The ED2Recovery project began as a pilot program in 2016 through a partnership with SSM/Dean St. Mary’s hospital. When a person presents in the emergency room as experiencing an overdose, a recovery coach is called and responds to the hospital. The individual is then offered the opportunity to connect with the recovery coach prior to discharging the emergency room. All of our recovery coaches have the shared experience of waking up in the emergency room after an overdose. If the individual accepts a coach, the coach will typically sit with the person, provide support and recovery resources. After the person is discharged from the hospital, the recovery coach has daily contact with them until a confirmed treatment intake date is established. After the individual is connected with treatment, the coach remains in contact with the person for a few months until the person has a solid foundation of recovery. During the pilot phase of the project, Safe Communities was able to obtain a 90% success rate in connecting individuals to treatment and their beginning to a life in recovery.
Safe Communities has now partnered with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to continue offering coaching services. Since the pilot program, Safe Communities recovery coaching has expanded to 3 more emergency departments within Dane County.