About Us

Our Philosophy

Anchor Recovery is a supportive community of peers with lived experience dedicated to providing addiction recovery supports. At Anchor, we believe in multiple pathways of recovery. Anchor members encourage each other to find new ways of living through meaningful relationships, health and wellness activities, social events, and a sense of community. Anchor Recovery Community Centers are located in Providence and Warwick. Our community outreach teams strive to meet people where they are at.

We’re entirely run by people with lived experience with addiction recovery and our allies who have experience with the recovery journey.

History

Anchor’s original location in Downtown Pawtucket was opened by The Providence Center (TPC) in December of 2010. At that time, national statistics ranked Rhode Island as the state with the highest rate of substance use related problems in the country, and research pointed to a significant gap in treatment. Many Rhode Islanders went from receiving intensive residential or daily substance use support to the opposite extreme, a monthly clinical appointment with little community support. Under the leadership of TPC’s Director of Recovery Support Services, James Gillen, and Associate Vice President of Addiction and Recovery Services, Holly Fitting, Anchor was able to fill that void, providing people with a network of peers and recovery-oriented programming.

In January of 2013, Anchor opened its second location in Warwick, and outreach programs Anchor ED (Emergency Department) and Anchor MORE (Mobile Outreach Recovery Efforts) began in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Since its inception, Anchor has become a national leader in the peer recovery movement, and the destination for thousands of Rhode Islanders looking for recovery support.

In December of 2018 Anchor moved to a temporary location inside the Jim Gillen Teen Center at 1280 North Main Street in Providence. In October 2020 Anchor Recovery Community Centers re-opened in our new home at 310 Reservoir Avenue Providence, RI.

Meet Our Leadership

Melissa Bernier - Manager of Anchor Community Center Warwick

Melissa started working at Anchor as a peer recovery specialist in 2017. She was promoted to the Manager of the Warwick location in 2018 and is also a trainer of the Recovery coach academy. She is pursuing her degree in substance use disorder and is also working towards obtaining her LADC. Melissa feels very passionately about helping others.