Members of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH) joined colleagues from across the country on Aug. 7 at the American Psychological Association (APA) 2026 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.
The convention, held August 6–8 under the theme “Radically Well, Together!”, brought together thousands of psychologists, researchers, practitioners, educators, community partners, and policymakers to share research and discuss emerging directions in psychology and behavioral health.
The symposium, “Building on Lived Experience in Science and Service: Peer Recovery Support,” brought together three community-engaged research teams examining the role and effectiveness of peer recovery support services for people with substance use disorder. The session highlighted how people with lived and living experience are providing critical, ongoing support in communities and helping address gaps that often remain after traditional, time-limited treatment ends.
Peer recovery support services provide non-clinical, relationship-based support delivered by people with lived experience of substance use and recovery. Presentations demonstrated how peer support is being integrated across different environments, including probation settings, faith communities, and recovery community centers.
Dr. Rosemarie Martin of UMass Chan Medical School opened the symposium with “Designing Peer Recovery Support for Probation Settings.” Her presentation described a community-engaged process for developing a peer recovery support intervention for individuals with opioid use disorder who are involved with the criminal-legal system.
Chyrell Bellamy, PhD, MSW, professor of psychiatry and director of PRCH, and team presented “About US: Partnering with Community and Churches in Substance Use Recovery Research.”
The presentation highlighted Imani Breakthrough, a faith-based, person-centered recovery and harm-reduction program delivered in churches and community settings by trained facilitators, including people with lived experience of substance use and recovery. Imani Breakthrough has reached more than 2,000 people in Connecticut and has demonstrated the importance of bringing recovery supports into trusted community environments.
Bellamy and colleagues also discussed the program’s work to increase access to medications for addiction treatment and the essential role of authentic community engagement and partnership in research.
The presentation also highlighted the contributions of community and faith partners who have helped develop, deliver, and sustain Imani, emphasizing that lived experience and community expertise should not simply inform research but be integral to how recovery interventions are designed and implemented.
The symposium concluded with discussion and Q&A led by Dr. Lindsey Martin of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), who reflected on themes across the three presentations and discussed research priorities related to peer recovery support and substance use recovery.
Together, the presentations underscored an important message: recovery extends well beyond formal treatment. Peer relationships, social networks, faith communities, recovery community centers, and other trusted community environments can provide the sustained connection, belonging, and support that people need to build and maintain recovery.