LDA recovery works: building community, workforce, and long-term recovery - lost dreams awakening (LDA) will implement LDA recovery works to expand peer recovery support services, strengthen the…

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

Lost Dreams Awaken Center will implement LDA Recovery Works to expand peer recovery support services, strengthen the peer recovery workforce, increase employment readiness, and build recovery community infrastructure in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania. Services will target adults ages 18 and older with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, including individuals experiencing unemployment, housing instability, transportation barriers, family separation, justice or child welfare involvement, limited access to recovery support, or service needs related to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and community reintegration. The organization will deliver recovery coaching, recovery navigation, workforce development, family support, public education, and community partnerships. Specific activities include individualized recovery planning, recovery coaching, referrals and warm handoffs to treatment and community resources, Recovery Coach Academy training, peer workforce supervision and mentorship, recovery-ready workplace education, tobacco cessation referrals, opioid overdose prevention education, digital literacy, and job readiness training. The project will serve 125 unduplicated adults annually over a three-year performance period, with a total of 375 unduplicated adults served across the funding cycle. Place of performance is New Kensington, Pennsylvania. The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029.

LDA recovery works: building community, workforce, and long-term recovery - lost dreams awakening (LDA) will implement LDA recovery works to expand peer recovery support services, strengthen the peer recovery workforce, increase employment readiness, and build recovery community infrastructure in allegheny and westmoreland counties, pennsylvania. The project will serve adults with substance use disorders and CO-occurring mental health conditions through recovery coaching, recovery navigation, workforce development, family support, public education, and community partnerships that support long-term recovery and self-sufficiency. The geographic catchment area includes allegheny and westmoreland counties in southwestern pennsylvania, with a combined population of approximately 1,582,749 residents. LDA will serve 125 unduplicated adults annually and 375 unduplicated adults over the three-year project period. The population of focus is adults ages 18 and older who are in recovery from substance use disorders or CO-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Participants may include individuals experiencing unemployment, housing instability, transportation barriers, family separation, justice or child welfare involvement, limited access to recovery support, or service needs related to ptsd, depression, anxiety, and community reintegration. LDA will implement evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies, including peer recovery support services, peer recovery coaching, motivational interviewing, recovery support navigation, and recovery-oriented systems of care. Grant activities will include individualized recovery planning, recovery coaching, referrals and warm handoffs to treatment and community resources, recovery coach academy training, peer workforce supervision and mentorship, recovery-ready workplace education, tobacco cessation referrals, opioid overdose prevention education, workforce development, digital literacy, job readiness training, public education, and community outreach. LDA will also support career readiness through a hospitality-based micro-enterprise and a recovery-focused communication and leadership club modeled after toastmasters. The project has four goals: expand peer recovery support services and recovery support navigation; strengthen the peer recovery workforce; increase employment and economic self-sufficiency; and strengthen recovery community infrastructure and partnerships. By september 29, 2029, LDA will provide prss to 375 unduplicated individuals, ensure that at least 95% of enrolled participants develop individualized recovery plans, provide recovery service referrals and navigation to at least 350 individuals, support at least 50 individuals in completing the recovery coach academy, and provide supervision and mentorship to at least 40 peer recovery coaches and volunteers.