Institute” leadership team to establish a program evaluation project for the RPS model which established the model as an evidence based practice in 2017. 

In 2018 the American Psychiatric Association awarded Cherie the Silver Award for Innovative Practices acknowledging the Reciprocal Peer Support Model as a national Best Practice

In 2021 Cherie was selected as a Senior Research Fellow at the Duke Global Health Institute focused on clergy peer support. 

Currently Cherie serves on President Biden’s “National Consortium for Law Enforcement Wellness” legislated to inform peer support and psychological support for law enforcement officers throughout the USA.

In 2023 Cherie joined the ICISF team and co created a new model entitled “Peer Paracounseling” with Dr. George Everly as an innovation in crisis peer support.

On a personal note, Cherie has devoted her career to the development of the Reciprocal Peer support model and “rescuing rescuers” and law enforcement families inspired by her marriage to Mark, a Lieutenant with the Morris County Prosecutors’ Office, has two (2) sons Louis John and Domenick, and believes her role as a police wife and special mother are her greatest achievements.