The katahdin region recovery community expansion project - a. Population of focus the katahdin region recovery community expansion project will expand access to peer-led recovery support services…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $350,000 to Pir2Peer on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490).

Pir2Peer will establish a permanent recovery community center in Millinocket, Maine, to expand peer-led recovery support services throughout northern Penobscot County and the Katahdin region. The center will serve adolescents ages 16–17 and adults 18 and older affected by substance use disorders and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The primary geographic catchment area includes Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway, Sherman, Patten, Stacyville, Island Falls, Mattawamkeag, Lincoln, and surrounding rural communities.

Services delivered include individualized recovery planning, peer recovery coaching, resource navigation, transportation coordination, career exploration, workforce readiness, employment support, recovery-ready workplace initiatives, leadership development, recovery education, volunteer opportunities, family engagement, wellness activities, community outreach, and recovery-focused events. The center will strengthen recovery capital and reduce barriers to long-term recovery through collaboration with regional healthcare organizations, employers, educational institutions, social service agencies, and community partners.

The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029.

The katahdin region recovery community expansion project - a. Population of focus the katahdin region recovery community expansion project will expand access to peer-led recovery support services throughout northern penobscot county and the katahdin region of maine by establishing a permanent recovery community center. The primary geographic catchment area includes millinocket, east millinocket, medway, sherman, patten, stacyville, island falls, mattawamkeag, lincoln, and surrounding rural communities. The project will serve adolescents (ages 16-17) and adults (18 years and older) affected by substance use disorders (SUD) and CO-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD). Programming will meet the needs of individuals across the recovery continuum. Limited access to transportation, housing, employment opportunities, healthcare, and other recovery resources, combined with geographic isolation and stigma, often prevent individuals and families in the katahdin region from establishing and sustaining long-term recovery. B. Proposed project PIR2PEER recovery community center, a recovery community organization (RCO) serving the katahdin region since 2019, will establish a permanent recovery community center through this project, with the ultimate goal of strengthening regional recovery infrastructure. Services will include individualized recovery planning, peer recovery coaching, resource navigation, transportation coordination, career exploration, workforce readiness, employment support, recovery ready workplace initiatives, leadership development, recovery education, volunteer opportunities, family engagement, wellness activities, community outreach, and recovery-focused events designed to strengthen recovery capital and reduce barriers to long-term recovery. The project will be implemented through strong collaboration with regional healthcare organizations, employers, educational institutions, social service agencies, and community partners. Participant services and project outcomes will be documented using the recovery data platform (RDP) to support performance measurement, continuous quality improvement, and federal reporting requirements. C. Expected results over the three-year project period, PIR2PEER will serve at least 1,350 unduplicated individuals, including approximately 300 participants in year 1, 450 in year 2, and 600 in year 3. In meeting these goals, the katahdin region recovery community expansion project will reduce barriers to recovery, strengthen recovery capital, and create a more recovery-supportive community throughout northern penobscot county and the katahdin region.