The Council on Recovery
The Council on Recovery is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 1946, delivering prevention, education, outpatient treatment, and recovery support services for substance use disorders to individuals, families, and youth across the Greater Houston region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Council on Recovery does
The Council on Recovery is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1946 in Houston, Texas, providing a comprehensive continuum of substance use prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services across the Greater Houston area. Its core clinical offerings include outpatient counseling and therapy through the Center for Recovering Families, children and adolescent services, family support (including the Wayfinders Group), ARISE-model intervention services, and state-funded Discovering Choices outpatient treatment. The organization's prevention and education arm delivers evidence-based curricula — Botvin LifeSkills Training, CBSG, Positive Action, IHCP, and the Choices Program — directly in partner school districts such as Spring Branch ISD, and operates the Cradles Project for parents and expectant caregivers, a Recovery Support Peer Specialist Training program, and the Behavioral Health Training Institute for emerging clinicians. The campus at 303 Jackson Hill also serves as a community hub hosting 15+ weekly recovery support meetings and offers free Narcan distribution through an on-site vending machine.
The Council operates a mixed-revenue non-profit model combining individual, corporate, and foundation donations, government and state contracts (including a contract placing 30 chemical dependency professionals at The Harris Center), insurance reimbursement (Medicaid, Medicare, private, Gold Card, VA), special-event fundraising through the Petersen Family Speaker Series, and ancillary venue rental. It does not turn clients away for inability to pay, with two-thirds of treatment services offered at reduced or no cost. Reach is significant — 40,000+ individuals served annually and more than 1 million over four decades — supported by 251–500 employees and a three-year CARF accreditation awarded in 2024.
The organization is currently navigating a leadership transition: Judy M. Chavez was appointed President & CEO in August 2025 after serving as Interim since March 2025, succeeding Mary Beck. Under Chavez, the Council has executed a strategic reorganization and expanded its partnership footprint into the criminal justice diversion vertical (Harris County DA partnership, 2025) and culturally competent Hispanic/Latine services (El Centro de Corazón, 2024). Recent capital investments include the 2026 renovation of the Hamill Foundation Conference Center. Geographic focus remains regional (Greater Houston / Harris County), with telehealth expansion since 2020 as the principal channel-extension lever.
The Council on Recovery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Council on Recovery
- Legal name
- The Council on Recovery
- Website
- https://councilonrecovery.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Council on Recovery is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 1946, delivering prevention, education, outpatient treatment, and recovery support services for substance use disorders to individuals, families, and youth across the Greater Houston region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Council on Recovery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Substance Use Prevention & Student Assistance Programs (School-Based) (EDAKAMAJ)
Keywords
Where The Council on Recovery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Council on Recovery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Non-profit organization funded significantly through generous contributions from donors. Individual, corporate, and foundation donations support operations and treatment services for those who cannot pay.
- Publicly Funded Programs: State-funded contracts including Discovering Choices outpatient treatment services. Government grants support substance use treatment services regardless of ability to pay.
- Insurance Payments: Accepts many insurance plans including Medicaid, Medicare, Gold Card, VA Benefits. Insurance accepted to reduce out-of-pocket costs for clients.
- Special Event Fundraising: Major annual luncheon events (Petersen Family Speaker Series) serving as premier fundraising events. Over 41 years, has raised more than $24 million.
- Venue Rental: Campus venues available for rent including Hamill Foundation Conference Center (285 capacity), McCullough Lecture Hall (85 capacity), and meeting rooms (10-65 capacity). Revenue-generating ancillary services including A/V, beverages, and personnel.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free/reduced cost services for those without resources |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Council on Recovery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Council on Recovery delivers outpatient substance use treatment, family counseling, intervention services, and recovery support for individuals and families affected by addiction in Greater Houston. It also provides school-based prevention education, peer specialist training, and behavioral health workforce development, with services offered regardless of ability to pay through donations, government contracts, and insurance reimbursements.
Product overview
The Council on Recovery is Houston's oldest and largest non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of substance abuse prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services. The organization operates as a single unified non-profit entity offering multiple integrated programs including outpatient treatment services through the Center for Recovering Families, children and adolescent clinical services, family support, intervention services using the ARISE model, and telehealth. Its education and prevention arm includes in-school initiatives (Choices Program, LifeSkills Training, CBSG, Positive Action, IHCP), the Cradles Project for expectant parents, Recovery Support Peer Specialist Training, and the Behavioral Health Training Institute for students. The organization also provides recovery support through peer specialists, recovery activities including support groups and yoga, and distributes free Narcan. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay through state-funded programs and generous contributions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Outpatient Services
- Children & Adolescent Services
- Family Support Services
- Intervention Services (ARISE Model)
- Recovery Support Peer Specialist Training
- Behavioral Health Training Institute
- In-School Initiatives
- Choices Program
- Cradles Project (PADREs)
- Summer Adolescent Group Therapy
- Discovering Choices
- Center for Recovering Families
- Recovery Activities
- Telehealth Services
- Wayfinders Group
- Free Narcan Distribution
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves 40,000+ individuals annually through comprehensive programs and services
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Council on Recovery
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Council on Recovery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Council on Recovery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Harris County District Attorney's OfficecorePartnership to develop and deliver comprehensive training program on substance use, mental health, and diversion strategies for Harris County prosecutors. Aims to identify treatment-based alternatives and reduce incarceration.
- El Centro de CorazóncorePartnership to bring culturally competent substance use services to Hispanic communities in Houston. Joint press conference for National Recovery Month and Hispanic Heritage Month to highlight recovery resources.
- Hispanic Latino Behavioral Health Center of ExcellenceminorPartnership for behavioral health equity and wellness campaign for Hispanic and Latine populations.
- Canine AssistantsminorNon-profit organization that trained and provided community service dog Emmy. Graciously waived usual fees enabling Council to receive dog at no expense for use in therapy sessions.
- Family HoustonminorFormer employer of Chief Impact Officer Tracey Burnett-Greenup; nonprofit human services organization.
- The Harris CentercoreContracted to place 30 chemical dependency professionals at Harris Center facilities to help screen and stabilize clients with substance use and mental health disorders.
- Ben Taub HospitalminorProject MOM (Maternal Opioid Misuse) partnership providing coordinated clinical care to expectant and postpartum mothers with opioid use disorder.
- CIS of TexasminorCommunity partner organization collaborating on recovery initiatives and community services.
- Justice ForwardminorPartner organization focused on justice-related recovery initiatives.
- PartySoberminorRecovery-focused nonprofit partner organization.
- Santa Maria HostelminorPartner organization supporting recovery community.
- SRC (Sober Recreation Committee)minorOrganization co-hosting sober recreation events like Addicted to Comedy.
- Teens and Family ServicescoreLong-time ally; central office now housed at Council campus in strategic move to multiply impact. Maintains distinct identity while sharing space and coordinating services for families with youth impacted by substance use. Nearly century of combined experience.
- UTHealth Houston HCPCcoreHealthcare partner for consultation services through Center for Co-Occurring Disorders focusing on systemic change to ensure clients have access to substance use services.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Council on Recovery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center: Houston-based hospital-affiliated SUD treatment program offering prevention, outpatient and recovery services in the same metro as the Council on Recovery. Competes for the same referral sources from Ben Taub and Harris County.
- The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD: Harris County's local mental health authority that directly contracts 30 of the Council's chemical dependency counselors and refers SUD clients — a partner-counterpart relationship that mirrors regional peers' positioning.
Direct peers
- Cenikor Foundation: Texas-based nonprofit SUD treatment provider with residential, outpatient and recovery support programs. Both organizations are Houston-anchored 501(c)(3)s competing for state contracts, donor dollars and court-referred patients.
- Phoenix House: National nonprofit provider of residential and outpatient SUD treatment with prevention and recovery support services. Operates CARF-accredited programs in a similar mission-driven nonprofit structure as the Council.
Broad incumbents
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: National nonprofit SUD treatment organization combining residential, outpatient, recovery support and a publishing arm. Competes with the Council for donor mindshare and is the dominant CARF-accredited reference standard in the field.
- Caron Treatment Centers: Large nonprofit addiction treatment organization with a full clinical continuum and significant fundraising infrastructure. Mirrors the Council's whole-family and CARF-accredited positioning at a national scale.
- Gateway Foundation: One of the largest nonprofit SUD treatment providers in the U.S., offering residential, outpatient and recovery services. Comparable on mission-driven, accredited, multi-modality delivery.
- Rosecrance: Regional nonprofit behavioral health network offering prevention, outpatient, residential and recovery services across the Midwest. Comparable scope to the Council with a more geographically distributed footprint.
Emerging players
- SMART Recovery: National nonprofit mutual-support network offering secular, science-based recovery meetings. Its meetings overlap with the 15+ recovery groups the Council hosts on its Houston campus.
- Workit Health: Virtual-first outpatient SUD and mental health provider with telemedicine, medication-assisted treatment and digital recovery support. Represents the tech-enabled outpatient competitor reshaping the Council's traditional service model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Council on Recovery social profiles
Digital presenceThe Council on Recovery compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Council on Recovery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Council on Recovery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Council on Recovery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Council on Recovery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Council on Recovery
What does The Council on Recovery do?
The Council on Recovery delivers outpatient substance use treatment, family counseling, intervention services, and recovery support for individuals and families affected by addiction in Greater Houston. It also provides school-based prevention education, peer specialist training, and behavioral health workforce development, with services offered regardless of ability to pay through donations, government contracts, and insurance reimbursements.
Is The Council on Recovery a public or private company?
The Council on Recovery is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Council on Recovery founded?
The Council on Recovery was founded in 1946. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Council on Recovery based?
The Council on Recovery is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Council on Recovery make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are publicly Funded Programs, insurance Payments, special Event Fundraising and venue Rental.
Who are The Council on Recovery's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center and The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. Direct peers are Cenikor Foundation and Phoenix House. Broad incumbents are Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Caron Treatment Centers, Gateway Foundation and Rosecrance. Emerging players are SMART Recovery and Workit Health.
Does The Council on Recovery have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Council on Recovery.
What industry is The Council on Recovery in?
The Council on Recovery's product category is Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAN, Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services, with a secondary code of BPAGACAE, Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services. Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8300.