National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.
SAMHSA aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery. In the years since Recovery Month launched, SAMHSA has timed announcements of initiatives and grant funding during Recovery Month, while collaborating with private and public entities to celebrate individuals during their long-term recoveries.
This year, to address the nation’s growing crisis of substance misuse and overdose deaths, SAMHSA is launching initiatives that promote and support evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery possible.
Ministry opportunities for Churches willing to confront and address the challenges of Opioid Addiction and Overdose and other Substance Use Disorder.
There are two goals relating to Faith-based communities work to address substance use:
The first is to educate clergy about the nature and extent of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, the process of becoming addicted, and current approaches to preventing, intervening with and treating substance abuse.
The second is to encourage clergy to take an active role in confronting substance abuse by sharing the experiences of other faith communities that have already done so.
Toward the Future
SAMHSA is committed to a policy of respect for and cooperation with faith-based and community organizations. It will continue its work to:
Continue training for smaller grassroots and faith-based organizations
Convene meetings with faith leaders to address issues involved in funding substance abuse treatment grants to the faith community
Establish and maintain a planning group to build strategic alliances with faith-based and community groups
Develop a curriculum for seminary students in counseling parents and children of alcoholics, in collaboration with the Johnson Institute Foundation and the National Association of Children of Alcoholics
Host dialogues between a small group of congregations and families around issues of mental health, support, and recovery
Develop regulations responsive to states, local governments, and religious and provider organizations that will be implementing SAMHSA's Charitable Choice provisions
Funding Opportunities
Information about grant opportunities is available on the SAMHSA website. Also, call SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information at 877-SAMHSA-7 (877-726-4727) or TTY: 800-487-4889.