Peer Recovery Expansion Project (PREP)
Improving access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services across rural Pennsylvania
As of September 2022, the RHRCO received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to enhance access to substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health services, leveraging a network of seven rural Pennsylvania hospitals, seven single county authorities, and Pitt-PERU
Project
The Peer Recovery Expansion Project is a regional collaborative to improve access to SUD and behavioral health services by embedding Peer Recovery Specialists (CRS) and Case Managers in hospital emergency departments. This project is modelled after the Addiction Recovery Mobile Outreach Team (ARMOT) developed by the Armstrong, Indiana, Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission which has seen success in recent years.​
This project features various components to maximize impact across the state, including:
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Regional PREP teams shared between neighboring hospitals to ensure representation in each community
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Tele-conferencing capabilities for in-person and virtual consultations
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Workforce development offering training and direct employment
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Job advancement opportunities through cross-training in behavioral health
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SUD and behavioral health stigma reduction
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Community and hospital staff education
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Linkages to community resources and organizations​
We pride ourselves on forming meaningful relationships with all of our partners and stakeholders, recognizing that this sets the foundation for success in all aspects of our work. As the RHRCO works to implement this project, we are committed to getting to know and understand the unique needs of each community we serve.
Project Partners
