ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - s4story -- Flagler Open Arms Recovery Services (Flagler OARS) and Discover & Recover St. Johns County hosted their Annual Peer Workshop on Thursday, June 25, bringing peers together for a full day of training, presentations and networking designed by people in recovery.

The workshop was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Muscovy Room on the first floor of 200 San Sebastian View in St. Augustine. The event offered continuing education unit credits, food and drinks, and peer-led workshops focused on recovery support, harm reduction and community connection.

Peer-based services provide structured emotional, informational and navigational support that can help bridge the gap between clinical treatment and long-term stability, including linkages to housing, employment and other essential services.

"Peer support is often the difference between someone finishing treatment and someone feeling like they have to face recovery alone," said Brock Birtolo, executive director of Flagler OARS. "That first year can be the most vulnerable, and it's also when consistent connection matters most. When people have peers walking alongside them, they're more likely to stay engaged, follow through on next steps, and reach out before a setback becomes a crisis. Our annual peer workshop is about strengthening that network and making sure our peer workforce has the tools, support, and community they need to keep showing up for others."

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Flagler OARS is located at 1 Enterprise Dr., Bunnell, FL 32110, and can be reached at https://flagleroars.org/ or 386-233-3444. Discover & Recover St. Johns County is open Monday through Friday from 9 am until 5 pm. They are located at 3105 N Ponce De Leon Blvd, C2, Saint Augustine, FL 32084. They can be reached online at https://discoverrecover.org/ or 386-569-7930.

About Flagler OARS

Flagler Open Arms Recovery Services (Flagler OARS) is Flagler County's Recovery Community Organization. Flagler OARS is a nonprofit, grassroots, peer-led organization focused on substance use disorder recovery support, public education, policy advocacy, and peer services for individuals and families. Flagler OARS believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery and embraces multiple pathways to wellness.

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About Discover & Recover:

Discover & Recover is dedicated to providing education, support, and peer services to individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder. Located in Saint Augustine, FL, the center is committed to teaching about the recovery community, offering life-saving Narcan training, and supporting those affected by substance use disorder in all walks of life. Discover and Recover is a project of Flagler OARS and funded through LSF.