Program Area: Drug Harm Reduction
Peer Support Services
Your road to recovery and harm reduction.
Our peer providers are trained through the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) program and Wisconsin Certified Peer Support Specialists. They are individuals or affected family members in long-term recovery from substance use and/or mental health experiences, who want to share their strength with others in hope that they too may have success in their recovery and healing.
We meet individuals where they are at: emotionally and physically. We understand there are many paths a person can choose for their recovery. We believe an individual is in recovery when they say they are. Our hope is to walk alongside them as they create a support system, work toward their goals, and develop a path of recovery that works best for them. Call our 24-7 Recovery Helpline at 608-228-1278 to connect with a peer provider.
support services
- Harm reduction support
- Safe Use Supply Information/Access
- Recovery Support Services
- Peer to Peer Support
- Link Domestic Violence Education & Resources
- Planning Educational Needs & Goals
- Gaining Access to Benefits
- Self-Care Education such as Nutrition, Proper Exercise & Personal Care
- Strengthening & Mending Relationships with Family, Significant Others, & Friends
- Exploring Transportation Options
- Education & Support for Pregnancies & Parenting
Our Programs
Jail To Recovery
Jail2Recovery (J2R) is a recovery-oriented peer support program operated by Safe Communities that provides timely, person-centered peer services to individuals incarcerated at the Dane County Jail (DCJ). The program is designed to engage individuals early during incarceration, support stabilization, reduce isolation, and promote successful re-entry through coordinated warm hand-offs to community-based supports.
Referrals to J2R are received from Wellpath and/or Dane County Re-Entry Services. Certified Peer Specialists and Recovery Coaches with lived experience initiate engagement within 48 hours of referral whenever possible. Services include emotional support, recovery goal exploration, resource navigation, re-entry planning, and continuity of care coordination.
J2R operates in compliance with Dane County Jail policies, confidentiality requirements, and Safe Communities’ peer support standards. Services continue through incarceration and transition to the community, with follow-up contact post-release to ensure continuity of support.
MARI Diversion Program
MARI is a diversion-based alternative to traditional prosecution for eligible individuals. MPD officers identify candidates based on qualifying offenses, Dane County residency, and other criteria (e.g., must not be on probation).
When an individual accepts MARI:
- They receive an AODA assessment
- A Diversion Plan is created documenting:
- Recommended peer support engagement
- Treatment and resource expectations
- Supportive services to be initiated
- The program lasts six (6) months, beginning the day the Diversion Plan is signed.
2. MARI Outreach Team
The MARI Outreach Team is a specialized unit consisting of:
- One embedded Safe Communities Peer Specialist
- One designated MPD Officer assigned specifically to outreach work
This team:
- Provides overdose follow-up to individuals recently revived by EMS or community members
- Conducts field outreach in high-risk areas
- Distributes harm-reduction supplies
- Offers supportive engagement, resource navigation, and warm hand-offs
- Builds rapport with individuals who may not be ready for formal treatment
- This branch emphasizes rapid response, relationship-building, and proactive harm reduction.
3. MARI Harm Reduction Tabling & Outreach
This outreach branch pairs:
- One Safe Communities Peer Specialist
- One MPD officer working overtime under the MARI program
The team performs:
- Pop-up harm-reduction tables in vulnerable communities
- Encampment and street outreach
- Distribution of Narcan, FTS, and resource packets
- Linkage to peer support and treatment
- Monitoring of overdose trends and emerging needs
- This work is non-coercive, trauma-informed, and centered on health equity and safety.
Emergency Department to Recovery
The ED2Recovery (ED2R) Program provides peer support and recovery coaching to individuals struggling with substance use concerns who present at participating hospitals.
Services are currently provided at UW Hospital (Highland), UW East (TAC), St. Mary’s, and Meriter. We also respond to Stoughton, Fort Atkinson, and Watertown Hospitals.
The program operates a 24/7 Recovery Coach Support Line that hospital staff (nurses, social workers, and providers) can call to request an ED2Recovery coach or peer support specialist.
Pregnancy to Recovery
Pregnancy2Recovery (P2R) launched in 2017 and is a specialized Safe Communities peer support program designed to provide recovery-oriented, trauma-informed support to pregnant individuals experiencing substance use from pregnancy through up to one year postpartum. P2R integrates peer support with the principles of birth work, health equity, and harm reduction to address medical, emotional, social, and environmental factors impacting perinatal recovery.
Most P2R peer providers are doula-trained, enhancing their ability to offer informed support throughout pregnancy, birth preparation, and postpartum experiences. Doula training focuses on supporting birthing individuals through advocacy, emotional support, empowerment, and connection to appropriate medical and community resources. Safe Communities partners with local birthing hospitals—Meriter and SSM St. Mary’s Hospital—to ensure collaborative continuity of care.
Referrals for P2R may come from medical clinics, hospitals, public health nurses, probation/parole, community partners, or self-referrals. Services may be adapted based on individual needs, and postpartum support may be extended on a case-by-case basis with supervisor approval.
Working With Us
Our aspiration is by sharing our strength and courage with other people who are struggling, we are able to emphatically support those seeking recovery in making changes in their lives. Our peer providers come from a place of understanding, rather than judgment, and aide in overcoming barriers to recovery.
Recovery Contacts
Recovery Support Line
Journey Mental Health Crisis Line
National Suicide Prevention Line
National Suicide Prevention Line
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
For Veterans Press 1, En Español Oprima El 2
Safe Communities is not a counseling or crisis center and does not provide direct services. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
RESOURCES
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