CLEVELAND, Ohio — MetroHealth System has taken over the mental health services previously offered by the behavioral health nonprofit Recovery Resources, which plans to end services in December and close by mid-2026.
Recovery Resources is collaborating with its funding partners, including the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County, to move its remaining programs to MetroHealth and other nonprofits.
The Recovery Resources programs that will be moved deal with housing, employment and community mental health initiatives, MetroHealth said in a recent press release.
The ADAMHS board funds mental health and addiction treatment and recovery services for Cuyahoga County residents.
“Amid growing financial pressures, transitioning services to MetroHealth and other community agencies proved to be the most sustainable path forward,” the hospital system said.
“This decision, made in close partnership with MetroHealth, reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to uninterrupted care and long-term support for the individuals and families they serve,” MetroHealth said.
The move allows Recovery Resources clients to receive in-person care at MetroHealth’s community-based clinics, instead of the largely virtual format offered by Recovery Resources.
Both organizations are working closely with clients to ensure a seamless transition, MetroHealth said. Recovery Resources clients can schedule an appointment with MetroHealth by calling 216–778-4428.
Recovery Resources, located in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood, offered a variety of education, training and prevention services for the community designed to reach people before the need for treatment. Programs included a holistic health and substance abuse prevention curriculum for young children, life skills training for students and a youth suicide prevention program.
“Over its 70-year history of serving our community, Recovery Resources’ providers, clinicians and program team members have provided exceptional care and services reflecting their commitment to our clients and community,” said Recovery Resources CEO Seona Goerndt. “This transition was thoughtfully considered, guided by the principle of ensuring expanded access and financially sustainable services in an economic environment that continues to present challenges to organizations like ours.”
The closure of Recovery Resources is an indication of the stiff economic pressure facing Northeast Ohio’s healthcare organizations as they prepare for federal Medicaid cuts, inflation and other increasing costs.
In July, MetroHealth cut more than 100 employees in an effort to stabilize its finances.
Cuyahoga County Council recently voted to invest $7 million from its opioid settlement fund to construct a new behavioral health crisis center on the old St. Vincent Charity Hospital campus. But approving the funding meant potentially draining money from MetroHealth’s 10-bed psychiatric emergency department in Cleveland Heights — a move that MetroHealth warned would force that unit to close.
MetroHealth first partnered with Recovery Resources in 2018 to stabilize the behavioral health nonprofit’s operations and expand access to mental health care in Cuyahoga County.
“Recovery Resources has long been a pillar of behavioral healthcare in our community, and its legacy will endure,” said Dr. Nabil Chehade, MetroHealth senior executive vice president, chief clinical transformation, innovation and strategy officer.
“The lives it has touched, the stigma it has helped break and the hope it has restored will continue to resonate,” Chehade said. “As our community’s needs evolve, this transition is the most responsible way to ensure people still receive the care and support they deserve.”