The Alliance for Rights and Recovery / Formerly ϲ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:12:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 /wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-favicon-32x32.png The Alliance for Rights and Recovery / 32 32 Alliance Condemns Department of Justice Attack on Olmstead Mandate! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/23/alliance-condemns-department-of-justice-attack-on-olmstead-mandate/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:46:00 +0000 /?p=15915 Alliance for Rights and Recovery’s Statement onDOJ Memo Attacking the Olmstead Integration Mandate The Alliance for Rights and Recovery strongly condemns the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel’s recent memorandum attacking the longstanding understanding of the Olmstead integration mandate. The landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision clarified the right of people with disabilities to […]

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Alliance for Rights and Recovery’s Statement on
DOJ Memo Attacking the Olmstead Integration Mandate

The Alliance for Rights and Recovery strongly condemns the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel’s recent memorandum attacking the longstanding understanding of the Olmstead integration mandate. The landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision clarified the right of people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities and has guided efforts to expand community-based services for over 30 years.

This memo from the DOJ is a dangerous and deeply disturbing attempt by the federal administration to undermine one of the nation’s most important civil rights protections for people with disabilities, including people with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, intellectual, developmental, physical, and sensory disabilities.

For nearly three decades, the Supreme Court’s decision in “Olmstead v. L.C.” has stood for the principle that unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The decision affirmed that people with disabilities have the legal right to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs when community-based services are appropriate, desired by the person, and can be accessed via reasonable accommodations.

That understanding has long been reinforced by courts, federal regulations, enforcement actions, settlement agreements, disability rights organizations, and administrations and legislators of both political parties.

The DOJ memo attempts to rewrite that history. It argues that neither Title II of the ADA nor Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act imposes an integration mandate on states and claims that the Olmstead v L.C. decision did not require states to serve people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

In effect, the administration is attempting to narrow the Olmstead v. L.C. mandate to a much weaker rule that would only prohibit institutionalization when it lacks a rational justification. This vague standard could be interpreted so broadly that almost any state decision to institutionalize someone could be justified, dramatically weakening one of the nation’s most important civil rights protections for people with disabilities. This position stands against decades of legal precedent and the lived experience of people with disabilities who have fought for the right to live, work, learn, recover, and participate in their communities.

It is important to be clear: this memo does NOT eliminate the Olmstead mandate. It does not repeal the ADA. It does not repeal Section 504. It does not erase federal integration regulations. It does not overrule the Supreme Court. It does not bind federal judges. The rights of people with disabilities to challenge segregation and institutionalization remain in place!

However, the memo can still cause serious harm. It may signal that the current Department of Justice will reduce or abandon enforcement of Olmstead protections. It may encourage states to slow, weaken, or reverse efforts to expand home and community-based services. It may be used by states or institutions in litigation to argue for narrower protections. It may also embolden policymakers who want to respond to mental health crises, homelessness, substance use, aging, and disability by expanding institutionalization rather than investing in the community-based services people need to live safely and successfully.

Courts are likely to continue applying existing Olmstead precedent, and the memo itself acknowledges that its interpretation is out of step with how federal courts have understood the law. But we cannot ignore the threat. When the federal government signals that it no longer believes people with disabilities have a right to community integration, states, counties, providers, and advocates must respond forcefully.

The Alliance urges our members and partners to take action:

  • Contact your members of Congress and urge them to publicly reject the DOJ memo, defend the Olmstead v. L.C. mandate, and support legislation codifying the integration mandate into federal law.
  • Engage state leaders, including governors, Medicaid agencies, mental health authorities, disability agencies, and county officials, and demand clear commitments that they will not use this memo as an excuse to reduce home and community-based services or increase reliance on institutionalization.
  • Document any denial, reduction, or redirection of community-based services toward institutionalization, and connect affected individuals with Protection and Advocacy organizations, legal services, and disability rights advocates.
  • Submit public comments, attend state and local meetings, and push for greater investment in housing, peer support, crisis alternatives, employment supports, home and community-based services, and voluntary mental health and substance use services.

This moment is a reminder that rights are only protected when people organize to defend them. The Alliance stands with the disability rights community, the mental health and substance use recovery movements, people with lived experience, families, providers, and advocates across the country who refuse to return to a time when people with disabilities were hidden away in institutions, denied autonomy, and separated from their communities.

While this memo represents a disturbing turn from the federal administration, it does not end our fight or the ADA’s promise. We must continue working through the courts, Congress, state governments, and local systems to fully implement the Olmstead integration mandate. That means expanding the voluntary, community-based services people need to avoid institutionalization, supporting people to leave institutions without having to go back, and ensuring every person has the housing, healthcare, peer support, crisis response, employment, and community supports needed to live with dignity in the communities of their choice.

The Alliance for Rights and Recovery will continue fighting to protect civil rights, advance recovery, oppose institutionalization, and build systems that support people in the most integrated setting possible, their own communities!

About the Alliance for Rights and Recovery
The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is a state and national change agent dedicated to improving services, public policies and social conditions for people with mental health, substance use and trauma-related challenges by promoting health, wellness, rights and recovery, with full community inclusion.

Contact
Luke Sikinyi
Vice President of Public Policy
Alliance for Rights and Recovery
lukes@rightsandrecovery.org
518-703-0264

Harvey Rosenthal
Chief Executive Officer
Alliance for Rights and Recovery
harveyr@rightsandrecovery.org
518-527-0564

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POWER Coalition Demands Accountability Following the Death of Daphy Michel! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/23/power-coalition-demands-accountability-following-the-death-of-daphy-michel/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:13:00 +0000 /?p=15917 Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery stands with our partners in the POWER Coalition in calling for justice and accountability following the tragic death of Daphy Michel. As an active member of the POWER Coalition, we remain committed to advancing policies that uphold the dignity, rights, and humanity of people with mental health […]

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Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery stands with our partners in the POWER Coalition in calling for justice and accountability following the tragic death of Daphy Michel. As an active member of the POWER Coalition, we remain committed to advancing policies that uphold the dignity, rights, and humanity of people with mental health and substance use challenges, including immigrants and other marginalized communities. We support the Coalition’s call for a full investigation into Ms. Michel’s death and will continue working alongside national partners to advocate for compassionate, community-based responses that protect vulnerable individuals rather than subjecting them to neglect, institutionalization, or other harmful practices. See below for the full statement from the POWER Coalition.

The POWER Coalition Demands Justice for Daphy Michel

WASHINGTON, DC (June 22, 2026) – The People Organized for Wellness, Empowerment, and Recovery Coalition (POWER-C), a national organization led by people with lived experience of mental health and addiction conditions, issued a call today for justice and full accountability in the death of 31-year-old Daphy Michel, who had been held in detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to NBC News (), Ms. Michel, a Haitian asylum seeker with mental health conditions, was released and left by ICE on a steel transit bench with only a hooded sweatshirt for warmth. Over the course of the next three days, video cameras filmed her while she stayed on the bench, only to collapse due to hypothermia. Emergency responders transported her to a hospital, where she died on March 2.

On June 12, the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office issued a ruling that her death was due to homicide, stating: “The opinion of the forensic pathologist in this case is that Ms. Michel was a vulnerable adult, suffering from untreated severe mental health issues and a significant language barrier when she was released from federal custody on February 27. Based on all available information during the investigation, the pathologist ruled Ms. Michel’s death a homicide.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, wrote in an email that “ICE had NOTHING to do with this woman’s death. She passed away THREE days after ICE encountered her.”

It is uncertain whether Pennsylvania officials will open any further investigation into her death.

Daphy Michel’s death comes amid the Trump administration’s continued ICE enforcement actions, which have been widely condemned for disproportionately targeting vulnerable populations, including immigrants and people with disabilities, among them people living with mental health conditions.

Recent reports have cited high rates of suicide in ICE detention centers as well as frequent use of seclusion for detainees with mental health problems. President Trump has also issued Executive Orders calling for increased forced mental health treatment and a return to long-term institutionalization along with budget reductions for community-based care.

“We demand justice for Daphy Michel,” stated POWER Coalition Co-Chair Paolo del Vecchio, who is a former Federal official. “Her tragic death was due to the negligence and ongoing abuses perpetuated by the Trump administration and ICE.”

The death of Daphy Michel is similar to that of another person with disabilities, Nurul Amin Shah Alam, in February in Buffalo. A visually impaired refugee, Mr. Alam was left outside a closed coffee shop on a cold winter night, and his body was found days later. His death was also ruled a homicide, and an investigation is ongoing.

“Once again, people of color and individuals with disabilities – including those with mental health issues – are dying due to the actions of ICE and this Administration,” stated Arc Telos Saint Amour, POWER Coalition Co-Chair and Executive Director of Youth MOVE National. “We demand a full public investigation to hold the responsible parties accountable.”

Daphy Michel’s brother, with whom she lived, never received a phone call from ICE notifying him that she had been released. He only learned of her passing when a morgue contacted him three days later.

An obituary for Daphy Michel posted by a local funeral home stated: “Daphy was a person with a kind heart, who loved her family very much…She was always ready to help those who needed her help and her presence brought joy and happiness and light into the lives of all who knew her.”

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The P.O.W.E.R. (People Organized for Wellness, Empowerment and Recovery) Coalition is dedicated to promoting equity and intersectional centered policies and practices that protect the rights and promote recovery for all people who experience mental health and/or addiction conditions. For more information, please visit our website at  and contact us at: Paolo del Vecchio (he/him), pdv1820@gmail.com | Arc Telos Saint Amour (they/them), telos@youthmovenational.org

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Register for Alliance’s Statewide Training Webinar for New Supervisors! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/22/register-for-alliances-statewide-training-webinar-for-new-supervisors/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:12:00 +0000 /?p=15910 Alliance Alert: Receiving a promotion to Supervisor can be an exciting experience. However, it can also be fraught with fear and self-doubt as we move into a role that is sometimes not clearly defined. Our Alliance team will be offering this training to provide new supervisors with information and clarity around their role, to better […]

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Alliance Alert: Receiving a promotion to Supervisor can be an exciting experience. However, it can also be fraught with fear and self-doubt as we move into a role that is sometimes not clearly defined. Our Alliance team will be offering this training to provide new supervisors with information and clarity around their role, to better support those they supervise, as well as the people that they serve. Join us as we build confidence and explore the role of Supervision in today’s practice.

Register for each section by clicking the links below:

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Share Your Perspective on Reddit Recovery Communities and Receive at $15 Gift Card /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/19/share-your-perspective-on-reddit-recovery-communities-and-receive-at-15-gift-card/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:56:00 +0000 /?p=15907 Alliance Alert: A team at Fordham University is conducting a short anonymous survey that asks people in online recovery communities to share their thoughts on how AI should be used ethically in research about those communities. They believe that “the people who use these spaces deserve to have a voice in how their stories are studied, […]

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Alliance Alert: A team at Fordham University is conducting a short  that asks people in online recovery communities to share their thoughts on how AI should be used ethically in research about those communities. They believe that “the people who use these spaces deserve to have a voice in how their stories are studied, and this survey is one way to make that happen.”

They are looking for responses from people who have participated in online recovery communities: participants receive a $15 gift card for completing the survey. The survey is fully anonymous and takes about 10-15 minutes.

If you have questions, contact Dr. Celia B. Fisher at the Center at fisher@fordham.edu | (718) 817-3793

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Alliance Multicultural Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee Celebrates Juneteenth! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/19/alliance-multicultural-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-committee-celebrates-juneteenth/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:30:00 +0000 /?p=15899 Honoring Juneteenth: Continuing the Work for Equity, Justice, and Belonging Today, the Alliance for Rights and Recovery’s Multicultural Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee proudly joins communities across ϲ and the nation in commemorating Juneteenth, the oldest nationally recognized celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States. Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation […]

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Honoring Juneteenth: Continuing the Work for Equity, Justice, and Belonging

Today, the Alliance for Rights and Recovery’s Multicultural Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee proudly joins communities across ϲ and the nation in commemorating Juneteenth, the oldest nationally recognized celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freedom did not immediately reach everyone. It was not until June 19, 1865, more than two years later, that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that enslaved African Americans were finally free. Juneteenth has since become a celebration of freedom, resilience, culture, family, and the enduring pursuit of justice. Across the country, communities honor the day through parades, festivals, educational events, music, storytelling, community service, and gatherings that celebrate the rich history, achievements, and contributions of Black Americans.

While Juneteenth marks an important milestone, it also reminds us that the work of achieving racial justice remains unfinished. Structural racism and inequity continue to affect nearly every aspect of life, including health care, housing, education, employment, and the criminal legal system. Black Americans continue to experience significant disparities in access to culturally responsive mental health and substance use services, face greater barriers to receiving timely and appropriate support, and are disproportionately impacted by homelessness, incarceration, institutionalization, involuntary commitment, and coercive responses to crises.

At the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, we believe that true equity requires more than equal access. It requires systems that recognize and respect culture, lived experience, and the unique strengths of every community. It means expanding culturally responsive and community-based services, investing in peer support, addressing the social determinants of health, confronting implicit bias, and ensuring that every person has the opportunity to recover, heal, and thrive in the community of their choice.

Led by our Multicultural Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (formerly Cultural Competence) Committee, the Alliance remains committed to advancing civil rights, equity, and racial justice through advocacy, policy change, education, community engagement, and social impact. We will continue working alongside our members, partners, and communities to eliminate disparities, protect the rights of people with mental health and substance use challenges, and celebrate the leadership, resilience, and countless contributions of Black people throughout ϲ and across our nation.

As we commemorate the 162nd anniversary of Juneteenth, we invite everyone to join in celebrations across their communities, learn more about the history and significance of this important day, honor the generations who fought for freedom and equality, and recommit ourselves to building a future where justice, dignity, opportunity, and belonging are realities for all. We also encourage our community to join the committee at the Alliance Annual Conference as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the committee with our fashion show, diversity bash, and cultural exhibit! We hope to see you there! See below for information about the conference. 

*SAVE WITH OUR BEST OFFERS*
Individual Early Bird:$50 off Use coupon code BOGO1
Buy 5 Get 1 Free:Members use coupon code BOGOM
Buy 5 Get 1 Free:Non-Members use coupon code BOGON

Happy Juneteenth from the Alliance for Rights and Recovery and
our Multicultural Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee!

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Share Your B-HEARD Experience and Help Strengthen Community Crisis Services! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/18/share-your-b-heard-experience-and-help-strengthen-community-crisis-services/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:24:00 +0000 /?p=15903 Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery encourages individuals to participate in this important survey from the ϲ Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) about experiences with B-HEARD, ϲ City’s behavioral health crisis response program. As ϲ continues to evaluate and improve its crisis response systems, it is essential that the voices of […]

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Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery encourages individuals to participate in this important survey from the ϲ Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) about experiences with B-HEARD, ϲ City’s behavioral health crisis response program.

As ϲ continues to evaluate and improve its crisis response systems, it is essential that the voices of people who have directly experienced mental health crises are at the center of these conversations. Your experiences can help identify what is working well, where improvements are needed, and how crisis response programs can better support people with mental health and substance use challenges in ways that are compassionate, recovery-oriented, and person-centered.

If you or someone you know has had an interaction with a crisis response team through B-HEARD, we encourage you to share your experience. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and participants will receive a $20 thank-you payment for their time.

Your feedback can help shape the future of crisis response in ϲ City and support ongoing efforts to build systems that prioritize health, dignity, and compassion. 

Click here to

Have you ever had a visit from a mobile crisis team
during a mental health crisis?
We want to hear your feedback.

We are gathering feedback about people’s experiences with B-HEARD,
ϲ City’s 911-connected crisis response pilot.

Take a 15-minute survey
and receive $20 Thank you

Scan or Visit bit.ly/3RBZlYW

Available in English, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Russian, Haitian Creole, Korean, and Spanish.
Paper and phone options are also available.

ϲ: We are peers with ϲ Lawyers for the Public Interest’s Disability Justice Program, advocating for better crisis services.

For more information or to request another survey format, contact Jennifer Hadlock at jhadlock@nylpi.org or call 646-813-9740

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Alliance Annual Conference: Don’t Miss Our Lowest Priced Offer! Register Today! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/18/alliance-annual-conference-dont-miss-our-lowest-priced-offer-register-today/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:24:00 +0000 /?p=15913 Take advantage of our current Early Bird pricing to get the lowest rate for our conference this year! This represents the best deal for the year! Use the codes to apply the discounts! *SAVE WITH OUR BEST OFFERS*Individual Early Bird:$50 off Use coupon code BOGO1Buy 5 Get 1 Free:Members use coupon code BOGOMBuy 5 Get […]

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Take advantage of our current Early Bird pricing to get the lowest rate for our conference this year! This represents the best deal for the year! Use the codes to apply the discounts!

*SAVE WITH OUR BEST OFFERS*
Individual Early Bird:$50 off Use coupon code BOGO1
Buy 5 Get 1 Free:Members use coupon code BOGOM
Buy 5 Get 1 Free:Non-Members use coupon code BOGON

We’re very pleased to open registration for the Alliance’s 44th annual conference, an event and experience that has long been a national standard in bringing together recovering people, peer supporters, providers, advocates, policymakers, and system leaders for three days of learning, connection, community, and advocacy!

This year’s program will feature presentations from nearly 100 experts and leaders while celebrating the values that unite our movement: hope, healing, rights, recovery, and belonging. We have a long history of introducing inspiring cutting-edge speakers, new friends, allies and partners and new ways of thinking and, along the way, stirring that sense of commitment and determination that is at the heart of our lives and our work. And these have never been more needed than right now!

This year brings a very special opportunity as we move our conference to Albany, placing attendees in closer proximity to state policymakers and advocacy action at the Capitol while also allowing participants to experience the comfort, accessibility, and welcoming environment of the Albany Marriott.

Early Bird pricing is available June 3–30 and represents the lowest rates that will be offered this year!

While conference rates have increased this year to reflect rising venue, food, technology, and operational costs, we have worked diligently to keep registration as affordable as possible while maintaining the quality and accessibility of the conference. Early Bird registration offers the best value, and our popular “Buy 5, Get 1 Free” option continues to help organizations support staff participation at a reduced cost.

Please note that conference registration and hotel reservations are separate. For non-member conference registration, use the link below and click “continue as guest.”

*SAVE WITH OUR BEST OFFERS*
Individual Early Bird: $50 off Use coupon code BOGO1
Buy 5 Get 1 Free: Members use coupon code BOGOM
Buy 5 Get 1 Free: Non-Members use coupon code BOGON

Attendees requiring overnight accommodations can reserve their hotel room at the Albany Marriott

Scholarship applicationsare also open through June 19.
Apply Today:

Register today and be part of the conversations, connections, and collective action!

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SAMHSA Announces Over $700 Million in New Funding for Mental Health, Substance Use, and Homelessness Services /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/17/samhsa-announces-over-700-million-in-new-funding-for-mental-health-substance-use-and-homelessness-services/ Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:25:00 +0000 /?p=15898 Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is continuing to review SAMHSA’s newly announced mental health and substance use funding opportunities, which include significant investments in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), 988 crisis services, mobile crisis teams, substance use treatment and recovery, suicide prevention, child trauma services, and other initiatives. We are encouraged […]

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Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is continuing to review SAMHSA’s newly announced mental health and substance use funding opportunities, which include significant investments in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), 988 crisis services, mobile crisis teams, substance use treatment and recovery, suicide prevention, child trauma services, and other initiatives. We are encouraged to see continued federal investment in community-based mental health and substance use services, particularly programs that expand access to alternative crisis services, recovery supports, and effective prevention programs.

At the same time, we are deeply concerned that portions of this funding announcement are explicitly tied to the Administration’s Executive Order, Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets. That Executive Order promotes policies that emphasize increased institutionalization and incarceration of people experiencing homelessness and mental health and substance use challenges while rejecting effective approaches such as Housing First. The newly announced STREETS program similarly prohibits the use of Housing First approaches and is closely aligned with the Executive Order’s emphasis on public safety and enforcement.

The Alliance believes that lasting recovery and community safety are best achieved by investing in voluntary, recovery-oriented services that people trust and choose to access. Decades of research have demonstrated the effectiveness of approaches such as permanent supportive housing using Housing First principles, peer support, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, mobile crisis services, recovery community organizations, supported employment, and other community-based interventions. These approaches improve health, reduce homelessness, decrease hospitalization and incarceration, and strengthen communities without resorting to coercion.

As we continue evaluating these funding opportunities, we will be working closely with our national partners to advocate with SAMHSA, Congress, and the Administration for continued investments in voluntary, evidence-based programs that respect individual rights and promote recovery. We will also continue opposing efforts to shift federal behavioral health policy toward punitive responses that rely on institutionalization, criminalization, or the dismantling of proven approaches such as Housing First.

The Alliance remains committed to advancing policies that expand access to housing, treatment, recovery supports, peer services, and other community-based resources that help people thrive while protecting their dignity, autonomy, and civil rights.

Secretary Kennedy Announces Over $700 Million in New Funding to Address Mental Illness, Addiction, Homelessness
Wednesday, June 17, 2026

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today announced the posting of a $96 million funding opportunity for the Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support (STREETS) program, along with $612 million in funding opportunities for additional behavioral health programs. These announcements, which drive forward President Trump’s , were made during a press conference following the Secretary’s visit to the Easterseals Michigan-Clinton Township Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).

“Through more than $700 million in new investments, we are advancing President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative and addressing the addiction and serious mental illness that fuel homelessness across America. These investments will help move people from the streets into treatment and recovery, strengthen families, save lives, and make communities safer,” said Secretary Kennedy.

“Every community deserves access to effective behavioral health services that help people prevent addiction, achieve recovery, address mental health challenges, and respond to crises,” said SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll. “Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are a cornerstone of this effort, providing comprehensive, community-based care that helps people sustain recovery and rebuild their lives. Alongside initiatives like STREETS, they advance the goals of the Great American Recovery Initiative by connecting people to treatment, housing, and ongoing support that strengthen communities and save lives.”

$96 Million for Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support (STREETS) Program

The STREETS program, housed within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will award eight communities up to $3 million a year for four years. The program will distribute up to $24 million each year, totaling $96 million over four years, to develop multisector, state-of-the-art care systems for people who are homeless and have substance use disorders, serious mental illness, or co-occurring disorders.

Given the unprecedented burden and impact of addiction and mental illness among the homeless population, this program places special emphasis on rapid, comprehensive and coordinated street-based engagement, treatment, and recovery support services using a community-wide approach that brings together local government, health and housing providers, law enforcement, and the courts.

This funding aligns with President Trump’s  and the , co-chaired by HHS Secretary Kennedy and White House Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery Kathryn Burgum. STREETS also supports  to advance evidence-based treatment approaches that prioritize recovery, self-sufficiency, and public safety while directly combating the devastating effects of addiction in America. Programs awarded funding may not use housing first approaches or prohibited harm reduction services.

$223.1 Million for CCBHCs

The following programs will strengthen and expand access to comprehensive community-based behavioral health care nationwide. This funding will support existing CCBHCs in sustaining and enhancing mental health and substance use disorder services, help establish new CCBHCs in underserved areas to address gaps in care, and assist states in developing certification systems that prepare them to participate in the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program.

  • $117.1 million for
  • $94 million for
  • $12 million for

$238.6 Million for the 988 & Suicide Crisis Lifeline

The following programs will improve local 988 capacity and state and territory response to all 988 contacts, including calls, chats, and texts; improve service for populations at high risk of suicide and overdose; strengthen connections and response capabilities in Tribal communities and/or for American Indians/Alaska Natives; and expand efforts to support individuals post-contact to provide continued support and linkages to decrease suicide, deaths by overdose, and future crisis events.

  • $211.1 million for
  • $20 million for
  • $7.5 million for

$80 Million for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

The following programs advance efforts to combat the nation’s addiction and overdose crises while strengthening community safety, public health, and access to care. The investments support rural emergency medical services, expand treatment and recovery options for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders, increase prevention efforts for youth, families, and communities, address opioid and fentanyl-related harms, and improve services for Tribal communities and pregnant and postpartum women.

  • $13.5 million for  
  • $9.3 million for  
  • $8 million for
  • $8 million for
  • $7.6 million for
  • $7.1 million for
  • $6.5 million for
  • $5.4 million for  
  • $5.2 million for
  • $4.7 million for
  • $2.7 million for
  • $1.9 million

More than $70 Million for Mental Health Services and Supports

The following programs will address childhood trauma, deliver mobile crisis care, divert youth and adults with mental illness from criminal and/or juvenile justice involvement to community-based treatment, support mental health services and suicide prevention efforts for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and address the mental health needs of at-risk infants and young children.

  • $14.4 million for
  • $15.3 million for
  • $15.2 million for
  • $6.8 million for
  • $7 million for
  • $5.9 million for
  • $5.6 million for

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at . To locate a treatment facility or provider, visit .

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NYC Health + Hospitals Peer Academy Fall 2026 Application Is Now Open! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/17/nyc-health-hospitals-peer-academy-fall-2026-application-is-now-open/ Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:27:00 +0000 /?p=15895 Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is pleased to share this exciting opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing a career in peer support. The NYC Health + Hospitals Peer Academy provides comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to earn both provisional ϲ State Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and Certified Recovery Peer Advocate […]

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Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is pleased to share this exciting opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing a career in peer support. The NYC Health + Hospitals Peer Academy provides comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to earn both provisional ϲ State Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) credentials.

Peer support continues to be one of the most effective, recovery-oriented approaches for helping people navigate mental health and substance use challenges. Expanding the peer workforce is essential to building a mental health and substance use recovery system grounded in hope, mutuality, and lived experience.

We encourage individuals with lived experience who are interested in making a difference in the lives of others to consider applying. Applications are due by July 13, 2026. This is an outstanding opportunity to develop professional skills, gain valuable experience, and begin a meaningful career supporting recovery.

NYC Health + Hospitals is excited to announce that the Fall 2026  is live! The H+H Peer Academy is a no-cost training and internship program designed to prepare individuals for a rewarding career as peer counselors in a large hospital system. Trainees will be eligible to receive both the NYS Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) provisional credentials, as well as a stipend after meeting criteria.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Ideal candidates:

·         Individuals with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges who want to

share their recovery journey in order to inspire others.

·         Individuals who are interested in a job with meaning and purpose.

·         Individuals who can support themselves financially during three months of in-person, unpaid training.

Apply now:
Application deadline: July 13, 2026
Group Interviews: July 28 –August 6, 2026
Weekly online workshops: August 19 –September 24, 2026
Full-time in-person training and internship: October 1 –December 17, 2026

Do you have questions or want to join an info session? Email OBHPeerAcademy@nychhc.org

You can also scan the QR code to apply.

Please share with others and have a great day!

NYC Health + Hospitals Peer Academy
50 Water Street, ϲ, NY 10004
OBHPeerAcademy@nychhc.org

Visit

The post NYC Health + Hospitals Peer Academy Fall 2026 Application Is Now Open! appeared first on The Alliance for Rights and Recovery.

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Use Our Codes to Get the Best Price for The Alliance’s Annual Conference! Register Today! /e-news-bulletins/2026/06/16/use-our-codes-to-get-the-best-price-for-the-alliances-annual-conference-register-today/ Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:47:00 +0000 /?p=15892 Alliance Alert: We’re very pleased to open registration for the Alliance’s 44th annual conference, an event and experience that has long been a national standard in bringing together recovering people, peer supporters, providers, advocates, policymakers, and system leaders for three days of learning, connection, community, and advocacy! This year’s program will feature presentations from nearly 100 experts and […]

The post Use Our Codes to Get the Best Price for The Alliance’s Annual Conference! Register Today! appeared first on The Alliance for Rights and Recovery.

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Alliance Alert: We’re very pleased to open registration for the Alliance’s 44th annual conference, an event and experience that has long been a national standard in bringing together recovering people, peer supporters, providers, advocates, policymakers, and system leaders for three days of learning, connection, community, and advocacy!

This year’s program will feature presentations from nearly 100 experts and leaders while celebrating the values that unite our movement: hope, healing, rights, recovery, and belonging. We have a long history of introducing inspiring cutting-edge speakers, new friends, allies and partners and new ways of thinking and, along the way, stirring that sense of commitment and determination that is at the heart of our lives and our work. And these have never been more needed than right now!

This year brings a very special opportunity as we move our conference to Albany, placing attendees in closer proximity to state policymakers and advocacy action at the Capitol while also allowing participants to experience the comfort, accessibility, and welcoming environment of the Albany Marriott.

Early Bird pricing is available June 3–30 and represents the lowest rates that will be offered this year!

While conference rates have increased this year to reflect rising venue, food, technology, and operational costs, we have worked diligently to keep registration as affordable as possible while maintaining the quality and accessibility of the conference. Early Bird registration offers the best value, and our popular “Buy 5, Get 1 Free” option continues to help organizations support staff participation at a reduced cost.

Please note that conference registration and hotel reservations are separate. For non-member conference registration, use the link below and click “continue as guest.”

*SAVE WITH OUR BEST OFFERS*
Individual Early Bird: $50 off Use coupon code BOGO1
Buy 5 Get 1 Free: Members use coupon code BOGOM
Buy 5 Get 1 Free: Non-Members use coupon code BOGON

Attendees requiring overnight accommodations can reserve their hotel room at the Albany Marriott

Scholarship applicationsare also open through June 19.
Apply Today:

Register today and be part of the conversations, connections, and collective action!

The post Use Our Codes to Get the Best Price for The Alliance’s Annual Conference! Register Today! appeared first on The Alliance for Rights and Recovery.

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