This podcast, hosted by the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), highlights the Peer Recovery Support Services Mentoring Initiative.
This recording, part of the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (or “COAP”) podcast series Increasingly, focuses on the Peer Recovery Support Services Mentoring Initiative (PRSSMI). Peer recovery support services (PRSS) are an important—and sometimes central—part of efforts to effectively address the opioid epidemic. Peer-based services offer a unique opportunity to address and strengthen recovery-oriented systems of care at any intercept. Deciding how to approach, develop, or strengthen peer support programs can be a daunting task. In response to this need, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) supported the development of the PRSSMI, an integral part of the technical assistance provided through the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP). PRSSMI’s purpose is to promote peer-to-peer learning; disseminate evidence-supported PRSS programming, promising approaches, and best practices; enhance capacity to develop PRSS; and improve the ability to successfully implement PRSS programs. This podcast showcases conversations with representatives from two mentor sites and two mentee sites that participated in the program this past year: Jennifer King, M.A., CFRE, Executive Director, PRO-ACT, The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.; Rich Jones, Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer, M.B.A., Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR), Greenville, South Carolina; Jessica Nickila, Opioid Program Technician, Duluth Police Department (Minnesota); and Michelle Akers, Project Director, Southwest Regional Day Report Center, Logan, West Virginia. Each speaker provides insights into his or her experience as a participant of the program and the benefits she or he gained through PRSSMI involvement. The podcast is facilitated by Sade Richardson, M.P.H., LLMSW, COSSAP training and technical assistance provider from Altarum. Increasingly, peer recovery support services are becoming an important, and sometimes central, part of efforts to effectively address substance use disorders.