Governor Moore Launches Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers Program to Combat Substance Use in Rural Communities

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 25, 2025) — Governor Wes Moore today launched Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers, also known as RAMP—a $1.6 million grant program to help more Marylanders in rural communities access support to address substance use. Administered through partnership between the Maryland Department of Labor and the Maryland Department of Health, the funds will help expand and strengthen Maryland’s certified peer recovery specialist workforce—individuals with lived experience in recovery who are trained and certified to support people going through recovery.

“Every Marylander knows someone touched by substance use,” said Gov. Moore. “This latest chapter in our work to uplift Marylanders struggling with dependence targets new resources to rural parts of the state—the very communities that have too often gone overlooked and left behind. Each of us has a role to play in delivering healing and hope to those walking the road to recovery. And in this administration, we will continue to lead from the front.”

The program, made possible by Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund, will competitively award grants of up to $200,000 each to programs that support training, certification, and career advancement for certified peer recovery specialists, offered at no cost to program participants. Grants will support training for an estimated 250 professionals, enabling approximately 1,000 individuals to receive critical recovery support.

“Our strong rural communities in Maryland are steeped in resilience and built on a deep sense of care for one another,” said Lt. Governor Aruna K. Miller. “But in this ongoing battle with substance use, resilience alone is not enough. Rural residents deserve access to the same quality of care, resources and support as anyone else regardless of zip code. They deserve a hope-filled pathway to recovery in a State where no one is left behind.”

Eligible applicants include nonprofit and community-based organizations, faith-based institutions, local governments, workforce development boards, higher education institutions, registered apprenticeship sponsors, and economic development entities. Applicants must serve participants who live in counties defined as rural under Maryland law, including Allegany, Calvert, Carolin​​e, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.

Grantees will be required to partner with at least two recovery-focused or other community-based organizations for outreach and recruitment. They must also partner with at least three employers committed to providing paid internships and/or employment to participants working towards certified peer recovery specialist certification.

“Peer recovery specialists are a lifeline for individuals and families struggling with substance use,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “This investment will help ensure that rural Maryland communities have access to trained, certified peers who bring empathy, experience, and real-world insight to their work. Through RAMP, we’re both providing critical support for Marylanders pursuing recovery and building pathways to high-impact, gratifying careers in behavioral health.”

“Lived experience is one of the most powerful tools we have in supporting recovery, which is why peer recovery specialists are integrated at Maryland Department of Health facilities and hospitals throughout Maryland,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “Through programs like RAMP, we can ensure that people in rural Maryland have access to compassionate, skilled professionals who not only know the science of recovery but also embody its possibility.”

In addition to providing free training for new peer recovery specialists, RAMP will support current behavioral health professionals with opportunities for career growth and retention in the field. Funds may be used to provide:

• Occupational training and credentialing

• Supportive services (such as transportation, childcare, and employment placement) that enable workers to participate in these programs

• Career advancement strategies for mid-level behavioral health roles

• Paid internships or work experiences with employer partners

“The RAMP program will help meet one of our greatest needs in a time when Maryland—much like the rest of the country—is experiencing shortages in our behavioral health workforce,” said Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller. “Not only does this program provide meaningful employment opportunities for individuals in recovery, it will also help make recovery more accessible for individuals in rural communities across the state.”

The launch of the RAMP program reflects the Moore-Miller Administration’s continuing commitment to investing in rural healthcare across the State of Maryland. Most recently, Governor Moore joined leaders from Salisbury-based health system TidalHealth for a ribbon cutting of its new community-based health care clinic in Salisbury. The facility—supported by a $1 million grant through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development—will bring essential medical services to the Church Street neighborhood, a historically disinvested area in east Salisbury.

Proposals for the Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers program are due on November 21 and grants will begin on February 1, 2026. Prospective applicants are invited to participate in a pre-proposal conference on September 10 at 1 p.m. 

###

The Maryland Department of Labor strives to create an equitable and inclusive Maryland where all residents have the opportunities and resources to attain financial stability, reach their career potential, and contribute to their communities; where businesses have access to capital and the skilled workforce they need to succeed; where workplaces are safe and well-regulated; and where the economy is resilient and growing. For updates and information, follow MD Labor on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and visit our website.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dinah Winnick