HJAR Nov/Dec 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2025 37 The Connections app directly supports individuals impacted by SUD, offering 24/7 peer support, moderated discussion forums, crisis response, educational resources, virtual support meetings, daily check-ins, motivational content, and care management tools. The Companion app supports family members, friends, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals with SUD, featuring a moderated digital peer community and resources focused on education, guidance, and self-care. Arkansas offers two versions of the Connections app: one accessible to the general public and another customized for the state’s four Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs), which provide peer recovery support services in four counties. Peer specialists will provide real-time support to users and alert RCO staff when individuals show signs of needing additional help. “These tools help bridge the gap between appointments or treatments and offer crisis support so people can connect with someone even in the middle of the night,” said Cheyenne Delaney, program coordinator at OSAMH. The free apps will be promoted through state websites, printed materials, social media, and outreach events to ensure broad public awareness. For more information or to download the apps, visit the Peer Recovery page at: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/ divisions-shared-services/shared-services/ office-of-substance-abuse-and-mental- health/arkansas-peer-recovery/peer- recovery-apps/ n Amber El-Amin Medicaid Communications Specialist Arkansas Department of Human Services of these free and truly beneficial tools.” These evidence-based tools aim to address gaps in support for underserved populations, including people in rural communities, mothers and pregnant women, and other groups significantly affected by SUD. The launch will also enhance the reach and effectiveness of Arkansas’s Peer Support Specialists, a cornerstone of the state’s recovery response. “CHESS Health shares OSAMH’s dedication to helping individuals with SUD achieve and maintain recovery using the power of peer support,”said Hans Morefield, CEO of CHESS Health. “With the addition of the Companion app, Arkansas is taking a well-rounded approach, recognizing the vital role families play in improving treatment outcomes.” ARKANSAS is currently facing a significant substance use disorder (SUD) crisis, which is often hidden and untreated. The crisis has worsened due to stigmas surrounding addiction, leading many individuals to seek help privately, often without the support they need. The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (OSAMH), part of the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), oversees prevention, treatment, and recovery-focused programs and grants that help people with substance use disorders and mental health illnesses get the right care at the right time. The office also manages the State Hospital and the forensic evaluation system. OSAMH has partnered with CHESS Health to launch new digital support tools for individuals and families affected by the SUD crisis. This initiative expands statewide access to CHESS Health’s Connections and Companion apps. These digital support tools are funded through a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant and are available to anyone that may be affected by SUD. The apps are free for anyone to use regardless of whether they are a Medicaid recipient or not. “We are proud to partner with CHESS Health to provide these new resources that empower and support individuals struggling with addiction as they progress down the road to recovery,” said Paula Stone, director of OSAMH. “These apps have the potential to transform lives in communities all across the state, and I encourageArkansans affected by SUD and their loved ones to take advantage