With an additional year of grant funding, Rams Together for Wellness & Recovery sets its sights on expanding its community impact

Kingston, R.I. – September 10, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island’s collegiate recovery program – Rams Together for Recovery & Wellness – celebrates its one-year anniversary this semester backed by an additional year of grant funding from Rhode Island’s Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH).

With a year of building, learning, and laying a foundation under its collective belt, Rams Together for Recovery & Wellness begins Year 2 poised to bring the program to new heights as it continues to work with students in or seeking recovery, or those supporting others in the recovery process.

“Every student who finds recovery, community, and belonging through this program is a reminder of why this work matters so much,” said Jennifer Hodshon, MPH, director of URI’s Health Services. “Together, we have built something special, and together, we will continue to change lives.”

“We have long-term goals,” said graduate research assistant Leetal Young. “This is something we want to build by connecting with the URI community and our local community to create partnerships.”

Rams Together for Recovery & Wellness officially launched at the start of the fall 2025 semester as a peer-based support program funded by the BHDDH via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Staffed by graduate students and licensed professionals from the URI’s Health Services and Counseling Center, the program is free to all students and provides a safe, inclusive community for those in, seeking recovery from, or reconsidering substance use.

Year 1 was a tremendous success; with a priority on relationship building, campus visibility, and reducing barriers for students seeking resources, the program engaged more than 3,500 students in 2025–26 while hosting over 60 programs and events on campus. Team members, including peer recovery specialists, clinical counselors, and graduate students, also hosted myriad outreach programs at campus events to expand its outreach and recruit student volunteers; more than 50 Mental Health First Aid- and NARCAN-trained volunteers joined the program during the academic year to help create its identity and build institutional partnerships.

The program expanded its network by presenting at the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) Rhode Island summit and its annual national conference in Denver in June.  As one of the first federally funded collegiate recovery centers in Rhode Island, Rams Together for Recovery & Wellness also set a precedent for others in the state to develop similar programs, including Rhode Island College and eventually Salve Regina University. Young said URI will continue to expand its efforts later this month by launching a recurring statewide virtual meeting for students led by recovery specialists that will connect all Rhode Island schools.

Year 2 will also feature the return of the program’s most popular events, among them “Move To Heal,” a half-hour, low-pressure workout followed by a one-hour support meeting; art gallery nights; and a weekly, one-hour, non-judgmental safe space for students to discuss substance use entitled “Want To Cut Back?” With the wellness lounge surging in popularity throughout the year, the program has decided to expand the space in 2026–27 to further meet the diverse needs of URI’s students; the additional space will include dedicated areas for academic success, confidential peer recovery support meetings, and small group programming. This will also allow the program to expand its recovery-oriented groups and wellness programming with more options, longer drop-in hours, additional off-campus adventures, and even more opportunities for student leadership.   

Those who support the program can also donate in 2026–27 through GiveCampus, URI’s new fundraising and donor management platform.

“In terms of sustainability, this is key for us,” Hodshon said. “The goal is to keep this program not just for students in recovery, but those who are contemplating, who want to change their habits, or those who have a loved one or friend in recovery.”

Another long-term goal for the program is to begin laying the foundation for future recovery-supportive housing on campus, which will require further exploration of funding opportunities, while becoming a statewide leader in collegiate recovery.

“Our first year helped us build a foundation,” said program director Arielle Sherman, LICSW. “As we enter our second year, we remain committed to expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring every student has a place to belong, grow, and thrive in recovery.”