PHILADELPHIA, PA – June 24, 2025 – Unity Recovery, in partnership with Third Horizon, is proud to announce the release of a new white paper report: The Value Proposition for Peer Recovery Support Services Delivered through Community-Based Organizations and Recovery Community Organizations. This timely and comprehensive report explores the unique role of community-based organizations (CBOs) and recovery community organizations (RCOs) in delivering peer recovery support services (PRSS), while also addressing the rapidly shifting funding and policy landscape that supports their work.
“As organizations rooted in lived experience and community connection, CBOs and RCOs are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of people in or seeking recovery,” said Robert Ashford, Executive Director of Unity Recovery. “This report brings to light the invaluable contributions these organizations make—not just in delivering services, but in building systems of care that reflect dignity, inclusion, and local wisdom.”
The report details the evolution of peer recovery support services and highlights the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning from primarily grant-funded programs to sustainable models supported by third-party payers, including Medicaid. It offers deep analysis of state-level regulatory strategies in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Colorado, along with emerging federal guidance that expands supervision options for peer specialists across diverse settings.
“Peer recovery support is at a critical inflection point,” said Taylor Musick, Managing Director at Third Horizon. “We need scalable, financially viable models that don’t lose the core community-centered values that make peer support transformative. This paper offers a roadmap that honors both.”
In addition to policy and regulatory analysis, the report offers actionable recommendations for funders, policymakers, and organizational leaders. These include targeted short-term infrastructure investments and long-term strategies for value-based contracting, ensuring CBOs and RCOs can expand their impact while remaining true to their grassroots foundations.
Unity Recovery and Third Horizon invite stakeholders, recovery advocates, and health system leaders to explore the report and join the conversation about the future of peer-delivered services.
Leave a Reply