Peer recovery support specialist program - the 22ND judicial circuit/ST

Louis treatment court is requesting $242,186 in first year funding to implement a peer recovery support specialist (PRSS) program in its adult treatment court. The program will serve approximately 540 adult participants during the five year funding, with the goals of increasing recruitment, participation, and retention of participants; and realizing positive behavioral health outcomes for those supported by prsss in the program. The peer recovery support specialist program (PRSS program) is being established to provide recovery support to adult participants of the 22ND judicial circuit/ST. Louis treatment court. Approximately 98% of all participants in the 15-month program are identified as high risk/high need, coming from neighborhoods with some of the highest rates of crime and addiction in the nation. The city of ST. Louis leads the state in the number and percentage of opioid and heroin deaths, and ranked #1 nationally in deaths due to opioid overdoses. These factors lend themselves to a high attrition rate among participants. In order to achieve the goals for the program, the treatment court will engage a program manager and two certified prsss to provide individual and group supportive services for the adult, gender-specific, and CO-occurring disorder dockets. As part of the treatment team, the program manager and prsss will provide a peer support network to address challenges of recovery and wellness, community engagement, work, housing, social functioning, attending to self-care, and to participate in healthy, recovery-focused recreational and community activities. IT is estimated that a total of 540 participants will be served throughout the lifetime of the project. Expected outcomes include: a) 10% increase in numbers recruited and admitted to the program; B) 100% of participants will be served; C) 30% increase in retention and participation rates in path I; D) 60% increase in retention and participation rates in paths II-IV; E) 30% reduction in positive urinalysis results among participants; F) 50% successful completion and graduation rates; G) 30% improvement in self-efficacy; and H) 30% increase in supportive social networks.