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Today’s Recovery Community Services Program builds on earlier
SAMHSA/CSAT initiatives with the recovery community. It also draws
from peer service efforts in mental health and HIV/AIDS consumer
communities that have recognized the importance and value of support
services provided by peers. The program is built on the recognition
that individuals in recovery, their families, and their community
allies are critical resources that can effectively extend, enhance,
and improve formal treatment.
From 1998-2002, SAMHSA-CSAT provided grant funds to community organizations
to mobilize and develop a variety of local, State, or regional recovery
communities. These programs facilitated the participation of the
recovery community in public dialogue about alcohol and drug use
disorders. Over the four years, 30 recovery communities were funded.
These grant projects identified the need for recovery support services.
They also identified five core principles
of recovery community organizing:
- Keeping recovery first
- Cultural diversity and inclusion
- Authenticity
- Participatory process
- Leadership development.
Early projects focused attention on lessons learned. These lessons
and the experiences of the recovery community in projects supported
by CSAT from 1998 through 2002 are described in RCSP
Beginnings.
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