Substance Use Services Program
The Substance Use Services Program provides non-clinical support, prevention education, referral navigation, language access, and family assistance for refugees, immigrants, asylees, youth, and underserved Colorado residents impacted by substance use or recovery-related challenges.
Global Refugee Solutions does not provide clinical treatment, counseling, diagnosis, detox, substance use therapy, or medical care. Instead, GRS serves as a trusted community bridge, helping individuals and families understand available resources, connect with licensed providers, reduce stigma, and access support through qualified community partners.
For many refugee and immigrant families, substance use can be difficult to discuss because of cultural stigma, trauma, language barriers, fear, lack of transportation, and unfamiliarity with the healthcare system. GRS helps families take the first step by providing culturally responsive guidance, interpretation support, referral coordination, and follow-up case management.
SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES PROGRAM OFFERS:
1. Referral Navigation to Licensed Providers
- Connecting individuals and families to licensed substance use treatment providers, behavioral health clinics, recovery organizations, and community-based support services
- Helping community members understand where to go for screening, assessment, treatment recommendations, detox referrals, outpatient care, or recovery support
- Supporting appointment scheduling, document preparation, interpretation needs, transportation coordination, and follow-up steps
2. Family Education and Support
- Helping parents, spouses, caregivers, and youth understand substance use warning signs, available resources, recovery support, and when to seek professional help
- Providing culturally responsive education to reduce stigma and encourage families to ask for help earlier
- Supporting families affected by a loved one’s substance use through referrals to counseling, peer support, and family-centered community resources
3. Youth Prevention and Community Education
- Connecting individuals to peer recovery groups, sober community networks, support meetings, and long-term recovery resources
- Helping community members understand the difference between treatment, recovery support, peer support, and crisis services
- Encouraging continued connection to safe and supportive recovery resources after referrals are made
4. Recovery Resource Connections
- Providing education on healthy eating, food budgeting, and preparing nutritious meals with available ingredients
- Connecting food support with GRS health and wellness efforts, including chronic disease prevention and family health education
- Helping families understand nutrition labels, grocery planning, and local food resources
5.Language Access and Cultural Mediation
- Providing interpretation support and cultural mediation when families are navigating substance use resources
- Helping providers better understand cultural context, refugee experiences, family dynamics, stigma, trauma, and barriers to care
- Building trust between families and professional service providers so individuals are more likely to accept support
6. Coordination with Mental Health, Housing, and Basic Needs
- Identifying families at risk of ongoing food insecurity through GRS programs and community referrals
- Coordinating food assistance with housing, transportation, health, education, and benefits navigation
- Following up with families to help them move from emergency food support toward long-term food stability
7. Partner Development and Warm Handoffs
- Building relationships with licensed treatment providers, behavioral health clinics, hospitals, schools, recovery organizations, and community agencies
- Coordinating warm handoffs so community members are not left to navigate complex systems alone
- Maintaining a trusted referral network for families needing professional substance use or behavioral health support
This program helps reduce stigma, improve access to professional care, and connect individuals and families to the right support before substance use challenges become deeper crises. By focusing on prevention education, referral navigation, family support, and partner coordination, GRS helps community members move toward safety, recovery, and long-term stability.