Individuals recovering from substance use disorder often seek support from people with lived experience

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded a $3,999,998 Cooperative Agreement to JBS International, Inc. under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and other Substances Use Program (COSSUP, CFDA #16.838). Through this 3-year project, JBS and its partners will recruit, train, and deploy peer recovery coaches to provide victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent recovery support services to children, youth, and families affected by the opioid crisis. The key products and services to be delivered include:

Establishing a Peer Recovery Advisory Council to ensure the program is designed with and for the communities served. Training recovery coaches to help individuals increase their "recovery capital" and overcome adverse childhood experiences. Building the organizational infrastructure to provide sustainable peer recovery services across nontraditional, community-based settings. Overseeing an external evaluation to assess the program's effectiveness in meeting OVC's goals and objectives. This model is intended to be replicable for broader dissemination and long-term impact.

Evidence confirms the effectiveness of peer recovery support, including long-term, person-centered, recovery-oriented services. Evidence also exposes a need for culturally competent services and addresses the disparities of historically underserved populations affected by the drug crisis, including those in recovery and children and families who have been victimized by neglect, abuse, or violence from the drug use of a family member or caregiver. Since 2018, JBS international, INC. (JBS) has supported the office for victims of crime (OVC) initiatives serving children and youth affected by the nations drug crisis. We bring significant knowledge of treatment and recovery services for youth and adults affected by opioid and other substance use and mental disorders. We have expertise in victim, clinical, and justice services; child welfare; and human development. OVC can also count on our expertise in strategic services integration and our experience with this type of grant program and funding model established and implemented with prior initiatives. Upon award by OVC, JBS and its partners will leverage experience supporting child and youth victims of maltreatment related to parental or caregiver substance misuse. High-quality subawards will be selected and funded to recruit, train, and deploy peer recovery coaches firmly dedicated to this purpose. The JBS team will train recovery coaches to help children and youth overcome adverse childhood experiences and develop protective factors that promote child and family well-being. We will train recovery coaches to collaborate with parents, families, and communities to address environmental conditions that affect behavioral health. An essential function of recovery coaches will involve helping individuals increase recovery capital via the internal and external resources necessary to begin and sustain a healthy lifestyle over time. JBS will work with OVC to build a certified paraprofessional workforce trained in victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent recovery coaching for nontraditional, community-centered settings. Training and certification will be based on best practices relying on evidence-based strategies or models, including hope science and proven engagement strategies that support the whole family. With OVC, a peer recovery advisory council will be established, ensuring the program is designed with and for the communities served. JBS will build requisite organizational readiness and infrastructure to provide peer recovery services and support and will oversee the external subawardee evaluation to ensure the program meets OVC goals and objectives. This model will be replicable and sustainable.