Peer Recovery Expansion Project

Recovery Support for Rural Emergency Departments

WHO WE ARE

About PREP

PREP places certified recovery specialists in hospital emergency departments to effectively deliver care to patients experiencing substance use disorder or behavioral health issues.

PREP is an RHRC initiative funded through HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). RCORP funds a variety of grants aiming to prevent or treat opioid use disorder (OUD) for people in rural areas. PREP leverages a network of rural hospitals and single county authorities across rural Pennsylvania and is modeled after the successful Addiction Recovery Mobile Outreach Team (ARMOT) developed by the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission.

WHAT WE DO

What PREP Offers

Knowledgable Intervention

We work directly with hospital staff and leadership to integrate certified recovery specialists, improving your hospital’s capability to provide care for behavioral health and substance use emergencies.

Our services include:

  • Integration of specialized staff in emergency departments
  • Training and employment opportunities for local community members in peer recovery roles
  • Development of teleconferencing capabilities for both in-person and virtual consultations

Community & Staff Education

PREP focuses not only on direct patient care but also on education and training to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder and behavioral health issues.

Our services include:

  • Substance use and behavioral health stigma reduction
  • Community and hospital staff education
  • Mental Health First Aid Training for medical staff, certified recovery specialists, and community members
  • Workforce development of Certified Recovery Specialists that offers training and direct employment

Enhancing Community Linkages

By strengthening the connections of hospitals, local authorities, and community resources, PREP encourages meaningful collaboration and representation in each community.

Our services include:

  • Building partnerships between hospitals, community organizations, and single county authorities
  • Coordinating local community resources to address gaps in health equity and social determinants of health
  • Establishing regional strategies to address community needs on a broader scale
  • Facilitating shared learning on best practices and strategies that have proven effective

Purpose of PREP

PREP provides recovery navigation services for eligible patients to reduce hospital readmissions related to substance use and improve wellness within the community.
Increasing access to substance use treatment services
Screening for social determinants of health
Decreasing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits
Providing increased and improved connections with community support for patients
Improving patients’ quality of life

Through its network, PREP's footprint spans five rural counties across Pennsylvania reaching 212,000 rural residents.

Our Partners

Interested in learning more about PREP?

Meet the PREP Team

Jamie Strohmeyer

Program Manager

Diana Carpenter

Project Manager

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The Peer Recovery Expansion Project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $500,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
Janice Walters
Executive Director

Janice has been leading the work of the RHRC since its inception. She has a background in health nance and is a highly rated rural health expert with over 20 years of relevant leadership experience. She works closely with rural health executives, state and federal partners, and other community stakeholders to ensure access to quality healthcare in maintained across the rural U.S.

Diana Carpenter Project Manager
Diana Carpenter​
Project Manager

Diana joined the RHRC team in 2019, bringing with her an extensive background in social services. Having been raised in a rural area, she is deeply committed to facilitating access to essential services for rural residents within their communities.  Diana supports several teams within the RHRC in her current role as a Project Manager.

Peer Recovery Expansion Project Recovery Support for Rural Emergency Departments GET IN TOUCH WHO WE ARE About PREP PREP places certified recovery specialists in hospital emergency departments to effectively deliver […]

Peer Recovery Expansion Project Recovery Support for Rural Emergency Departments GET IN TOUCH WHO WE ARE About PREP PREP places certified recovery specialists in hospital emergency departments to effectively deliver […]

Ken Harman RHRC Regional Liaison
Ken Harman
Regional Liaison

Ken Harman is a Regional Liaison with the Rural Health Redesign Center and the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center for the Midwest and Western States. He brings over 30 years’ healthcare experience, with the last 20 years being a rural Critical Access Hospital CEO. He has served in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, California, Utah and Minnesota. He graduated in 1996 from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and from the University of Utah in 1990 with a Bachelors of Science in Economics. He has a passion for rural healthcare and in assisting organizations and communities in sustaining and growing to take care of community needs.

Peer Recovery Expansion Project (PREP)

Tom Harlow
Program Director

Tom has over 43 years of healthcare experience, with 24 in executive leadership and 16 in rural settings. In his role, he provides tactical assistance to rural providers in areas such as workforce, strategic planning, and value-based care.