The strategy recognizes that treatment alone may not be enough to support long-term recovery. Despite the demonstrated benefits of recovery support services -- such as peer supports, employment and housing services -- various challenges impede their availability and uptake. Enhancing coverage and integration of recovery support services is critical to promoting access to and use of these services. Strengthening the recovery support services workforce is also essential to promoting access and quality.
This page highlights current federal activities that improve recovery support by developing different types of support throughout the lifespan, increasing the quality of services, supporting the recovery workforce, and expanding access to ongoing, affordable, and effective recovery support services.
Enable access to and encourage use of integrated recovery support services.
Recovery Support Services Grants
Mobilizing resources within and outside the recovery community, Building Communities of Recovery (BCOR) and the Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP) supports the development and delivery of recovery support services. Programs funded by these grants are often led by people in recovery, creating opportunities to build strong connections with communities served.
Lead Agency:
SAMHSA
Recovery Support Services in the Value in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Demonstration Program (ViT) Model
Lead Agency:
CMS
Improve the quality of coordinated recovery support services.
The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence
Peers are defined as individuals who possess personal, first-hand experience with substance disorder recovery and are vital members of the recovery community. The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence provides training and technical assistance related to substance use disorder recovery. Its focus areas include clinical integration of peer support workers into non-traditional settings, strengthening the capacity of recovery community organizations, professional development, and providing evidence-based and practice-based resources across stakeholder communities.
Lead Agency:
SAMHSA
Strengthen the recovery support services workforce.
Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals
The Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals expands community-based training to expand the population of peer support specialists. BHWET also aims to extend the reach of the behavioral health workforce for children, adolescents, and young adults in high need areas.
Lead Agency:
HRSA
Partner Agency:
CDC
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program
Lead Agency:
HRSA
Research and identify best practices for recovery support services and strategies to sustain these services.
Workplace Supported Recovery
Since 70% of all adults with an alcohol or illicit drug use disorder are employed, these workplace supported recovery efforts focus on employers' ability to prevent exposure to workplace factors that could cause or perpetuate substance use disorder (SUD). Reducing workplace hazards that undermine recovery and help employees maintain or regain employment during recovery is a key element of these programs along with hopes to expand on this work with research, evaluation, and partnerships.
Lead Agency:
CDC
Partner Agencies:
DOL, ONDCP, SAMHSA
Research Networks for the Study of Recovery Support Services for Persons Treated with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Lead Agency:
NIH
Recovery Support within the NIDA/NIH HEALing Communities Study to Reduce Overdose
Lead Agency:
NIH
Partner Agency:
SAMHSA