NIRCO’s Involvement in the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Initiative: Building Recovery and Reentry Support Systems

The Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO) is proud to be a vital part of the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) initiative, a groundbreaking program created under the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Through this initiative, a portion of cannabis tax revenue is reinvested into communities experiencing high rates of gun violence, unemployment, child poverty, and incarceration. The R3 program funds essential services in five priority areas:

• Civil legal aid

• Economic development

• Reentry services

• Violence prevention services

• Youth development

NIRCO’s Recovery Support for Justice-Involved Individuals (RSJII) program directly aligns with the R3 priority of reentry services, providing critical resources and support to justice-involved individuals, many of whom also face substance use and/or mental health challenges.

NIRCO’s Impact on the R3 Initiative

As part of the R3 initiative, NIRCO’s RSJII program serves individuals across Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion—communities that face significantly higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and inadequate access to healthcare and internet services compared to Lake County as a whole. These areas experience disproportionate challenges in accessing the resources necessary for successful reentry, making NIRCO’s work essential in bridging these gaps.

NIRCO’s program model blends peer recovery coaching, motivational interviewing, group support, and referrals for clinical services to support individuals navigating reentry and recovery. Clients are referred to the program through the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), Lake County jail staff, and other community-based organizations. Additionally, some individuals discover NIRCO through word of mouth and self-enroll, demonstrating the trust the organization has built in the community.

Key Outcomes and Community Impact

NIRCO’s primary goal is to reduce recidivism and increase recovery outcomes for justice-involved individuals, ultimately empowering them to lead more productive and fulfilling lives. To achieve this, the RSJII program focuses on:

• Achieving Recovery: 85% of participants work toward recovery from substance use and mental health disorders.

• Securing Stability: 85% of clients secure and maintain stable housing and employment.

• Promoting Confidence and Self-Efficacy: Participants feel supported, knowledgeable about available resources, and confident in their ability to reintegrate into society.

Through these outcomes, NIRCO not only transforms individual lives but also contributes to a stronger, healthier community. By reducing recidivism and fostering stability, NIRCO’s work directly addresses the socio-economic challenges facing the communities it serves.

Community-Centered Approach to Evaluation and Improvement

NIRCO participated in a process evaluation of select R3-funded grantees led by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s (ICJIA) Center for Violence Prevention and Intervention Research, in collaboration with Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), the University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute (GCI), and the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS).

This evaluation utilized a community-based participatory research approach (CBPR) to ensure that the voices and experiences of the communities served were integral to the evaluation process. The CBPR model fosters collaboration between evaluators, program staff, and community members, emphasizing power-sharing and relationship-building to tailor services that effectively meet community needs.

Key findings from the evaluation highlighted that:

• Programs like NIRCO tailor services to the specific needs of the communities they serve.

• Programs faced delays due to funding and COVID-19 challenges, which NIRCO successfully navigated to maintain service delivery.

• Programs varied in terms of data collection and evaluation capacity, underscoring the importance of ongoing capacity-building efforts.

• Assessment and planning efforts successfully brought together relevant stakeholders to strengthen service delivery.

Meeting High Community Needs with Compassion and Expertise

NIRCO’s RSJII program fills a vital niche in northeast Lake County, an area where services for justice-involved individuals, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders, have historically been fragmented. While Waukegan Township offers some multi-service programming, few organizations in the area provide the long-term, peer-led recovery support that NIRCO has developed through the R3 initiative.

With $450,000 in R3 funding over two years, NIRCO was able to significantly expand its team and resources to meet the growing needs of the community. These funds allowed NIRCO to:

• Hire a Program Manager, Project Coordinator, Peer Recovery Specialist, and Administrative Assistant to support its growing client base.

• Partially support the Executive Director, Dr. Mary Roberson, whose decades of experience in behavioral health and community advocacy have been instrumental in shaping NIRCO’s success.

• Engage an evaluation consultant from Northwestern University to manage data collection and monitor program outcomes.

Addressing Equity and Empowering Communities

At the core of NIRCO’s mission is a commitment to equity and inclusion. NIRCO ensures that all clients—regardless of race, gender, or background—have the opportunity to direct their own recovery paths. By offering free, accessible services to justice-involved individuals, NIRCO breaks down barriers that have historically excluded marginalized populations from receiving the support they need.

Additionally, NIRCO’s harm reduction approach recognizes that recovery is not linear and that clients may require ongoing support over time. This flexibility empowers individuals to engage with services as needed, fostering sustainable recovery outcomes.

A Model for Recovery and Reentry in Illinois

Through its participation in the R3 initiative, NIRCO has established itself as a trusted leader in recovery and reentry services in northeast Lake County. By integrating peer support, community collaboration, and evidence-based practices, NIRCO not only supports individual recovery journeys but also contributes to the broader goal of creating healthier, more resilient communities.

As NIRCO continues to expand its services and build on the successes of the R3 initiative, the organization remains dedicated to empowering justice-involved individuals to rebuild their lives and strengthening the fabric of the communities it serves.

Read the full report.