Recovery from substance use disorder is a complex journey that often depends on more than a single intervention or source of support. It is built through determination, connection and access to clinical treatment services, as well as the support of people and organizations that help individuals move from crisis to stability.
During National Recovery Month, Sutter Health is celebrating the accomplishments of individuals who have completed recovery programs and the community partnerships that make lasting healing possible. Long-term recovery requires ongoing treatment and supportive services, including stable housing, access to transportation, care coordination and other resources that help individuals stay connected to care and build stability. This is why Sutter Health invests in trusted community organizations that connect individuals to the support and other resources they need in the communities where they live and work.
These partnerships are becoming more important as California continues to transform behavioral health and substance use care through the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), which places greater emphasis on community-based care and recovery support. In 2025, Sutter invested approximately $2.3 million in community partnerships that expanded access to substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, recovery support, transportation and healthcare navigation, helping nearly 14,000 individuals.
“Recovery looks different for every individual, which is why access to a range of recovery support services is so important,” said Jodi Nerell, community health director at Sutter Health. “Community-based organizations help people access support that meets them where they are in their recovery journey. With Sutter’s investments in recovery housing, peer support and other services, we’re helping individuals build stability and maintain recovery.”
Sutter provides services across the continuum of care to support individuals facing substance disorders, including access to detoxification services, residential treatment and coordinated medical and behavioral health support through programs such as the Merritt Peralta Institute at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. To complement these clinical services and extend reach beyond traditional healthcare settings, Sutter invests in community-based organizations that help individuals stay connected to ongoing treatment, peer support, housing, transportation and other essential resources that can play a critical role in maintaining long-term sobriety and overall well-being.
Celebrating Recovery in Sonoma and Marin counties
Community Support Network’s Recovery Housing Program provides transitional housing, healthcare navigation, transportation, workforce development and other wraparound services for individuals with substance use, behavioral health and complex medical needs. Supported through a community health investment from Sutter Health, the program also helps strengthen connections to primary care and other essential resources.
“Recovery often begins with stability,” said Carrie Lara, PsyD, clinical director at Community Support Network. “Safe housing provides an important foundation. We meet individuals where they are, help them identify their goals and support them as they work toward independent living, stable housing and a healthier future.”
Expanding Recovery Support in Merced County
In Merced County, Sutter Health supports recovery pathways for individuals with substance use and behavioral health needs through programs offered by the county’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS).
Sutter’s support of the LINKS Program helped connect individuals identified in healthcare settings to behavioral health treatment, housing resources, care coordination and other community services. Building on that foundation, the Sutter HEART (Helping Everyone Access Recovery & Treatment) Program is expanding recovery housing and outreach services in Los Banos and western Merced County, helping individuals access housing, treatment services and long-term recovery support.
“When I came to BHRS, that’s where the real journey began. I had a case manager, a psychiatrist, a therapist and an SUD counselor who all worked together to support me every step of the way,” said a former client of BHRS LINKS Program. “For the first time, I felt like I wasn’t trying to do it alone. Today, I’m employed for the first time in 10 years, I’ve been sober for almost three years and, most importantly, I’m at peace.”
Recovery Is a Community Effort
Recovery does not happen alone. It requires support from healthcare providers, community organizations, family members and peers throughout the journey. As Sutter Health recognizes National Recovery Month, we celebrate the graduates, community partners and recovery champions working every day to help more people build healthier futures. Their stories are reminders that recovery is possible and, with the right support, lasting stability is within reach.
Watch how Sutter Health and community partners are helping people find a path to recovery:
