“Peer-Strength” is SOS Recovery Community Organization’s criminal justice recovery program. This initiative operates in partnership with the Department of Corrections, Strafford County Probation and Parole, Strafford County Community Corrections, and the Strafford County Drug Court. SOS is also active within the Belknap County Correctional Facility and participates in weekly drug court sessions across four counties, providing peer recovery support to individuals throughout New Hampshire.
All Peer-Strength staff have lived experience with addiction recovery and the criminal justice system, allowing participants to connect on a deeply personal and relatable level.
We facilitate Recovery Capital groups twice weekly in Strafford, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, and Cheshire counties, and once weekly in Rockingham County. These groups focus on reducing barriers to recovery, building community, and fostering peer relationships among participants. SOS also provides one-on-one peer support to currently incarcerated individuals in Carroll and Coos counties through scheduled phone calls. For those in rural areas or without local access to services, our Tele-Recovery program offers secure, web-based one-on-one support via video, phone, chat, or messaging. Participants only need a smartphone to connect.
Our staff help clients develop recovery plans and navigate essential connections to meetings, housing, employment, treatment, behavioral health services, and more. Each week, Peer-Strength staff are available near probation and parole offices for in-person check-ins. Officers often refer participants directly to SOS for crisis navigation and wellness-based recovery coaching, and many individuals now self-refer after hearing about the program’s impact. Our coaches also collaborate closely with drug court case managers and attend court proceedings weekly to provide continued peer support and advocacy.
SOS leadership actively participates in task forces with the National Center for State Courts and contributes to ECHO-based training for superior and district court judges across New Hampshire. These trainings aim to reduce stigma and increase understanding of substance use disorders within the justice system.
