Our Community Outreach Project is the hub of our peer support services. The outreach coordinators are Certified Peer Recovery Supporters (CPRS). These are persons in long-term recovery from substance use disorder issues and/or mental health issues certified by the state of Ohio to assist others. The coordinators work out of the Lorain office answering both the emergency and non-emergency lines, as well as assisting walk-ins.

The outreach coordinators are a remarkable group of people, who can handle multiple clients simultaneously. They answer an average of 80 calls per month with a success rate consistently over 60%. We determine success with clients as the ability to connect them with the needed recovery resource whether it be detox, treatment, recovery housing, or ongoing recovery support including Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).

They have a comprehensive knowledge of the available resources throughout Ohio and can usually place clients with needed treatment within 24 hours. They have created and maintained an updated list of over 300 facilities through the state. They have developed positive relationships with many facilities that has enabled us to place each client quickly with the facility that is best suited to meet their needs.

Sometimes people call in because they are struggling in the moment and need someone to talk to that understands what they are going through in the moment. Our outreach coordinators are all prepared to provide that immediate support. When we are open to the public, we make the office available to people that need to be in a place with sober support while they are struggling.

They take the time to hear the needs and concerns of each client offering peer support over the phone and in person. By sharing their own experience with addiction and recovery, they are able to connect with the client and encourage them to take the needed step forward on their journey from addiction to recovery. They are equipped to answer questions and provide information about area detox and treatment options.

Addiction is a family disease, and the outreach coordinators often get phone calls from parents, adult children, siblings, friends, and significant others, who feel lost and unsure of where to go for help. Again, the outreach coordinators can share their experiences and the impact their addiction had on their loved ones inviting them to our family and children’s support groups.

They also respond to calls from community partners looking for additional information about LGR services. We work closely with The LCADA Way, Firelands Counseling and Addiction Services, The Alpha House, North Ohio Recovery Association (NORA) of Lorain, Recovery Works, ARC/Salvation Army, Cleveland Metro Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Avon, and Nord Center among other local addiction and mental health treatment providers.

The outreach coordinators also take calls from local hospitals and police departments to help arrange peer support services for clients they are working with. They help to coordinate services with nurses, case workers, doctors, and law enforcement. When a client is successfully connected with detox, treatment, or recovery housing, the outreach coordinator will arrange transportation with another certified peer supporter to ensure the client arrives at the facility on time and with everything they need. The peer supporter who provides transport will continue a recovery plan and the outreach will conduct a follow with the client upon completion of that level of care.

For all of our projects, we have certified peer supporters in the field that provide direct services to our clients. The coordinators working in the outreach office provide all the logistical support, they handle phone calls from the clients and the peer supporters in the field, as well as other stakeholders. The outreach coordinators also focus on the continuum of care following up with clients we have placed in detox, treatment, or recovery housing to see how they are doing and if they need help on their next step on their road to recovery.