Services — A.R.E Drop In Centers

Peer Support Services

At the heart of our program are Certified Peer Support Specialists—individuals who have walked the path of mental health or substance use recovery and are now trained to help others do the same. Peer Support is about connection, trust, and empowerment. It’s not just a service—it’s a relationship built on lived experience, shared goals, and hope.

🏠 Housing

Whether you’re experiencing homelessness, transitioning out of a facility, or just need help navigating affordable housing options, our peers will walk alongside you to find stable, safe housing that fits your needs.

💼 Employment

From resume help to job readiness coaching, our peers can assist you with finding meaningful employment. They’ll connect you with training programs, local job opportunities, and support you throughout the process—because they’ve been there too.

💳 Benefits Access Services

Navigating public assistance programs like Medicaid, food assistance (SNAP), Social Security, or disability benefits can be overwhelming. Our peers are trained to help you understand your options and walk you through every step of the application process.

🧭 Services & Supports Planning

We’ll help you build a personalized plan based on your goals—whether that includes therapy, recovery groups, education, or other community services. Our peers can coordinate care and help you stay connected to the supports that matter most.

🧠 A Listening Ear

Sometimes, you just need someone who gets it. Our peers are here to listen without judgment, offer encouragement, and remind you that you're not alone.

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Youth Peer Support

Certified Youth Peer Support Specialists are young adults with personal experience navigating mental health challenges and recovery during adolescence. They've been where you are—and now they’re trained to help others through similar struggles with empathy, understanding, and real-life perspective. We support youth ages 12 to 21 who are living with mental health diagnoses, providing a safe and relatable space to grow, learn, and thrive.

🤝 Build Strong, Trusting Relationships

Our peer specialists connect with youth on their level—without judgment—offering support that feels real, not clinical. It’s about creating a connection that empowers, rather than instructs.

🗣️ Learn Self-Advocacy

We help youth find their voice. Whether it’s speaking up during therapy, asking for help at school, or communicating needs at home, we teach the skills to stand up for themselves and make informed choices.

🧠 Explore Coping Tools and Recovery Paths

Each person’s journey is different. We help youth explore healthy coping mechanisms, develop emotional regulation strategies, and find hope through shared experiences and practical tools.

🚀 Build Life Skills for a Healthy Future

From goal setting to navigating services, our peer specialists work with youth to develop confidence and life skills that lead to greater independence and success in school, work, and personal growth.

🌱 Grow in a Safe, Supportive Environment

Sometimes, just knowing someone else gets it can make all the difference. We’re here to support youth in building resilience, making meaningful connections, and taking the next steps toward the future they want.

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Parent Support Partner

Raising a child with special needs can be both incredibly rewarding and uniquely challenging. That’s why our Parent Support Partners (CPSPs) are here to walk alongside you. These are parents who have firsthand experience raising children with special needs, so they truly understand the ups and downs you face every day. Our CPSPs have navigated the complexities of mental health, education, and social services systems — and they know how to help you do the same. They offer compassionate, practical guidance and emotional support based on their own lived experience.

🤝 Connect with Someone Who Truly Understands

CPSPs bring empathy and real-life insights because they’ve been in your shoes. They know what it’s like to balance appointments, advocate for services, and manage the emotional rollercoaster of parenting a child with special needs.

🗺️ Navigate Complex Systems with Confidence

Whether it’s understanding IEPs, accessing therapy, or coordinating care, CPSPs help break down confusing processes and advocate alongside you, so you never have to feel alone in the journey.

🛠️ Build Practical Skills and Strategies

From managing crises to accessing community resources, CPSPs share tools that work, helping you build confidence and resilience as a parent.

💬 Find Emotional Support and Encouragement

Parenting a child with special needs can be isolating. Our CPSPs provide a safe space to share your challenges and victories, helping you feel heard and supported every step of the way.

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Support / Recovery Groups

Joining a peer support or recovery group can be a powerful step toward healing, connection, and personal growth. These groups offer a safe, welcoming space to meet others who understand your journey, share experiences, and build new skills together. Our diverse selection of groups is designed to meet you where you are and help you take meaningful steps forward:

🌿 WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning)

Learn how to create your own personalized wellness plan that helps you identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and build a foundation for long-term recovery.

🧭 Traveler’s Guide

Explore practical tools and strategies for navigating life’s challenges and transitions, while connecting with others on similar paths.

💪 WHAM (Whole Health Action Management)

Focus on managing your whole health—mental, physical, and emotional—with goal setting and peer support that encourages healthy habits and resilience.

🌈 Pathways to Recovery

Discover hope and inspiration through shared stories and peer-led discussions that highlight different recovery journeys and strategies.

🌱 Roots of Wellness

Dive deep into building stable foundations for wellness by exploring mindfulness, self-care, and strengthening emotional health.

🔄 Dimensions

Experience a dynamic peer group that offers varied approaches to recovery, personal growth, and community connection.

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Supporting One Another

Peer Support Services

Youth Peer Support

Parent Support Partner

Support / Recovery Groups

Support is only a call away