Supporting Maine Youth in Recovery: A Groundbreaking Pilot Program Gains Momentum

In 2024, Healthy Acadia, in collaboration with the Maine Office of Child and Family Services, launched an innovative pilot program to provide peer and near-peer recovery coaching for youth affected by substance use disorder. This first-of-its-kind initiative in Maine was publicly introduced by Governor Janet Mills at the 6th Annual Maine Opioid Response Summit in July 2024, where she shared her strong support for the program.

One year later, at the 7th Annual Maine Opioid Response Summit on July 10, 2025, Governor Mills praised our program’s success and reaffirmed her ongoing commitment to expanding recovery support for youth across the state.

The Youth Recovery Coaching Program, a pilot project of Healthy Acadia’s Maine Alliance for Recovery Coaching (Maine ARC), offers critical support to individuals aged 14 to 21 in Washington and Hancock counties who are impacted by substance use—their own or that of a loved one. The program has been enthusiastically received by communities in Downeast Maine and is already demonstrating its life-changing impact.

Youth Recovery Coaches—trained near-peers with lived experience—provide one-on-one support and lead outreach efforts to connect with young people in their communities. The program also engages volunteer and paid interns through Healthy Acadia’s Maine Recovery Core Program, creating meaningful pathways for those interested in entering the behavioral health field.

“This pilot represents a critical step in expanding Maine’s efforts to support youth and families affected by a substance use disorder,” said Denise Black, Co-Director of Maine ARC. “By offering recovery coaching specifically for young people, we are building capacity to address the impact of substance use, reduce stigma, and provide life-saving support to those in need.”

Healthy Acadia also offers free training through the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy for Young People, equipping future coaches with the tools to support their peers and partner with organizations—like schools—that are eager to integrate recovery services into youth-focused settings.

“We are thrilled to launch this pilot program, which fills a significant gap in support services for Maine’s youth,” said Penny Guisinger, Healthy Acadia’s Recovery Programs Director. “By engaging young people directly and connecting them with recovery coaches who understand their challenges, we are creating a system that will help them thrive and rebuild their lives.”

The impact of the program is already being felt. In this video, Ben Collins, Vice Principal and Athletic Director at Calais Middle-High School, shares how the Youth Recovery Coaching Program is making a meaningful difference for students in his community.

To learn more or explore training opportunities, visit: https://healthyacadia.org/spr-marc