Seminar Series
The goal of our online, monthly seminar series is to bring together multiple stakeholder groups to discuss issues pertaining to recovery community centers (RCCs) and the use of medication to treat opioid use disorder. Our goal is to learn from each other, so that together we can create tools, products, and research materials that will support the building of a cumulative RCC science.
Seminars occur online, typically on the first Friday of the month.
Each seminar includes a 4-minute Live Feature of a recovery community center.
Seminars take 1 hour (12:00-1:00 ET), and are video-recorded (see below for past recordings & slides).
Materials mentioned during the seminar are shared below.
A meeting-after-the-meeting takes place for the 30 minutes after the seminar for those interested in discussing more in-depth with the seminar presenters.
All are welcome!
Upcoming Seminars
Seminar 43
Title: Utilizing RCC Peer Navigation to Support OUD Treatment Linkages for Women Transitioning from Incarceration to Communities: Findings from the Kentucky JCOIN Study
Presenters: Martha D. Tillson and Amanda Fallin-Bennett (University of Kentucky)
Discussant: TBD
RCC Live Feature: Donella Cecrle (The Purpose of Recovery)
Date: Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 44
Title: Employment Experiences of Peer Recovery Coaches and Peer Support Specialists in Michigan
Presenters: Kristen Abraham (University of Detroit Mercy)
Discussant: TBD
RCC Live Feature: TBD
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 45
Title: Outcome Presentation for Pilot Project #11: Investigating the Impact of Recovery Narratives Among Affiliates of Recovery Community Centers
Presenters: Ben Thompson (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Discussant: TBD
RCC Live Feature: TBD
Date: Friday, February 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 46
Title: TBD
Presenters: Martha D. Tillson, Amanda Fallin-Bennett, and Hartley Feld (University of Kentucky)
Discussant: TBD
RCC Live Feature: TBD
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET
Past Seminars
Seminar 42
Title: Outcome Presentation for Pilot Project #10: Exploratory Analysis of the Recovery Data Platform to Uncover Group Associations Between Engagement & Outcomes in RCC Participants
Presenters: Jon Picard (Faces & Voices of Recovery) and Joe Riggs (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Discussant: Jemima Frimpong (New York University Abu Dhabi)
RCC Live Feature: Phil Owen (Communities for Recovery)
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 41
Title: Outcome Presentation for Pilot Project #9: An Exploration of the RCC Workforce and the Challenges Faced by Paid and Volunteer Staff
Presenters: Craig Henderson (Sam Houston State University) and Angela Hagaman (East Tennessee State University)
Discussant: Adrienne Lapidos (University of Michigan)
RCC Live Feature: Loretta Leverett, Nathaniel Miksch, and Louray Barton (STEPRox Recovery Support Center)
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Portland Recovery Community Center - Call for Executive Director
Seminar 40
Title: Outcome Presentation of pilot Project #8: Exploring how Recovery Community Centers can Support Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorder
Presenters: Davida Schiff (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Discussant: Pamela Matson (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)
RCC Live Feature: Cierra Coon (Never Alone Recovery Support Services)
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 39
Title: Outcome presentation of pilot project #7: Recovery Community Centers in Rural Areas: Addressing Unique Challenges to Better Serve Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder
Presenters: Robert Bohler and Ryan Lofaro (Georgia Southern University)
Discussant: Delesha Carpenter (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill)
RCC Live Feature: Pastor Dana (New Life II)
Date: Friday, February 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 38
Title: Challenges and successes experienced by peer recovery support workers (PRSWs) working at recovery community centers (RCCs): Results of focus groups at 26 RCCs in Massachusetts
Presenters: Ijeoma Achara (Achara Consulting) and Danielle O’Brien (Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health)
Discussant: Sharon Reif (Brandeis University)
RCC Live Feature: Lana Mahoney (Recover Wyoming)
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 37
Title: Do MOUD-providing clinics know about their local RCC: Results of a survey and interview study
Presenters: Study team of an academic-community partnership: Massachusetts General Hospital (Bettina Hoeppner, Susanne Hoeppner, Alivia Williamson, Alli Futter, Cora Nicoll), Detroit Recovery Project (Angela Burton, Drew Hickman) and Northern Ohio Recovery Association (Anita Bradley)
Discussant: Vinod Rao (Massachusetts General Hospital)
RCC Live Feature: Todd Fowler & Darci Pickett (Flint Serenity House)
Date: Friday, November 1, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials
Seminar 36
Title: Exploring the tensions that exist between harm reduction (practices & philosophies) and the recovery space as it pertains to RCCs
Presenters: John Burns (Executive Director of SOS Recovery), Susan E. Collins (University of Washington School of Medicine), Lezlie Fox (We Do Recover Community Center), and Josh Welch (Serenity Recovery Connection)
RCC Live Feature: Lezlie Fox (We Do Recover Community Center)
Date: Friday, October 4, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials
Seminar 35
Title: What is it like to be a peer recovery support specialist (PRSS) working at a recovery community center (RCC)?
Presenters: Kevin Monteiro (Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts) and Matt Spehar (Detroit Recovery Project)
RCC Live Feature: Melanie Cobb (Landmark Recovery Center)
Date: Friday, June 7, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 34
Title: What knowledge is needed to support linkage from clinical settings to RCCs?
Presenters: Dr. Susan Calcaterra (University of Colorado), and Dr. Judith Feinberg (West Virginia University)
RCC Live Feature: Dottie Greene (Johnson City Recovery Center)
Date: Friday, May 3, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 33
Title: How do RCCs do Outreach?
Presenters: Randy Rush (The Courage Center), Jenifer Langston (Reboot Jackson), and Justin Buck (Wolfe Street Foundation)
RCC Live Feature: Justin Buck, Executive Director of the Wolfe Street Foundation
Date: Friday, April 5th, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 32
Title: Outcome presentation for pilot project #6: The Impact of Specific RCC Programs and Participation on Recovery Capital
Presenter: Drs. Sheila Specker, David Peter, Ese Agente, and Ben Clark (University of Minnesota); LaTricia Tate and Chris Burks, CPRS (Twin Cities Recovery Project)
Discussants: Maryanne Frangules and Julie Bunch (Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery)
RCC Live Feature: Elise Hall, Healing House KC
Date: Friday, March 8th, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Our network’s paper about the reach of recovery community centers: Hoeppner, B. B. PhD, MS; Simpson, H. V. BA; Weerts, C. BA; Riggs, M. J. PhD; Williamson, A. C. BA; Finley-Abboud, D. BS; Hoffman, L. A. PhD; Rutherford, P. X. BS; McCarthy, P. MS; Ojeda, J. MEd; Mericle, A. A. PhD; Rao, V. MD, PhD; Bergman, B. G. PhD; Dankwah, A. B. DrPH, MPH; Kelly, J. F. PhD(2023). A Nationwide Survey Study of Recovery Community Centers Supporting People in Recovery From Substance Use Disorder. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 10-1097.
Seminar 31
Title: New studies on RCCs: Introducing our newly funded pilot study projects
Presenters: Dr. Craig Henderson (Sam Houston State University), Dr. Angela Hagaman (East Tennessee State University), Dr. Robert Bohler (Georgia Southern University), Dr. Marion Riggs (Massachusetts General Hospital), Jon Picard (Faces and Voices of Recovery), and Dr. Benjamin Thompson (Recovery Research Institute)
RCC Live Feature: Michelle Charbonnier, CRADC, CPS, RYT-200, Executive Director of Mo Network
Date: Friday, February 2, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 30
Title: Science that is Needed to Support Unlocking the Potential of Recovery Community Centers
Presenter: Dr. Kenneth D. Smith (University of Tennessee)
Discussant: Dr. Sarah Duffy (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
RCC Live Feature: Brian J. Robbins, Recovery Community Centers Program Manager of CT Community for Addiction Recovery
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 29
Title: Outcome presentation for pilot project #5: Examining Sexual Minority Engagement in Recovery Community Centers
Presenter: Dr. Abigail Batchelder (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Discussant: Dr. Lara Weinstein (Thomas Jefferson University)
RCC Live Feature: Ty Bechel, MNM, CPRS, Executive Director & Business Development of Amare NFP
Date: Friday, November 3, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Materials: APA language guidelines
Seminar 28
Title: Outcome presentation for pilot project #4: A Socio-Ecological Examination of the Use of Recovery Community Centers by Persons Taking Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Presenter: Roxanne Newman (Brown University School of Public Health)
Discussants: Cathy Shultz (Rhode Island’s governor’s overdose taskforce), Dr. Amanda Von Horn (Tufts Medical Center & Tufts University School of Medicine), Dr. Felecia Pullen (Pillars – Holistic Recovery Support)
RCC Live Feature: Felecia Pullen, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Pillars – Holistic Recovery Support
Date: Friday, October 6, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 27
Title: Taking a closer look at the Recovery Data Platform (RDP)
Presenter: Phil Rutherford, Jonathan Picard (Faces and Voices of Recovery)
Discussants: Cory O’Brien (Turning Point Recovery Support Center)
RCC Live Feature: Oliver A. T. Birchwood-Glover, LICSW, SAP, Program Director of Trilogy Recovery Community
Date: Friday, September 22, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 26
Title: Community engaged research – what is it, why do we need it, and how can we do more of it in the recovery community center (RCC) space?
Presenters: Dr. Devin Banks (University of Missouri-St. Louis), Dr. Ashli Sheidow (Oregon Social Learning Center), and Dr. Chyrell Bellamy and Rev. Robyn Anderson (Yale School of Medicine), Dr. Terrence S. McTier Jr. (HEAL Initiative)
RCC Live Feature: Elizabeth Burke Beaty, CPRS, CPLC (she/her/hers), Founding Executive Director and CEO of www.SeaChangeRCO.org (NJ) & the National Sea Change Coalition
Date: Friday, June 2, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
A paper describing different ways of community engagement in research, and highlighting key issues regarding equity (e.g., ownership, decision-making, resource-sharing) and contextual factors (e.g., trust, transparency, relationship building):
Concrete examples of the work of community advisory boards (as implemented by the JEAP Initiative):
Concrete example of a community-academia partnership, the Imani Breakthrough Project:
Description of the project in an academic, peer-reviewed paper:
Description of the project as featured online by the Policy Research Associates
Seminar 25
Title: Outcome presentation for pilot project #3: Understanding how recovery community centers impact members’ wellbeing: A pilot study using daily diary assessments
Presenter: Dr. H. Harrington “Bo” Cleveland (The Pennsylvania State University)
Discussants: Drs. Stephanie Wemm (Yale Stress Center) and Jon Soske (Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts)
RCC Live Feature: Javier H Alegre, BScB, CPSS, Executive Director of Latino Behavioral Health Services
Date: Friday, May 5, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 24
Title: Outcome presentation for pilot project #2: Feedback on a mobile application intervention to support pregnant and postpartum women and people (PPWP) in recovery
Presenters: Drs. Hannah S. Szlyk and Patricia Cavazos-Rehg (Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis)
Discussants: Dr. Davida Schiff (Massachusetts General Hospital), Dr. Roger Vilardaga (Duke University), Pastor Marsha Hourd (Director of CAFE & LIFE Recovery Center) and Ty Bechel (Executive director of Amare Recovery)
RCC Live Feature: Chris Rosewarne-Sudduth, BA, CPRC, Program Manager and Recovery Coach at Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project (WRAP)
Date: Friday, April 7, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Information about the mobile application and intervention:
Seminar 23
Title: The role a state’s department of public health can play in the creation and thriving of RCCs
Presenter: Ms. Danielle O’Brien of the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)
Discussant: Jesse Crum, Recovery Services Specialist at the Missouri Department of Public Health
RCC Live Feature: Angela Burton of the Detroit Recovery Project
Date: Friday, March 3rd, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST
Seminar 22
Title: Outcome presentation for pilot project #1: Cost-effectiveness calculators for RCCs: A pilot of peer recovery support services and bystander Naloxone distribution
Presenters: Ms. Sierra Castedo de Martell, Ms. Margaret B. Moore, and Dr. H. Shelton Brown
Discussants: Ms. Patty McCarthy and Mr. Phil Rutherford, Faces & Voices of Recovery
RCC Live Feature: Ms. Anita Bradley, CEO and Founder of the Northern Ohio Recovery Association
Date: Friday, February 3, 2023, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 21
Title: Delving deeper into nationwide findings on Recovery Community Centers (RCCs): Medications, connections with services, and agents of social change
Presenters: Drs. Bettina B. Hoeppner and John F. Kelly
RCC Live Feature: RCC Co-Founder Dr. Alex Elswick of Voices of Hope – Lexington, Inc.
Date: Friday, December 2nd, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 20
Title: The promise of RCCs to support Latino and Hispanic communities in recovery: The importance of cultural elements in RCCs
Presenters: Leaders of the Cultural Compliance Alliance: Yamila Rollan Escalona (founder of Yaya Por Vida), Angelo Lagares (founder of Latino Recovery Advocacy), Thomas Guerra (founder of Miami Recovery Project); Dr. Miguel Pinedo (University of Texas at Austin)
RCC Live Feature: (This time we have three video links instead of a live presentation) Latino Recovery Advocacy, Miami Recovery Project, Ya Ya Por Vida
Date: Friday, November 4th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Word Cloud Generated During Seminar (click here for larger graphic file)
Seminar 19
Title: Results of our nationwide survey of RCCs (Part 2): Feedback from RCC leadership about potential outcome measures that could be used to capture the positive impact of RCCs
Presenters: Drs. Bettina B. Hoeppner and John F. Kelly
RCC Live Feature: RCC Program Director, Cory O’Brien of Turning Point Recovery Support Center
Date: Friday, October 7th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 18
Title: Results of our nationwide survey of RCCs (Part 1): Description of currently operating RCCs, their services, and the communities they serve
Presenters: Drs. Bettina B. Hoeppner and John F. Kelly
RCC Live Feature: RCO director Samantha Brawley and Drop-in Center Coordinator Mark Palinski of Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness
Date: Friday, September 9th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 17
Title: Recovery processes and milestones: An updated conceptual model and fit with the mission of RCCs
Presenter: Dr. John F. Kelly of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Recovery Research Institute
RCC Live Feature: RCC director Leslie Clark of Portland Recovery Community Center
Date: Friday, June 17th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Slides:
Seminar 16
Title: Self-care, wellness, and recovery in the RCC setting: Approaches taken and complexities faced
Presenters: Dr. Mary-Ellen Brown (Arizona State University) and Catherine Lovvorn (director of Living Proof Recovery) and Dorothy West (director of Center of Recovery Resources and Wellness Resources)
RCC Live Feature: RCC director Catherine Lovvorn of Living Proof Recovery
Date: Friday, May 6th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 15
Title: Let’s talk about faith – How does it intersect with RCCs?
Presenters: Ms. Akosua Dankwah, Lynn Ferro (director of Northampton Recovery Center), Michael Earielo (director of Everyday Miracles Recovery Center), and Tarusa Stewart (director of iHOPE Inc.)
RCC Live Feature: RCC executive director Devin Lyall of Wilkes Recovery Revolution
Date: Friday, April 1st, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 14
Title: Unique challenges encountered by rural RCCs
Presenters: Carrie Oser (University of Kentucky), Joey Supina (director of Sandusky Artisans Recovery Community Center), and Jennifer Langston (director of REBOOT Jackson)
RCC Live Features: RCC Director Brandon George and manager Heather Rodriguez of Indiana Addictions Issue Coalition
Date: Friday, March 4th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 13
Title: Digital recovery support services, telerecovery, and RCCs: Colliding worlds or augmenting each other?
Presenters: Dr. Robert Ashford (Unity Recovery), Brenda Maks (president of Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp), and Marcie Gray (program manager of Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness)
RCC Live Feature: Dr. Mark Lassiter of Will’s Place
Date: Friday, February 4th, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 12
Title: New studies on RCCs: An overview of the new studies funded by our network
Presenters: The awardees of the first round of funding (Abigail Batchelder; Bo Cleveland and Kyler Knapp; Marc Johnigan, Mark Thomas, Sheila Speckter, and Mark McGuire; Roxxanne Newman and Alexandra Collins; H. Shelton Brown and Sierra Castedo de Martell)
Date: Friday, December 3rd, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Additional Recording:
Seminar 11
Title: How do medications for opioid use disorder ‘fit’ into the mission of RCCs?
Presenters: Dr. Roger Weiss (Harvard Medical School), Dr. Lauren Hoffman (Recovery Research Institute), Jan Brown (director of Spiritworks Foundation) and Wendy Jones (director of Minnesota Recovery Connection)
Date: Friday, November 5th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Slides
Seminar 10
Title: Addressing racism and harm reduction through RCCs: Findings and experiences
Presenters: Dr. Monica Skewes (Montana State University) and RCC leaders Laurie Johnson-Wade (Lost Dreams Awakening) and David Whiters (African American Federation of Recovery Organizations)
Date: Friday, October 1st, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 9
Title: RCCs in context: The importance of engaging the recovery community
Presenters: Director of Programs Joseph Hogan Sanchez and Chief Operating Officer, Phillip Rutherford of Faces & Voices of Recovery
RCC Live Feature: RCC leader Nick Demott of Lifeboat Recovery
Date: Friday, July 16th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 8
Title: RCCs in context: The importance and challenges of RCC community engagement
Presenters: Dr. Amy A. Mericle, Research scientist in the Alcohol Research Group at the Public Health Institute, Chad Sabora (director of MoNetwork) and Marc Johnigan (director of Twin Cities Recovery Project)
RCC Live Feature: RCC executive director Tony Venzina of 4D Recovery
Date: Friday, June 11th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 7
Presenter: Dr. John F. Kelly of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Recovery Research Institute
RCC Live Feature: Donna Woods, Timothie Smith, and Brandi Vore of Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Transformation Association (OCARTA)
Date: Friday, May 14th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Slides
Additional Materials:
Seminar 6
Presenters: Dr. Joanne Neale (King’s College London) and Ms. Hannah Carlon (University of New Mexico)
RCC Live Feature: RCC manager Aaron Comeaux of Foundation for Recovery
Date: Friday, April 16th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Slides:
Additional Materials:
Seminar 5
Title: Bridging the divide between healthcare systems and RCCs: A moderated panel discussion
Presenters: Dr. Sarah Wakeman and a team of panelists (Dr. Gene Lambert, Christopher Shaw, Dr. Davida Schiff, Dr. Marti Kane, and Windia Rodriguez) of Massachusetts General Hospital
Date: Friday, March 19th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Seminar 4
Presenters: Mr. Phil Valentine and his team (Rebecca Allen, Brian Robbins) of Connecticut Community of Addiction Recovery
Date: Friday, February 19th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 3
Presenter: Ms. Patty McCarthy of Faces & Voices of Recovery
Date: Friday, January 15th, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 2
Title: The origins of recovery community centers: Context and history
Presenter: Tom Hill, MSW of the National Council for Behavioral Health
Date: Friday, December 18th, 2020, 12:00 PM ET
Additional Materials:
Seminar 1
Title: Rationale and role of recovery community centers: A bio-psycho-social perspective
Presenter: Dr. John F. Kelly of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Recovery Research Institute
Date: Friday, November 20th, 2020, 12:00 PM ET
Recordings:
