LGBTQ+ Intensive Peer Recovery Support Program Contract

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: LGBTQ+ Intensive Peer Recovery Support Program

Purpose and Program Overview

Sonder Recovery is a queer-focused, peer-led virtual Recovery Community Organization (RCO) transforming lives through an inclusive and joyful community that empowers members to define their own recovery. Founded by LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking a recovery space where they could be fully themselves, Sonder believes that all recovery paths are valid, community is essential, and recovery should be free from shame and judgment.

Sonder seeks an experienced independent contractor with a background in substance use recovery, counseling or therapy, and LGBTQIA+ affirming services to develop, implement, and evaluate a virtual Intensive Peer Recovery Support Program (IPRSP) for LGBTQIA+ individuals in early recovery.

Building on Sonder's commitment to peer support and community connection, the program will combine a 12-week peer-led curriculum, individualized recovery coaching, and peer facilitator training. The contractor will oversee program development, launch an initial cohort, evaluate outcomes, and refine the model for future implementation.

The IPRSP will provide culturally responsive, identity-affirming support that honors diverse recovery pathways and addresses barriers to care. The program will focus on peer recovery support rather than clinical treatment. Any clinical services would require a separately approved scope and appropriate credentials.

Scope of Work

Needs Assessment and Expert Consultation

The contractor will:

• Develop and conduct a mixed-method needs assessment using surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with LGBTQ+ individuals in early recovery, peer supporters, and relevant service providers.
• Identify participant priorities, accessibility needs, barriers to virtual participation, preferred meeting formats, and opportunities for sustained engagement, incorporating perspectives from diverse LGBTQ+ communities.
• Consult with subject matter experts in LGBTQ+ health, substance use recovery, peer support, and counseling, translating findings into actionable recommendations for program design and delivery.

Deliverables: Assessment plan and tools; findings report; expert consultation summary; program design recommendations.

Curriculum and Program Framework Development

The contractor will:

• Develop a complete 12-week virtual curriculum integrating evidence-informed approaches to peer-led support, coping strategies, identity-affirming recovery, community building, and sustained recovery support.
• Address topics such as recovery goals, social connection, stress and triggers, self-advocacy, boundaries, relationships, responses to setbacks, and connection to ongoing resources.
• Define program structure, including group size, meeting frequency and duration, individual coaching, staffing needs, peer roles, participant engagement, and progression milestones.
• Establish group agreements, facilitator boundaries, referral procedures, and processes for responding to participant distress or needs beyond the program's scope.
• Develop accessible facilitator guides, participant handbooks, session plans, exercises, and supporting resources that reflect LGBTQ+ lived experiences and respect multiple recovery pathways.

Deliverables: Program framework; 12-session curriculum and supporting materials; facilitator guide; participant handbook; resource directory; operating procedures.

Intake, Enrollment, and Onboarding

The contractor will:

• Recommend participant eligibility criteria, including an operational definition of "early recovery," for approval by Sonder Recovery.
• Develop standardized intake, informed participation, confidentiality acknowledgment, goal-setting, attendance, and progress-tracking forms.
• Establish enrollment and onboarding processes covering inquiries, eligibility review, orientation, enrollment confirmation, waitlists, referrals, and follow-up.
• Identify approaches to reduce technology, scheduling, disability-related, language, and other participation barriers, and recommend secure processes for managing participant information.

Deliverables: Intake and enrollment toolkit; onboarding workflow and materials; participant communication templates; data-handling procedures.

Communications, Outreach, and Partnerships

The contractor will work in partnership with Sonder Recovery's Interim Executive Director to support program-specific outreach, community partnerships, and participant recruitment. The Interim Executive Director will lead Sonder Recovery's broader communications strategy, messaging, and organizational outreach efforts.

The contractor will:

• Collaborate with the Interim Executive Director to identify priority audiences, outreach goals, and recruitment strategies for the IPRSP.
• Provide program-specific information and content to support social media, email communications, community forums, and other outreach materials.
• Engage Sonder Recovery's existing Recovery Community Organization networks, including MARCO/ARCO, and related recovery and LGBTQ+ service organizations to develop referral partnerships and clear pathways for prospective participants.
• Coordinate program-specific recruitment activities and monitor inquiries, referral sources, and enrollment results to inform ongoing outreach efforts.

Deliverables: Collaborative outreach and recruitment plan; program-specific content and referral materials; partnership and recruitment updates.

Peer Recruitment, Training, and Support

The contractor will:

• Develop an internal training model, including recruitment criteria, role descriptions, selection processes, and readiness assessments, to prepare LGBTQ+ community members to facilitate the IPRSP and provide recovery coaching within defined peer roles.
• Deliver training on the curriculum, virtual facilitation, LGBTQ+ affirming practices, ethics, confidentiality, boundaries, documentation, referral, and response procedures.
• Identify relevant peer recovery specialist certification pathways, including applicable education, supervision, and experience requirements, while distinguishing internal facilitator training from external certification.
• Establish ongoing consultation, facilitator support, and quality review processes for the pilot.

Deliverables: Peer staffing and training plan; training curriculum and materials; completed initial training; facilitator readiness assessment; certification pathway guidance; ongoing support plan.

Pilot Launch and Program Delivery

The contractor will:

• Coordinate orientation and enrollment of an initial cohort of [insert participant target] using established intake and recruitment processes.
• Coordinate and support delivery of the full 12-week program by trained peer facilitators, identifying which sessions and coaching activities the contractor will personally deliver and which require additional staffing.
• Establish individualized recovery coaching that complements group participation and supports participant-defined goals.
• Monitor attendance, engagement, accessibility, facilitator needs, and implementation challenges, maintaining regular communication with Sonder Recovery regarding progress and issues requiring organizational decisions.

Deliverables: Launch readiness checklist; enrolled pilot cohort; delivery of the 12-week pilot; individual coaching records appropriate to the service; implementation reports.

Evaluation, Revision, and Sustainability

The contractor will:

• Develop an evaluation plan using participant and facilitator feedback, surveys, focus groups, and program data to assess engagement, retention, belonging, recovery confidence, satisfaction, and progress toward participant-defined goals.
• Collect and analyze feedback during and after the pilot to identify curriculum gaps, delivery challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Revise program materials and operating procedures based on findings and prepare recommendations for future cohorts, including staffing, training, partnerships, estimated costs, and ongoing quality improvement.

Deliverables: Evaluation tools and findings report; revised program materials; final implementation and sustainability recommendations.

Proposed Schedule

Sonder Recovery anticipates an approximately seven-month engagement. Applicants may recommend an alternative schedule with justification.

Contractor Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated professional experience in substance use recovery services and counseling, therapy, or behavioral health program development, with relevant education or credentials.
• Experience providing LGBTQ+ affirming services and working with diverse LGBTQ+ communities.
• Experience developing structured curricula, facilitator guides, and participant materials.
• Knowledge of peer recovery support roles, ethical boundaries, and coordination with clinical services.
• Experience facilitating groups, training facilitators, and delivering virtual programming.
• Strong project management, communication, community engagement, and evaluation skills, with the ability to complete the engagement within the proposed schedule and budget.

Preferred

• A master's degree in a relevant field and an active clinical license or recognized substance use counseling credential.
• Experience launching intensive or multi-week recovery support programs.
• Familiarity with peer recovery specialist certification pathways and Recovery Community Organization networks.
• Experience developing referral partnerships, supporting participant recruitment, and incorporatingcompensated community input into program design.

Sonder Recovery welcomes applicants with lived experience of recovery and strong connections to LGBTQ+ communities. Personal disclosure is voluntary and is not required.

Working Relationship and Organizational Support

The contractor will report to Sonder Recovery's Interim Executive Director, who will provide organizational oversight, coordinate communications and outreach, review deliverables, and facilitate access to organizational resources and partnerships.

The contractor will participate in regular project meetings and work with Sonder Recovery to clarify staffing, participant support, technology, and supervision needs. Applicants should identify any additional personnel or resources required to complete the project.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include:

1. Letter of Interest and Qualifications: Interest in the engagement, understanding of Sonder Recovery's objectives, résumé or CV, relevant credentials, and experience with LGBTQ+ recovery communities.
2. Proposed Approach: Methods for needs assessment, program development, community engagement, peer training, pilot delivery, and evaluation.
3. Work Plan: Timeline, milestones, deliverables, estimated hours, and availability.
4. Staffing and Budget: Total proposed fee, hourly rate or milestone pricing, itemized expenses, proposed collaborators, and support expected from Sonder Recovery.
5. Work Samples and References: Up to three relevant examples, with confidential information removed, and two or three professional references familiar with comparable work.
6. Disclosures: Potential conflicts of interest and any restrictions affecting availability or ownership of proposed materials.

Evaluation and Selection

Sonder Recovery will evaluate proposals using the following criteria:

Criterion

• Relevant substance use, counseling, and LGBTQ+ affirming experience -- 30%
• Quality of proposed program design and peer support -- 30%
• Feasibility of work plan, staffing, and timeline -- 25%
• Budget clarity and overall value -- 10%
• Work samples and references -- 5%

Finalists may be invited to an interview to discuss their approach, availability, and proposed scope. The selected contractor will enter into a formal agreement with Sonder Recovery outlining the final scope of work, deliverables, timeline, compensation, and other contract terms.

8. Submission Instructions

Submit proposals electronically to andrea@sonderrecovery.org by 5:00 p.m. CT on December 1, 2026, using the subject line: Proposal: Sonder Recovery IPRSP

Questions may be submitted to andrea@sonderrecovery.org by November 30, 2026.