The 20th Circuit Court is pleased to announce the Adult Drug Treatment Court, a specialty program for non-violent felony offenders with acute substance use disorders, recently hosted their third Recovery Coach Academy. To date, 66 people from across West Michigan, who are in stable and sustained recovery from drug or alcohol addiction have participated in the academy.

Priscilla Shafor and Anthony Sledge, certified peer recovery coaches for the drug court, organized and co-facilitated the academies. The academy follows the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery model for training peer recovery coaches which is recognized as an emerging best practice by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is supported by the Michigan Department of Community Health

“A peer recovery coach serves as a mentor to people who are involved in treatment for substance use disorders or serves as a guide for people seeking or already in recovery,” says Shafor. By hosting this academy the drug court has been instrumental in building a cadre of certified recovery coaches who will be employable at substance abuse treatment agencies in Ottawa County and West Michigan.

The Recovery Coach Academy is funded by a 3-year federal grant from SAMHSA, designed to enhance substance use disorder treatment services available to the drug court. The drug court’s day-to-day operations, however, remain dependent on state grant dollars and the continued financial support of Ottawa County. For questions about enrolling in the recovery coach academy please contact Priscilla Shafor at 616-396-5284.