CPE receives $489K to fund recovery resource centers on Kentucky campuses

April 10, 2025

The Council on Postsecondary Education received a $488,676 grant from Kentucky’s Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission to fund Collegiate Recovery Resource Centers (CRRCs) on up to five college campuses. These centers will support students struggling with addiction, recovery or co-existing mental health challenges who are seeking a college degree or certificate.

“Unfortunately, Kentucky has been severely impacted by the opioid crisis,” said Dr. Aaron Thompson, CPE President. “As we look to expand postsecondary opportunities to all Kentuckians, we must be prepared to meet them where they are, so they can ultimately succeed in college and the workforce.”

Providing campus resources for students battling substance use disorders is part of a growing trend. Nationally, over 150 campuses have joined The Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), which advocates for peer support networks and other campus-based services to help students overcome addiction and related mental health challenges.

Kentucky CRRCs will employ research-based practices proven to boost retention, engagement and graduation rates among participants. The initiative aligns with CPE’s commitment to increase postsecondary access and success for underrepresented populations, including justice-impacted individuals, military veterans, residents of impoverished rural areas and working-age adults.

“This grant builds on CPE’s success in implementing the CLIMB Health initiative, which stands for Career Ladders in Mental and Behavioral Health, at several KCTCS campuses,” said Carl D. Wilson, CPE Senior Fellow for Healthcare Workforce Initiatives. “While helping people in recovery become certified to work as peer support specialists, we saw a need for more specialized support services, especially in areas where substance use has reached epidemic proportions.”

CPE will issue a request for proposals later this spring inviting two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions to compete for funding to establish CRRCs on their campus. Institutions interested in applying should contact carld.wilson@ky.gov.