RICHMOND, Va. (September 12, 2024) – As groups across the commonwealth recognize September as National Recovery Month, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) wish to highlight efforts to expand substance use disorder peer-based recovery programs in the Commonwealth. Almost half a million adults in Virginia have a substance use disorder, according to statewide data. For more than a decade, fatal drug overdoses fueled by opioids like fentanyl have been the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the Commonwealth.
A $500,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is helping the VAFCC to replicate a proven peer-focused recovery model pioneered at the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke called The HOPE Initiative. Launched in 2018, the program incorporates Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, advocates with lived experience in long-term recovery from substance use disorder who connect patients to a trusted network of treatment and recovery services, while helping people access holistic healthcare services. several clinics. Currently expansion clinics include Northern Neck Middlesex Free Health Center in Kilmarnock, Crossroads Medical Mission in Bristol, and Pathways Free Specialty Clinic in Petersburg with more to come in the next year.
“One important aspect of the HOPE’s program success is that it operates at a free clinic,” said Rufus Philips, CEO of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. “Free clinics earn the trust of thousands of Virginians every year as they provide comprehensive, quality, and compassionate care to patients. We are thankful for the opportunity to bring the Bradley Free Clinic’s proven treatment and recovery model to more clinics so those seeking recovery have the support they need.”
Unlike traditional recovery programs that operate from substance use disorder facilities or treatment centers, the Peer Recovery Specialists work with patients from within the structure of the Bradley Free Clinic, a community-based healthcare nonprofit. The peer specialists leverage their lived experience to build trust and provide non-clinical, trauma-informed, and strengths-based support for patients during their recovery.
HOPE Peer Recovery Specialists work collaboratively with the Bradley Free Clinic’s medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health treatment teams to reduce barriers to care and serve as patient advocates and supports. Over the years, HOPE has supported almost 3,000 people and more than 80% of its patients have completed treatment or recovery. Data from the HOPE program shows improved access to care and treatment outcomes, as well as increased patient engagement and reduced relapse rates. “The HOPE Initiative is making an important impact in the Roanoke Valley,” said Bradley Free Clinic executive director Janine Underwood. “Integrating trusted Peer Recovery Specialists into every aspect of our clinic helps patients feel more comfortable, which results in better patient outcomes and improved quality of life. We’re excited to help other clinics implement this successful model.”
In addition to connecting people to care, clinic leaders expect the program expansion to help reduce emergency room utilization for patients experiencing substance use disorder in Virginia.
About VAFCC
For 30 years, the VAFCC has been the only nonprofit organization whose mission is focused solely on the issues and needs of free and charitable clinics — and the patients they serve in Virginia. In this role, VAFCC provides essential advocacy, support, and resources to the Commonwealth’s free and charitable clinics, helping to ensure Virginia’s medically underserved have access to quality health care. To learn more about VAFCC, our membership, and who they serve, visit www.VaFreeClinics.org.