Westminster Rescue Mission and Partners Awarded $195,000 Grant for Program to Train Certified Peer Recovery Specialists
State Grant Funded by Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund
The Westminster Rescue Mission is pleased to announce it has been awarded $194, 984.85 through the Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers (RAMP) program to increase the number of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) in Carroll County.
The funding will launch the Carroll County Peer Workforce Program, an initiative designed to strengthen and expand the local peer recovery workforce by increasing access to training, supervision, certification, and employment pathways for CPRS in Carroll County. The program creates a coordinated pipeline that moves participants from recruitment and training, through supervision and service hours, culminating in CPRS certification, employment and career advancement. Certified Peers use the experience of their own recovery journeys to help others navigate substance use and mental health challenges.
The Mission will serve as the grantee, fiscal agent, and program coordinator, working in partnership with the Carroll County Health Department (CCHD) for outreach, recruitment, and training efforts; and the Carroll County Workforce Development (CCWD), which will manage the intake, tracking, and workforce placement of program participants. Westminster Rescue Mission, On Our Own of Carroll County and Maryland Treatment Centers (also known as Mountain Manor) will provide supervised workplaces for peers in the program to get their experience.
“We are honored to be a recipient of this RAMP funding,” said Stephanie Halley, CEO of the Westminster Rescue Mission. “Until now, individuals seeking peer certification have faced financial barriers and limitations in terms of available training locally. We have designed a strong program with partner agencies to leverage their areas of expertise and align our efforts, to support the recovery community and provide jobs right here in Carroll County.”
“By strengthening peer-led recovery services in our rural communities, we are ensuring that no Marylander has to navigate substance use disorders and recovery alone. Through RAMP, we are turning lived experience into hope, healing, and opportunity across our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller.
“RAMP is a game changer, because it addresses several of our most urgent priorities for reducing overdoses in Maryland at once,” said Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller. “Not only will this program expand access to recovery supports in underserved areas of our state, it bolsters the behavioral health workforce and increases opportunities for meaningful employment, which can make all the difference for long-term success in recovery."
The RAMP program advances Maryland’s broader efforts to reduce overdose deaths, expand access to recovery services, and strengthen Maryland’s behavioral health workforce, particularly in rural areas.
This project is funded in part by funds received from the Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers Program, a grant program of the Maryland Department of Labor in partnership with Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response and using funding from Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund.
Visit the Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers program for additional information.
###
About the Westminster Rescue Mission
Founded in 1968, the Westminster Rescue Mission is a community that provides clinical, physical, and spiritual resources to heal the addicted and feed the hungry. We take a holistic approach with Christ as the foundation of our work. Our two service areas include the Addiction Healing Center and the Mission Food Program.
Media inquiries:
Trish St Michel
Community Engagement Manager
tstmichel@WestminsterRescueMission.org
410-848-2222 x 135
