ARCO and Recovery Community Organizations

• Recovery Organization
• ARCO

Alliance for Recovery Centered Organizations

ARCO develops and supports Recovery Community Organizations that provide peer services complementing clinical treatment centers.

At a Glance

Type

Recovery Organization

Acronym

ARCO

Headquarters

Washington, DC

Official Website

Visit site ↗

Founded

2011

Last Verified

Mar 15, 2026

Reading Time

6 min

Why This Matters

• Supports the development of Recovery Community Organizations nationwide
• Establishes standards for peer recovery support services
• Trains RCO leaders on governance, sustainability, and service delivery
• Advocates for peer support reimbursement policies
• Creates post-discharge support infrastructure that improves treatment outcomes

Overview

The Alliance for Recovery Centered Organizations (ARCO) is the national organization that supports the development, strengthening, and sustainability of Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) across the United States. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Washington, DC, ARCO operates as a program of Faces & Voices of Recovery and serves as the backbone organization for a growing network of community-based recovery support providers.

RCOs are nonprofit organizations led by people in recovery that provide peer-based recovery support services outside of clinical treatment settings. They offer services such as recovery coaching, peer mentoring, support groups, recovery housing navigation, employment assistance, and community education. RCOs fill a critical gap in the recovery support continuum by providing ongoing, community-based support that extends far beyond the typical treatment episode.

For treatment center operators, ARCO and the RCO network represent an important element of the post-discharge support infrastructure. Clients who transition from clinical treatment into a recovery community with active peer support are more likely to maintain their recovery. Understanding the RCO landscape in your service area and building referral partnerships with quality RCOs strengthens your discharge planning and improves outcomes for your clients.

Why ARCO Matters for Behavioral Health Providers

The gap between clinical treatment completion and sustained long-term recovery is where many individuals struggle. Treatment episodes are time-limited, but recovery is ongoing. RCOs bridge this gap by providing the kind of ongoing, community-based support that clinical treatment centers are not designed to deliver over the long term. When your clients leave treatment and connect with an active RCO, they gain access to peer support, recovery community connections, and practical resources that sustain the progress they made in your program.

For operators focused on outcomes, the RCO network is a force multiplier. Your clinical team can provide excellent treatment during the episode of care, but post-discharge outcomes depend heavily on what happens after the client leaves your facility. Clients who return to communities with active RCOs have access to recovery coaching, peer support groups, social activities in recovery, and assistance navigating challenges like housing and employment — all of which reduce relapse risk.

ARCO’s advocacy for peer support service reimbursement is also financially relevant. As more states establish Medicaid reimbursement for peer recovery support services, treatment centers that integrate peer specialists into their service models or partner with RCOs can access additional revenue streams. ARCO’s work to expand reimbursement creates financial sustainability for the peer support infrastructure that benefits your clients.

The peer recovery support workforce that RCOs develop also represents a potential staffing resource for treatment centers. Many peer recovery support specialists gain experience and training through RCOs before transitioning into clinical treatment settings. Treatment centers that maintain relationships with local RCOs have access to a pipeline of trained peer specialists who bring lived experience and community connections to your clinical team.

Key Programs and Services

Technical Assistance. ARCO provides technical assistance to new and developing RCOs on organizational development, governance, financial management, program design, and service delivery. This support helps communities build sustainable recovery support infrastructure that treatment centers can partner with.

Training and Education. ARCO offers training programs for RCO leaders and peer recovery support specialists covering topics such as peer support ethics, recovery coaching skills, organizational management, advocacy, and community engagement. These programs build the capacity of the RCO network to deliver quality services.

Peer Learning Network. ARCO facilitates peer learning among RCOs through conferences, webinars, communities of practice, and resource sharing. This network helps RCOs learn from each other’s experiences and adopt best practices in peer support service delivery.

Standards Development. ARCO works to establish and promote quality standards for Recovery Community Organizations and the peer recovery support services they provide. These standards help ensure that RCOs operate with integrity, accountability, and effectiveness.

Policy Advocacy. ARCO advocates for policies that support RCO development and sustainability, including Medicaid reimbursement for peer recovery support services, funding for recovery support infrastructure, and recognition of peer support as a valued component of the recovery continuum.

How ARCO Affects Your Facility

Discharge Planning Partnerships. Identify and build relationships with RCOs in your service area and in the communities your clients return to after treatment. Incorporate RCO referrals into your discharge planning process, connecting clients with peer support, recovery coaching, and community resources before they leave your facility. Warm handoffs — introducing clients to RCO staff before discharge — are more effective than providing a phone number on a discharge plan.

Peer Specialist Integration. Consider how peer recovery support specialists can strengthen your clinical team. Peers bring lived experience, community credibility, and a unique perspective that complements clinical services. RCOs in your area may be a source of trained peer specialists for your facility, and ARCO’s training standards can guide your peer specialist hiring and supervision practices.

Outcome Improvement. Clients who engage with RCO services after treatment have additional recovery support that can improve your post-discharge outcomes. Track whether clients who connect with RCOs show different outcomes than those who do not. This data can inform your discharge planning practices and help you prioritize RCO partnerships that produce the best results.

Community Engagement. Partnering with local RCOs demonstrates your treatment center’s commitment to the broader recovery community, not just the treatment episode. RCO partnerships build community goodwill, strengthen referral networks, and position your facility as a collaborative member of the recovery support ecosystem.

Reimbursement Opportunities. Monitor your state’s policies on peer recovery support service reimbursement. If your state reimburses peer services, consider integrating peer specialists into your service model or establishing formal partnerships with RCOs that provide reimbursable peer services to your clients during and after treatment.

Resources and Contact Information

Official Website: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/programs/arco/ ↗

Mailing Address: ARCO, Washington, DC

Key Resources:

• RCO directory and state-by-state recovery community organization listings
• Technical assistance for new and developing RCOs
• Peer recovery support specialist training resources
• Policy advocacy updates on peer support reimbursement
• Annual conference and peer learning events
• Recovery community organization development toolkit

Frequently Asked Questions

This profile is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or professional advice. Information about this organization may change — always verify current details with official sources. is not affiliated with this organization unless otherwise stated.

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