Recovery Support Services

According to the Surgeon General’s Report:

Recovery support services refer to the collection of community services that can provide emotional and practical support for continuing remission as well as daily structure and rewarding alternatives to substance use. These recovery resources include housing, education, employment, and social resources, as well as better overall health and well-being.

According to SAMHSA:

Recovery Support Services (RSSs) are nonclinical services that support individuals and affected family members in recovery such as social support, linkage to services, and human services. RSS can be provided prior to, during, and after treatment or as separate and distinct services. They can be provided by volunteers or paid staff who are familiar with their community’s support.

Examples may include:

• Employment services and job training
• Case management and individual services coordination
• Providing linkages with other services (e.g., legal services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, social services, food stamps)
• Outreach
• Relapse prevention
• Housing assistance and services
• Child care
• Transportation to and from treatment
• Recovery support activities
• Employment
• Family/marriage education
• Peer-to-peer services
• Mentoring, and coaching
• Self-help and support groups (e.g., 12-step groups, SMART Recovery®, Women for Sobriety)
• Life skills training
• Spiritual and faith-based support
• Parent education and child development support services
• Substance use education

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