Local alcohol and drug recovery coaches tell state what they need

FALL RIVER – With 26 years in recovery, “most of it behind the wall,” Julie Pike knows all about adjusting to a new lifestyle free of substances and addiction.

Pike is now a peer recovery coach, helping others adjust to life without alcohol and drugs.

Ginger Pettee helps a “lot of people on the street” on a daily basis in her role as a recovery coach.

Pettee said recovery coaches need to be “compassionate,” and they need experience and support in order to their job.

“It’s a disease, not a moral issue,” Pettee said.

Pike told the Massachusetts Recovery Commission at a listening session at Bristol Community College that she wants to see more community education about addiction.

The listening session, chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, was the first in the state, with others planned around the Commonwealth in the coming months. It offered an opportunity for the commission to gain insight into what recovery coaches need to carry out their important role.

Testimony from the session will be gathered and made public.

Sudders said their work as a commission “would only be effective if we come out and hear from all of you. We’re here to listen.”

The commission was created in August 2018 after Gov. Charlie Baker signed an act for prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction to address the opioid crisis. It is charged with recommending standards for credentialing recovery coaches, gathering data, and reviewing training opportunities for recovery coaches.

Magowa Sanusi, a program coordinator at the Boston Medical Center, told the commission panel he’s seen an uptick in Latinos and blacks needing treatment and recovery coaches. He said studies are needed to learn why they face barriers to treatment.

Michael Bryant, director of Steppingstone’s Peer 2 Peer Project in Fall River, said he thought the Recovery Coach Commission offered ample training, but thought it lacked recovery coach supervision.

“I think it’s going to hurt the role,” Bryant said.

He also took offense at the commission using the term “case load,” when referring to clients.

“My job is not to manage a case load,” Bryant said. “My job is to be a mentor and a guide.”

He also thought there should be a funding source other than grants to “fund recovery coach positions.” Otherwise, the number of clients served is limited.

Kevin Doyle, director of River to Recovery in Fall River, with 35 years “clean and sober,” said that in some cases the “least trained person is dealing with the most volatile situations on the street.”

He said supervision is needed.

Danny Ginovan, who has been in long-term recovery, said “lived experience” should be required of recovery coaches. He said 13 states have a lived experience requirement, but not Massachusetts. “We should be number 14.”

Dr. Robert Caldas, chief medical officer for Southcoast Health, said proper training is essential for recovery coaches. He said the hospitals have recovery coaches, but not enough.

Caldas said he’d like to see the commission take advantage of the opportunity to fuse community health workers and recovery coaches. He’d also like to see recovery coaches reimbursed by payers.

“They really are a crucial part of someone’s recovery and success,” Caldas said.

Patricia Emsellem, Stanley Street Treatment and Resources chief operating officer, said the clinic has 17 recovery coaches currently in training. She said supervision and credentialing was very important.

“It’s an amazing thing that Massachusetts is taking this kind of leadership,” Emsellem said.

To learn more about the Recovery Coach Commission and the credentialed program, visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/recovery-coach-commission.

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com