In Federal Fiscal Year 2003, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) initiated the Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP) to develop innovative peer-to-peer recovery support services in community settings. The services extend the continuum of recovery by offering strength-based services that emphasize social support as a factor in initiating and maintaining lifestyle change.

The RCSP is the successor to, and a natural outgrowth of, the Recovery Community Support Program, which was initiated by CSAT in 1998. The 1998 cohort of grantees consistently voiced the great need for community-based recovery support services to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. In 2003, CSAT began funding to enable grant organizations to develop and provide peer-based recovery support services, and the name of the program was changed to Recovery Community Services Program. Currently, there are a total of 23 projects funded by the RCSP.

RCSP Goals

Under the RCSP, CSAT provides funding and support to recovery community groups and facilitating organizations to develop and deliver innovative peer-to-peer recovery support services in community settings. These services are intended to achieve the following goals:

1. Help prevent relapse
2. Promote timely re-entry into treatment when relapse occurs
3. Promote sustained recovery and an enhanced quality of life for participants.

RCSP Activities

The RCSP grants are funded to conduct the following activities:

• Assess consumer, family, and other stakeholder strengths and resources, as well as community-specific recovery support needs.
• Develop and strengthen collaborative relationships with other area service providers.
• Develop a plan for delivering peer-to-peer recovery support services.
• Deliver the services.
• Document and evaluate the service program, using demographic and qualitative methods.

Funding Levels

In Federal Fiscal Year 1998, CSAT made awards to 19 projects, in the amount of $3.6 million. In Federal Fiscal Year 2001, 21 projects received a total of $4.8 million. In Federal Fiscal Year 2003, ten awards were made for a total of $ 3.25 million. In Federal Fiscal Year 2004, eight projects received awards in the amount of $2.8 million. In Federal Fiscal Year 2006, seven awards were made for a total of $2.4 million. Most recently, in Federal Fiscal Year 2007, eight awards were made for a total of $2.8 million.

For further information, contact CSAT.