Recovery forward: peer support and workforce pathways in southeastern minnesota

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $307,954 to Recovery IS Happening on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490) to deliver peer recovery support services in southeastern Minnesota.

Recovery IS Happening will provide mentoring and coaching, employment connections, recovery resource navigation, group facilitation, community-building activities, and 24/7 crisis intervention at Mayo Clinic's emergency department to adults aged 18 and older with alcohol, opioid, stimulant, or polysubstance use disorder across five southeastern Minnesota counties with a population of 292,000. The organization will serve 80 participants annually over the three-year period of performance through September 29, 2029, reaching 240 participants total. All peer support services are trauma-informed and grounded in motivational interviewing, organized within SAMHSA's eight dimensions of wellness framework. Progress is tracked using the Recovery Capital Scale at intake and regular intervals through 18 months; recovery capital encompasses stable housing, employment, social connections, and personal strengths that support lasting recovery. The target population comprises adults with co-occurring mental health conditions and histories of housing instability or justice involvement; at intake, 65 percent are unemployed, 84 percent earn under $20,000 annually, 56 percent are female, and 70 percent are aged 25–44. Work is performed in Rochester, Minnesota.

Abstract

Building communities of recovery (BCOR) – TI-26-010 project name: recovery forward: peer support and workforce pathways in southeastern minnesota recovery is happening, a recovery community organization in rochester, minnesota, will provide peer recovery support services-mentorship, employment connections, and 24/7 crisis support at mayo clinic's emergency department-to help adults in five southeastern minnesota counties (population 292,000) return to work and build lasting recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). The building communities of recovery (BCOR) grant, funded by the substance abuse and mental health services administration, will support 80 participants annually, 240 over three years, alongside recovery is happening's ongoing peer support work. Population of focus participants are adults aged 18 and older with alcohol, opioid, stimulant, or polysubstance use disorder. 56% are female; 70% are aged 25-44. 84% earn under $20,000 annually, including 29% with no income, and 65% are unemployed at intake. Most have CO-occurring mental health conditions and histories of housing instability or justice involvement. In 2025, recovery is happening served 348 people across all programs and funding sources; 80% improved recovery capital. Recovery capital refers to the internal and external resources that support lasting recovery: stable housing, employment, social connections, and personal strengths. Strategies and interventions peers will deliver mentoring and coaching, recovery resource navigation, group facilitation, community-building, and hospital-based crisis intervention with mayo clinic's emergency department. All peer support is trauma-informed and grounded in motivational interviewing, organized within samhsa's 8 dimensions of wellness framework. Progress is tracked using the recovery capital scale at intake and at regular intervals through 18 months and annually thereafter. Recovery is happening's recovery-ready workplace program will connect participants to confirmed employer partners across southeastern minnesota. Project goals and objectives goal 1: expand peer support that builds long-term recovery and self-sufficiency for adults with SUD in southeastern minnesota. • objective 1.1: serve 80 unduplicated participants annually, beginning within four months of award. • objective 1.2: by year 1, 70% of participants completing gpra six-month follow-up will show improvement in at least one NOM domain (employment, housing stability, or social connectedness). • objective 1.3: gpra follow-up completion: 70% by year 1, 75% by year 3. Goal 2: build recovery-ready workplace connections that move participants from recovery stability into employment and economic independence. • objective 2.1: employment at six-month follow-up: 20% by year 1, 30% by year 2, 40% by year 3. • objective 2.2: active RRW employer partnerships: 5 by year 1, 10 by year 3.