Building communities of recovery in southwestern utah - project title: building communities of recovery in southwestern utah utah support advocates for recovery awareness (USARA), utah's statewide…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Utah Support Advocates For Recovery Awareness $346,975 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490).

USARA will expand peer-led recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders across a four-county catchment area in southwestern Utah (Washington, Iron, Kane, and Beaver counties), serving approximately 248,000 residents in rural and frontier communities. Certified peer support specialists with lived experience will provide individualized recovery coaching, recovery management planning, motivational interviewing, resource navigation, family support, and ongoing recovery monitoring to 50 unduplicated individuals annually, totaling 150 participants over the three-year project period ending September 29, 2029. Services target adults and transition-age youth ages 18 and older, including individuals entering recovery, those transitioning from treatment or emergency departments, individuals from recovery housing or criminal justice systems, and those experiencing housing instability or unemployment. Veterans, military-connected individuals, and their family members are also eligible. The project will strengthen recovery-oriented systems of care and increase access to housing, employment, healthcare, and community supports to promote long-term recovery and self-sufficiency.

Place of performance is South Salt Lake, Utah 84115.

Building communities of recovery in southwestern utah - project title: building communities of recovery in southwestern utah utah support advocates for recovery awareness (USARA), utah's statewide recovery community organization, proposes to expand peer-led recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and CO-occurring mental health disorders (COD) residing in washington, iron, kane, and beaver counties located in southwestern utah. Through certified peer support specialists with lived experience, the project will strengthen recovery-oriented systems of care, increase access to housing, employment, healthcare, and community supports in order to help individuals achieve long-term recovery, self-sufficiency, and improved health. The project will serve a four-county catchment area of approximately 248,000 residents in rural and frontier southwestern utah. USARA will provide direct peer recovery support services to 50 unduplicated individuals annually for a total of 150 over the three-year project period. The population of focus includes adults and transition-age youth, ages 18 and older, with substance use disorders and CO-occurring mental health conditions, including individuals entering recovery, those transitioning from treatment, emergency departments, healthcare settings, recovery housing, criminal justice systems, and recovery courts, as well as individuals experiencing housing instability, unemployment, or other barriers to sustained recovery. Services will also be available to veterans, military-connected individuals, and their family members. The proposed project will implement a comprehensive, peer-led recovery model designed to strengthen recovery capital and promote long-term recovery. Certified peer support specialists will provide individualized recovery coaching, recovery management planning, motivational interviewing, resource navigation, family support, and ongoing recovery monitoring. Participants will receive assistance accessing behavioral healthcare, recovery housing, transportation, education, workforce development, vocational training, apprenticeships, certification programs, healthcare, tobacco cessation resources, and other community-based supports essential to sustained recovery. Services will be delivered through recovery community centers, mobile outreach, virtual services, and community-based locations to increase accessibility across rural and frontier communities. The project's goals are to: (1) expand access to peer recovery support services; (2) strengthen long-term recovery by increasing recovery capital, housing stability, employment, and community connection; (3) expand the peer recovery workforce and recovery-oriented systems of care; (4) increase recovery-supportive employment opportunities through recovery ready workplace initiatives; and (5) improve community awareness, service coordination, and recovery infrastructure throughout southwestern utah. Measurable objectives include providing peer recovery support services to at least 50 unduplicated participants annually, ensuring that at least 80 percent of participants complete individualized recovery support plans, connecting at least 75 percent of participants to recovery-supportive community resources, increasing recovery capital for at least 70 percent of participants, and expanding partnerships that improve long-term recovery outcomes. Through these coordinated activities, USARA will advance samhsa's strategic priorities by expanding access to peer-led recovery support services, strengthening recovery-oriented systems of care, promoting long-term recovery and self-sufficiency, and improving health and wellness for individuals, families, and communities.