Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Within 9 months of establishing a contract with DBHDS, 51% of the staff responsible for program delivery and development will be DBHDS trained Peer Recovery Specialists. Cost of this training shall be built into the requested budget. 2. Provide opportunities for members to perform different roles within the organization, including serving as paid or volunteer staff and as board members and officers. Provide opportunities for leadership development. 3. Provide opportunities for participants to learn and practice recovery skills; exercise choice and decision making responsibility in a safe and supportive environment. 4. Provide evidence-based or emerging best practice structured educational, peer-led, non-clinical self-help programs related to coping, problem-solving skills, recovery, wellness, health and avoidance of substance use disorders. 5. Provide educational programs covering topics related to consumer rights, self-advocacy, tenancy skills, and employment skills and transportation skills. 6. Provide art and creative expression sessions helpful in supporting people's recovery. 7. Provide safe, nonjudgmental, and informal environments that appeal to people in recovery from mental health challenges, substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. 8. Provide a community based location where people participate by choice and each individual is invited to “just be yourself”. 9. Be located in familiar neighborhoods and environs for the population served. I0. Have operational hours available to participants which will include times when other traditional or existing Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder services are closed (evenings, weekends, and holidays). 11. Participate in and accept technical support from VOCAL Peer Network support activities (cost of technical support and participation in Network activities to be included in grant budget request.