Our Mission
Rural Recovery’s mission is to engage, assist, refer, and empower people who are affected in any way by substance use; to improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.
Meet Our Team
Gary Pratt
Director
(413) 854-5828
gary@rural-recovery.org
Gary Pratt is a person in long-term recovery, founder of Smash The Stigma 413, recovery policy advocate, and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor II. Gary has been in recovery since 2008 and has served as Project Manager for Rural Recovery Resources since its inception in September 2020. Through his years of recovery, Gary has evolved in his personal and professional philosophy and fully embraces all pathways to recovery. In addition to the roles mentioned above, Gary is also a husband and father to two. Gary is a passionate fan of metal music, a New England sports fan, and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and golf.
Stephanie Holcomb
Recovery Coach
(413) 429-1366
stephanie@rural-recovery.org
Stephanie Holcomb is a recovery coach at Rural Recovery. She has attended the CCAR recovery coach academy. Through her lived experience in long term recovery she has become very passionate about sharing her knowledge to help others along their journey.
Contact us today!
If you are interested in learning more about Rural Recovery Resources or if you have any questions/concerns, please complete this form and a staff member will respond to you as quickly as possible.
Thank you!
How We Operate
Rural Recovery is a program that leads and supports a strong recovery community in South Berkshire County. Using peer-lead, person-centered guidance, the program supports people affected by substance use, their families, and those in recovery. Rural Recovery embraces multiple pathways to recovery, supporting people no matter which pathway they have chosen, or where they are on their journey. Rural Recovery operates the South County Recovery Center at 67 State Road in Great Barrington, MA. The Center fosters a no cost, non-judgmental atmosphere. The Center reduces harm, helps people identify goals, and connects them with resources available to aid in achieving them. Rural Recovery serves as a safety net for anyone affected by substance use.
Our Story
In 2015, a group of concerned community partners began meeting to discuss alarming increases in the number of residents whose lives were being impacted by substance use, and even more distressing, the rise in deaths related to opioid overdoses.
Together they formed the South County Opioid Working Group (SCOWG) to find ways they might support those in South County whose lives were being affected by addiction. The network of partners, which included health care providers, mental health workers, first responders and professionals from community-based organizations, knew those affected were facing many barriers in accessing treatment, including lack of local treatment options, poor public transportation, and prevalent stigma. In 2019, the SCOWG conducted a substance-use needs assessment through a collaborative effort funded through efforts by the Railroad Street Youth Project and Volunteers in Medicine. The assessment identified vital needs and gaps in support and treatment for South County residents that deeply impact the community. In 2020, a federal grant was awarded to the group through the Health Resources and Services Administration that is intended to improve substance-use treatment and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with opioid and substance use in rural communities. This funding will enable the group to address the gaps by expanding treatment, education, prevention, and recovery services for the South Berkshire County community.
As a part of this program, Rural Recovery Resources opened a peer-support Recovery Center in Great Barrington that serves as a safe-space and referral hub for the recovery community. Offering a variety of drop-in services, peer-based Recovery Coaching, groups and community education programs, the center is open to all members of the community, not just those currently using or living in recovery from substance use. Aside from expanding access to services, Rural Recovery Resources is run using a peer-participatory model, where the activities and governance within the center is guided by those who are utilizing and benefiting from its services.
In addition to the recovery center, the creation of the Southern Berkshire Opioid Consortium allowed the program to access a coordinated continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use and opioid use disorders. It promotes overdose prevention efforts using evidence-informed practices by linking individuals with medication-assisted recovery, substance use and mental health counseling, and harm reduction strategies. It also works to increase awareness and understanding about use disorders and eliminate stigma as a barrier both within the medical community and in the region as a whole by providing educational programs and hosting community events.