Recovery Coach Program at Marshfield Clinic Health System

Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) implemented a pilot recovery coach program at MMC-Ladysmith in September 2021. The addition of an on-site recovery coach adds another support option for those concerned about their own or someone else’s substance use. 

This program is the result of the innovative use of a federal service program (AmeriCorps) to develop peer recovery support services. In 2017, MCHS Center for Community Health Advancement launched AmeriCorps Recovery Corps, the AmeriCorps program that recruits and trains individuals with lived experience to serve as recovery coaches. Members undergo training in the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) model of recovery coaching. Recovery coaches support someone who is concerned about their own or someone else’s substance use.

The need was brought forth to the center from a local recovery task force, which identified recovery support services as a service gap in the community. The health system acknowledged the need and felt it was important to meet people where they are. Therefore, they agreed to integrate these services within the hospital setting by use of referral from primary care, emergency department, behavioral health, self-referral, etc. This service can be utilized by both patients and community members and is free of charge.  

The integration of recovery coach services within the health system has been successful with an expansion plan to other clinic locations soon.