SAMHSA Will Provide $11.2 Million for Eight Peer-to-Peer Recovery Support Services Grants

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Date: 10/2/2007
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Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA Will Provide $11.2 Million for Eight Peer-to-Peer Recovery Support Services Grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration today announced that it is awarding eight grants totaling $11.2 million over four years to community-based organizations that will offer peer-to-peer recovery support services for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. These services are designed to help prevent relapse among people in recovery, promote timely re-entry into treatment if relapse occurs, and promote sustained recovery and an enhanced quality of life.

“People who have achieved and sustained recovery from drug and alcohol addiction can be a powerful influence for individuals seeking their own path to recovery,” said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. “By sharing their personal experiences, peers help build a sense of self-worth, community connectedness, and an improved quality of life. All of these are important factors for helping others sustain recovery from alcohol and drug problems.”

Each recipient will receive up to $350,000 per year for up to four years. First-year funding totals almost $2.8 million. Continuation of these awards is subject to both availability of funds and progress achieved by awardees. Grants were awarded to:

Arizona

Community Bridges, Inc., Phoenix —$349,685 per year to the Peer Support Recovery Program to provide homeless individuals with outreach, engagement, and peer support through treatment and assistance with accessing other support services, such as health care, housing, employment, and a relapse prevention program.

Women in New Recovery, Mesa--$317,447 per year to operate Our Common Welfare, a peer recovery support services program, which will promote sustained recovery from alcohol and drug addiction among more than 1,000 individuals residing in local recovery and halfway housing programs. Our Common Welfare will formalize and mainstream peer recovery support services, reach new populations, and increase awareness, availability, and capacity for peer services in Arizona by organizing, educating, and supporting recovery housing programs.

New York

AIDS Service Center of Lower Manhattan, New York City--$350,000 per year for the How I Got Help (HIGH) on Recovery/Women, a peer-designed-and-delivered program whose goal is to promote long-term recovery from substance abuse by offering a range of peer-led support services, retaining at-risk African American and Hispanic women in these services, and improving their personal health and wellness as well as that of their families, social networks, and engagement in recovery communities.

Exponents, Inc, New York City--$350,000 per year to Exponent’s Recovery Annex to promote long-term recovery through a peer support model of mentoring circles, group social and strategy development activities, skills training and recovery community and family support. A Quality Assurance Council will direct the activities of the Recovery Annex and implement a vocational center, staffed by peers, to assist individuals in choosing, finding and maintaining employment and/or vocational training.

Pennsylvania

Bucks County Council on Alcoholism, Doylestown--$350,000 per year to the PRO-ACT Peer to Peer Recovery Support Project to provide peer-driven recovery support services to reduce the incidence of recidivism and decrease the potential for relapse for 2,950 individuals who are in recovery from substance use and co-occurring disorders and who reside in a five-county region in southeast Pennsylvania . The project will help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery by increasing the number and type of peer-to-peer support services available to the target population.

Texas

Serving Children and Adolescents in Need, Laredo--$350,000 per year to the Futuros Saludables Recovery Services Program, which will enhance substance abuse treatment by promoting recovery, reducing relapse, and intervening when relapse does occur. The program will provide peer-designed and peer-led services with an emphasis on leadership development, principles of self-care, and cultural diversity among participants.

Virginia

SAARA of Virginia, Inc., Chesterfield County --$350,000 per year to the Recovery Community Services Program to implement “Reach 1, Teach 1,” a peer recovery support community that will serve 500 men and women who have a history of substance abuse. The program will establish and operate a Recovery Place Drop-In Center, peer mentoring, peer support groups, peer case management, and resource connections for the recovery community. A Peer Leadership Institute will be developed for peer mentors and a Regional Recovery Council will be organized.

Washington

Multifaith Works, Seattle/King County --$349,936 per year to the Seattle/King County Peer Recovery Services Network to establish a recovery support service information network that is driven and led by peers in recovery. The network will provide administrative, emotional, and supervisory support, as well as volunteer recruitment, training, and leadership skill development for peer volunteers. Services include a wide array of recovery support options for recovering participants, ages 14 to 82, many of whom have a monthly income of $500 or less.

For more information, visit http://rcsp.samhsa.gov/

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

Page Last Updated: 10/4/2007