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GrowthWorks tells appropriations subcommittee Rescue Recovery pilot connects hundreds to treatment but needs sustained funding
Summary
GrowthWorks told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that its Rescue Recovery peer-coach program made 873 contacts from Oct. 2024–Aug. 2025, with 90% accepting help; presenters urged sustained legislative funding and noted uncertainty about PIHP changes affecting sustainability.
GrowthWorks and partner local governments told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services that a hospital-linked peer recovery program has helped thousands of people and now needs sustainable funding to continue round-the-clock outreach.
Nick Griswold, CEO of GrowthWorks, described the Rescue Recovery model as a 24/7 dispatch of peer recovery coaches to hospitals and other referral sources. Griswold said teams respond in under 45 minutes, engage patients during what coaches call a 'moment of clarity' and often drive them directly to treatment: 'When we do that, we have a 90 percent likelihood that that person is going to, accept that offer for help and go to treatment.'
Jordan Selleck, executive director of the Conference of Western Wayne, said the pilot began in partnership with local governments and hospitals to reduce repeat overdose calls to first responders. Griswold told lawmakers the program logged 873 contacts from October 2024 to August 2025 and that GrowthWorks has 'contacted and helped over 6,000 people' since the program began reporting to the state in 2018.
Committee members pressed staff and presenters on staffing and finances. Griswold said GrowthWorks employs about 20 staff, with 'about 5 or 6' full-time office staff handling daytime operations, and estimated the program averages two to three calls per day. In response to Representative Kelly, Griswold said, 'Last year's legislative appropriation was $1,000,000.'
Griswold described the program's revenue mix as roughly 75% legislative appropriation and about 25% from behavioral health sources tied to the Detroit–Wayne integrated health network (DWIN). He warned that claims reimbursement can be difficult when clients are not registered in the system at the time of contact and that pending changes to PIHP structures statewide could create further uncertainty for small providers.
The subcommittee received copies of GrowthWorks' reporting and two years of annual reports filed with HHS; Griswold said the pilot imposed 'pretty extensive reporting requirements' to demonstrate outcomes and fiscal accountability.
The committee took no funding vote during the hearing. Committee business concluded later by unanimous consent to excuse absent members and adjourn.
