Project Description Narrative:
In Wisconsin, substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the leading causes of death and hospitalization, affecting 456,000 residents and costing up to $6.8 billion. Vulnerable groups like BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, homeless, rural, and low-income populations experience disproportionate impacts of SUD, which can perpetuate cycles of trauma and illness. Community-based recovery programs are crucial to addressing these challenges and improving health outcomes.
The Wisconsin Association of Sober Housing (WASH) will work with MCW and UW Population Health Institute researchers to develop a local recovery ecosystem in Green Bay. Their approach, based on a social model of recovery, emphasizes mutual support among residents to cultivate internal resources like self-esteem and coping skills, complemented by external community support. The project aims to establish a recovery residence network, foster a collaborative recovery ecosystem, and create a toolkit to aid other communities in enhancing their recovery infrastructure across Wisconsin.
Community partners: UW Population Health Institute, Brown County Alcohol and Drug Coalition, Serenity House of Green Bay, Mandolin Foundation, Power of Peace Housing and Recovery Services, Jackie Nitschke Center