Last week, the Ohio Senate passed a version of the state budget that removes the language transferring the Certified Peer Recovery Supporter (CPRS) certification from OhioMHAS to the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.   This transfer was included in both the Governor’s original proposal and the House-passed budget, and it reflects best practice: ensuring that certification for professional peer supporters is administered by a regulatory board.   We need your voice now. Tell the Budget Conference Committee members to reinstate the language that moves CPRS certification to the Chemical Dependency Board in the final budget.   Who to Contact: Chair Representative Brian Stewart rep12@ohiohouse.gov | (614) 466-1464 Vice Chair Representative Mike Dovilla rep17@ohiohouse.gov | (614) 466-4895 Ranking Member Representative Bride Rose Sweeney rep16@ohiohouse.gov | (614) 466-3350 Chair Senator Jerry Cirino cirino@ohiosenate.gov | (614) 466-7718 Vice Chair Senator Brian Chavez chavez@ohiosenate.gov | (614) 466-6508 Ranking Member Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson hicks-hudson@ohiosenate.gov | (614) 466-5204   Call Script Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a [peer supporter / advocate / community member] calling from [Your City or County].   I’m calling to urge you to reinsert the language from the Governor’s and House-passed budget that transfers Certified Peer Recovery Supporter (CPRS) certification to the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.   Peer recovery supporters are essential workforce, and this initiative serves to professionalize the peer recovery support professional role and ensure that there is public protection and state oversight to ensure these services are delivered ethically and safely, just like all other health care and home and community-based services.   Please make sure this important language is included in the final version of the state budget. Thank you.   Email Script Subject: CPRS Certification i Dear [Representative/Senator NAME],   I’m writing to urge you to support reinstating the language from the Governor’s and House-passed budget that moves CPRS certification to the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.   Peer recovery supporters are essential workforce, and this initiative serves to professionalize the peer recovery support professional role and ensure that there is public protection and state oversight to ensure these services are delivered ethically and safely, just like all other health care and home and community-based services.   Please include this language in the final version of the budget. Ohio’s peer recovery workforce—and the people they support—are counting on you.   Sincerely,[Your Full Name][Your City or County][Your Role, if applicable]

Molly O'Neill, CEO of OCAAR, provides opponent testimony on HB 58 in front of the House Community Revitalization Committee. On May 6, 2025, OCAAR submitted opponent testimony on House Bill 58 to the Ohio House Community Revitalization Committee . While the intent behind the bill may be to safeguard the recovery community, its consequences would do the opposite, creating new barriers to recovery housing at a time when our state needs it most. Recovery housing is one of the most frequently named priorities in our statewide listening sessions with individuals in and seeking recovery. These homes provide a safe, supportive, community-based environment for people to stabilize, rebuild, and thrive. Yet HB 58 would make it harder, not easier, for these essential resources to grow. Why We Oppose HB 58 HB 58 introduces a certificate of need requirement for opening, expanding, or renovating recovery residences. This approach, often used in clinical and healthcare settings, is not appropriate for recovery housing, which is not clinical, is not reimbursable by Medicaid, and often operates on razor-thin margins funded by community support and resident rent payments. Adding layers of bureaucracy will delay housing development, raise costs, and discourage small, community-based providers from serving those in need. That’s not protection—it’s obstruction. Additionally, HB 58 proposes shifting inspection and complaint oversight to local boards. This creates the risk of inconsistent enforcement across the state and introduces political and resource-based disparities. Instead of a standardized, evidence-based approach to maintaining quality, providers could face a confusing patchwork of local policies that undermines stability. We Support Quality—But Without Barriers OCAAR fully supports strong standards for recovery housing. Quality and accountability are essential. But HB 58 doesn’t strike the right balance. At a time when Ohio continues to confront an overdose and addiction crisis, we should be removing barriers to recovery, not adding new ones that limit access to safe housing. We urge lawmakers to go back to the drawing board—and this time, to include the recovery community in the conversation . We are the experts in our own lives. Good policy is made with us, not for us. We thank the Community Revitalization Committee for considering our testimony and remain committed to lifting the voices of people in recovery across the state. If you’d like to get involved in OCAAR's advocacy work, visit the Get Involved page on our site!

Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR) strongly advocates for prioritizing a comprehensive approach to addiction and recovery in the reorganization of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As the nation faces an ongoing substance use crisis, it is crucial that the restructured HHS focuses on addressing substance use disorder (SUD) to ensure comprehensive support for affected individuals and families. The recovery community is deeply concerned that substance use disorder was not addressed in the recent announcement about restructuring HHS.  SUD is a complex public health challenge that requires a coordinated response. The reorganization of HHS presents an opportunity to enhance the agency's capacity to address SUD through integrated services, increased funding, and innovative approaches to treatment and recovery. By prioritizing SUD, HHS can lead the way in developing policies that promote prevention, early intervention, and sustained recovery. As a country, we’ve made significant progress in reducing overdose deaths; we must maintain and accelerate our efforts.  There is a pressing need for our government leaders to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are heard and that their needs are met. This includes maintaining and expanding access to evidence-based treatment and peer recovery support services. Without a dedicated focus on SUD, the reorganization could result in fragmented services and reduced support for those in need.  OCAAR stands ready to work with the administration to recognize the critical importance of addressing SUD within the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). We urge the administration to allocate sufficient resources and attention to this issue, ensuring that the reorganization strengthens, rather than weakens, the nation's response to the substance use crisis. By prioritizing SUD, HHS can improve public health outcomes and support the recovery journey of countless individuals and families across the country.   Act Now: Call your elected officials and tell them to protect recovery funding! Find your elected officials here:  https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials