About YPR
YPR's Story
YPR is a national nonprofit that provides peer recovery support services for youth and young adults in recovery—or who are seeking recovery—from substance use disorder. Our programs consist of community-based chapters; life-skills curriculum programs; and advocacy to reduce stigma and create more resources for recovery. By creating a national network of young people in recovery, YPR empowers young people to get involved in their communities and take charge of their futures.
YPR embraces all pathways to recovery including 12-step, faith-based, harm reduction, medication-assisted treatment, and others. YPR was formed in 2010 by young people in recovery (defined as under age 30) who wanted to help others. It was incorporated as a 501c3 effective 2013. YPR currently has 54 chapters in 19 states nationwide with new chapters launching throughout the year. Our first life-skill curriculum program, My Recovery Is EPIC, was launched in 2016. YPR now has three life-skills curriculum programs, including the Phoenix program for criminal justice-involved individuals and My Future Is EPIC for adolescents aged 14-18.
The organization is led by Executive Director Ann Herbst, YPR’s former VP of Institutional Advancement. YPR’s Board Chair is Alexa Eggleston, former senior program officer of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
YPR Mission and Vision
YPR envisions a world where all young people have the resources they need to thrive in recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. YPR’s mission is to provide the life skills and peer supports to help young people recover from substance use disorder and reach their full potential.
Community
YPR values community by creating welcoming spaces for people in– or seeking recovery– from substance use disorder, and their allies.
Caring
YPR values caring by meeting all people where they are in their recovery journeys, and by supporting all pathways of recovery.
RESPECT
YPR values respect by listening to others to understand and by operating with a spirit of intellectual curiosity.
Inclusion
YPR values inclusion by providing a dynamic state where individuals and groups feel safe, respected, engaged, motivated, and valued for who they are and for their contributions.
YPR EVENTS
YPR chapters host free community workshops on housing, education, employment, and recovery messaging (how to talk about recovery to break the stigma around addiction and substance use). YPR chapters also offer free, fun activities like all-recovery meetings, athletic events, community service projects, and other substance-free activities where young people in recovery can get together and find an alternative peer group that supports recovery.
YPR host weekly all-recovery meetings in person and online including special meetings for Spanish speakers and Rainbow Recovery, weekly all-recovery meetings for the LGBTQ+ community.
View our calendar for all events virtual, hybrid, and in-person nationwide.
Recovery Corner Podcast
Recovery Corner is YPR’s weekly podcast and offers engaging and thought-provoking conversations about a variety of recovery-related topics, particularly those affecting youth and young adults.
Meet the Board
YPR has an independent board of directors made up of young people in recovery; older individuals in recovery; and nationally recognized leaders in the field of addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and advocacy.
Meet Our Team
At Young People in Recovery (YPR), our organization is composed of a passionate and dedicated team of individuals who come from all walks of life and have a wide range of lived experiences. We firmly believe that the strength of our team lies in the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that each member brings to the table.
Our full-time, part-time, and volunteer team members are united by a common goal: to support and empower young people in their recovery journeys. We believe that having a diverse team allows us to better understand and address the complex and evolving needs of young people in recovery.
