History

Partners for Recovery was launched in 2003 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in partnership with key stakeholders in the substance use disorder treatment field. It was conceived as a way to engage a variety of organizations and systems to improve the field of addiction treatment and the diverse systems and organizations that support individuals in recovery. As a subset of these stakeholders, leaders in the field of addiction treatment, mental health, and prevention were recruited to serve on a Steering Committee that assisted with the launch of the initiative.

The Steering Committee continues to provide guidance and leadership to the Partners for Recovery initiative. Its membership identified five key areas of focus to enhance access to treatment and recovery and the overall quality of services. They are: recovery, cross-systems collaboration, stigma reduction, workforce development, and leadership development.

Partners for Recovery builds on the guidelines established in the National Treatment Plan, which were:

1. Invest for Results;
2. "No Wrong Door" to Treatment;
3. Commit to Quality;
4. Change Attitudes; and
5. Build Partnerships.