We are proud to be at the forefront of a growing international movement—developing the first tri-county Inclusive Recovery Communities (IRC) model in the United States, right here in the Tampa Bay region!

With Pasco County and Hillsborough County officially proclaimed as Inclusive Recovery Communities, and Pinellas County in active discussions to follow, we are building a bold, regional commitment to inclusion, visibility, and support for long-term recovery.

What Is an Inclusive Recovery Community?

An Inclusive Recovery Community (IRC) is a city, county, or neighborhood that creates safe, welcoming spaces where people in recovery are supported, celebrated, and fully included in community life. These communities are built on principles of dignity, equity, and hope—and they prioritize:

  • Leadership from people with lived experience
  • Public events that make recovery visible and foster connection
  • Cross-sector partnerships across health, justice, education, employers, and local organizations
  • Intentional efforts to reduce stigma and promote recovery-friendly language and policies
  • Ongoing evaluation and accountability using tools like CHIME (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment)

At its core, an IRC says: Recovery is real. Recovery should be visible. And recovery belongs everywhere—in our parks, our policies, our workplaces, and our hearts.

Pasco and Hillsborough Counties Lead the Way

With their recent proclamations, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties have each committed to:

✅ Forming local IRC councils led by people with lived experience
✅ Hosting at least four inclusive, recovery-focused community events annually
✅ Embedding lived experience into planning and policy decisions
✅ Using non-stigmatizing, supportive messaging around substance use and recovery
✅ Collaborating with the Tampa Bay IRC network to share progress and scale impact

We commend the incredible leadership and community partners who helped make these milestones possible—and who continue to work toward a future where no one walks the path of recovery alone.

Pinellas County: Up Next

The momentum is real. We’re excited to share that conversations are actively underway in Pinellas County, and we are hopeful that they will soon join this transformative regional movement.

With all three counties aligned, Tampa Bay would become the first tri-county IRC region in the U.S., setting a powerful example for communities nationwide.

This Movement Is Powered by Partnership

The success of the Inclusive Recovery Communities initiative would not be possible without the commitment, leadership, and passion of our regional partners. Together, we are building a Tampa Bay where recovery is visible, valued, and fully supported.

We proudly recognize the following organizations for their vital role in advancing this effort:

  • Live Tampa Bay

  • The Phoenix

  • Hillsborough Recovery Coalition

  • Stigma Action Research Lab (STAR) at USF

  • The Hope Shot

  • Victory High School

  • Alliance for Healthy Communities

  • Recovery Epicenter Foundation

  • BayCare

  • Pink Cloud Innovations

  • Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR)

  • Center for Addiction Recovery Research

These partners are helping to shape policies, host inclusive events, amplify lived experience, and drive sustainable systems change throughout our communities. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing collaboration and leadership.

Celebrating Together

Below are a few snapshots from the recent proclamation events in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties.

We invite everyone—residents, organizations, recovery champions, and civic leaders—to get involved, attend upcoming events, and help us build a more inclusive, resilient, and recovery-ready Tampa Bay.

Because recovery isn’t just possible—it’s something we celebrate together.