Recovery Organization of Support Specialists

What Recovery Organization of Support Specialists does

Recovery Organization of Support Specialists (R.O.S.S.) is a private non-profit organization founded in 2015 by Executive Director Cynthia Rice, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. R.O.S.S. provides free peer support services to individuals affected by substance use disorder, operating through six Recovery Community Centers across Alabama (Birmingham, Marshall County, Montgomery, Gadsden, Madison County, and Tuscaloosa), a 24/7 helpline and chat line, and county-level outreach specialists active in 35-37 counties. Its service delivery model relies entirely on Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS), individuals who are themselves in long-term recovery, to provide peer mentoring, crisis support, relapse prevention, and care navigation. The organization also runs specialized programs including the Special Women's Program with Certified Doula support for expectant mothers, Criminal Justice Services through drug courts and the Pardons & Paroles Project, the Hospital ER Peer RX program at St. Vincent's East, and the free online self-paced curriculum 'Level Up with EASE.'

Name

Recovery Organization of Support Specialists

Legal name

Recovery Organization of Support Specialists

Website

https://ross4u.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

R.O.S.S. is a 2015-founded Alabama non-profit that delivers free peer-led recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorder through six Recovery Community Centers, a 24/7 helpline, and county outreach across 35+ counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Substance Use Recovery Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

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 Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

Keywords

• Peer support services
• Substance use recovery
• Recovery community centers
• Addiction recovery support
• Mental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: R.O.S.S. operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations and grants. The Alabama Department of Mental Health is referenced as a sponsor for programs and events. Services are provided free of charge to individuals seeking recovery support.
2. Donation-Funded Services: All peer support services are provided free of charge to individuals in need. Revenue comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and government grants. No fee-for-service model exists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

R.O.S.S. provides free peer recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorder across Alabama. Its core offering centers on Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) with lived recovery experience delivering support through 6 physical Recovery Community Centers, a 24/7 telephone and chat helpline, community outreach in 35+ counties, and specialized programs including hospital ER intervention (Peer RX), criminal justice support, and services for expectant mothers.

Product overview

R.O.S.S. is a peer-driven recovery support organization offering a coordinated portfolio of services centered on Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) who use their lived experience with substance use disorder to support others. The core offering consists of six physical Recovery Community Centers across Alabama (Birmingham, Marshall County, Montgomery, Gadsden, Madison County, and Tuscaloosa) that serve as safe spaces for peer support, support groups, and social activities. This is supported by a 24/7 Helpline and chat service. The organization delivers specialized programs including the Special Women's Program (serving expectant mothers with Certified Doula support), Criminal Justice Services (partnering with drug courts and law enforcement), and the Hospital ER Peer Program (Peer RX) providing immediate intervention after overdoses. The Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP) and Outreach Program extend support across 35+ Alabama counties. Recent additions include Level Up with EASE, a free online self-paced program with incentives for individuals with substance use disorder, and the Recovery Cafe dining experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recovery Community Centers Six physical community centers in Birmingham, Marshall County, Montgomery, Gadsden, Madison County, and Tuscaloosa offering safe, supportive environments with support groups, social activities, job application assistance, and drop-in peer recovery services. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 400+ Certified Recovery Support Specialists at state conference
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alabama Department of Mental HealthcoreOthers · 1 January 2022State government agency providing funding and sponsorship for R.O.S.S. programs and events. Recognized R.O.S.S. in Recovery Month Proclamations for 2 consecutive years. Division of Peer Programs (Director Nick Snead) and Substance Use Treatment Programs (Director Denice Morris) collaborate with R.O.S.S. on various initiatives.
• Vital Alabama Project FREEDOMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021R.O.S.S. partners with Vital Alabama Project FREEDOM, which distributes Naloxone to Volunteer Fire Departments and provides Opioid Awareness training. Project FREEDOM operates in 37 counties. R.O.S.S. staff present free recovery supportive services including 24/7 Helpline and Outreach Program information to first responders and community members. The partnership includes training first responders on recognizing overdose and providing life-saving resources.
• St. Vincent's East HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR.O.S.S. Peer RX program operates in the hospital ER setting where Christa Lodico trained emergency room staff on peer support services. Peers connect with individuals who have overdosed at critical moments and provide ongoing support through recovery.
• Jefferson County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR.O.S.S. participates in Jobs Not Jail events organized by Sheriff Mark Pettway, providing free recovery support services to individuals in the justice system. Partnership supports reentry and reduces recidivism.
• UAB Early Head Start ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for family support services. UAB Early Head Start hosted socialization events at R.O.S.S. Birmingham Recovery Community Center, helping children and families in the community.
• City of Montgomery Office of Violence PreventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Stop The Violence Cookout events to bring the Montgomery community together and address violence. R.O.S.S. Montgomery Recovery Community Center hosted the first Stop The Violence Cookout in collaboration with this office.
• Alabama Drug Court ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR.O.S.S. provides peer support services to individuals in drug court programs across multiple counties. Staff members like Nan Burdette host events for Chambers County Drug Court, and R.O.S.S. participates in Jefferson County Drug Court events.
• Jefferson County Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Naloxone at R.O.S.S. Birmingham Open House event. Collaboration on overdose prevention and response initiatives.
• Miracle AcademyminorOthersR.O.S.S. has adopted Miracle Academy, a special needs school. Activities include donating laptops, updating classrooms with new equipment, and installing a playground. School provides quality education in a safe, Christian environment for diverse students including those with Special Needs.
• Montgomery Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR.O.S.S. Montgomery hosted Recovery Rally for National Recovery Month with the Montgomery Police Department and the City of Montgomery. Major Jennifer Reaves is noted as a champion for R.O.S.S. Montgomery.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Shatterproof: National nonprofit focused on addiction treatment access, payer reform, and reducing stigma. Comparable as a SUD-focused nonprofit but oriented around policy and system change rather than direct peer service delivery.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: One of the largest nonprofit addiction treatment providers in the U.S., combining residential treatment, outpatient services, and recovery advocacy. Comparable mission but operates at much greater scale with a clinical and educational focus rather than peer-led community centers.
• The Recovery Village: National network of inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment centers offering clinical and recovery support services. Comparable in addressing SUD populations but operates a fee-for-service, multi-state clinical model rather than R.O.S.S.'s free peer-support model.

Direct peers

• SMART Recovery: Nonprofit that provides mutual-support groups and online tools for individuals in recovery from addiction. Comparable in offering free peer-driven support services, with overlapping philosophy of self-empowered recovery.
• Oxford House: National network of democratically-run sober living homes providing peer-supported recovery housing across 1,900+ locations. Comparable peer-led, donation/fee-supported model serving individuals in long-term recovery from SUD.
• Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR): CCAR is a statewide recovery community organization that pioneered the Recovery Community Center model in Connecticut, providing peer-led support, advocacy, and 24/7 helpline services. It is one of the most established and structurally similar organizations to R.O.S.S.
• Young People in Recovery (YPR): National nonprofit building recovery support networks, advocacy, and chapter-based community organizing for individuals in recovery. Comparable in mission and grassroots chapter structure to R.O.S.S.'s county-based outreach model.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: National advocacy organization that supports the development of recovery community organizations (RCOs) across the U.S., including providing technical assistance, training, and convenings similar to R.O.S.S.'s Alabama Peer Conference activities.

Regional players

• Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA): Statewide recovery community organization providing peer support, advocacy, and recovery community centers in Georgia. Closest structural regional analog to R.O.S.S.'s Alabama operation, operating in a neighboring Southeastern state with similar SUD policy environment.

Others

• Alabama Department of Mental Health - Substance Use Disorder Services: State agency funding and coordinating SUD treatment and peer support programs across Alabama, including the Recovery Community Services Program grants. Functions as both a key funder and ecosystem convener for organizations like R.O.S.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rossbhm4us
• Facebookfacebook.com/rossbhm4us
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recovery-organization-of-support-specialists
• Instagraminstagram.com/rossbhm4us

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Recovery Organization of Support Specialists