Developing and implementing an effective program is difficult.

Assistance and expertise can further projects and reach program goals.

Peer Recovery Specialist/Recovery Coach Program:

Integrating Peer Recovery Specialists into your programs? We can help.

Peer Support is a form of strengths-based support for persons with addictions or in recovery from alcohol, other drugs, codependency, or other addictive behaviors. Peers work with persons with active addictions as well as persons already in recovery. Peers are helpful for making decisions about what to do with one's life and the part addiction or recovery plays in it. Peers help clients find ways to stop or reduce substance use, or reduce harm associated with addictive behaviors. Peers also can help a client find resources for harm reduction, detox, treatment, family support and education, local or online support groups; or help a client create a change plan to recover on their own.

Peer Recovery Specialists do not offer primary treatment for addiction, do not diagnose, and are not associated with any particular method or means of recovery. They support any positive change, helping persons coming home from treatment to avoid relapse, build community support for recovery, or work on life goals not related to addiction such as relationships, work, education etc. Recovery coaching is action oriented with an emphasis on improving present life and reaching goals for the future.

Law Enforcement Assisted Addiction Recovery & Referral Program: 

Law Enforcement Assisted Addiction and Recovery Referral programs would provide additional support necessary to assist many of those who need recovery support by encouraging those struggling with substance use or opioid use to seek recovery; helping to distribute life-saving drugs to prevent and treat overdoses; and connecting people suffering from heroin and opioid addiction with treatment programs and facilities.

(Adopted from NJ DMHAS)

Recovery Residence (sober house):

“Recovery residence” (RR) is a broad term describing a sober, safe, and healthy living environment that promotes recovery from alcohol and other drug use and associated problems. Many thousands exist in the United States that vary in size, organization, and target population. (The exact number of recovery residences is unknown since many RRs are not regulated by government or independent organizations.)  At a minimum, RRs offer peer-to-peer recovery support aimed at promoting abstinence-based, long-term recovery.  Recovery residences are sober living environments, meaning that residents are expected to abstain from alcohol and illegal drug use. Each credentialed recovery residence publishes policies on relapse sanctions and readmission criteria and other rules governing group living.  Recovery residences may require abstinence from particular types of medications according to individual policy.  

 The purpose of a recovery residence is to provide a safe and healthy living environment to initiate and sustain recovery—defined as abstinence from alcohol and other non-prescribed drug use and improvement in one’s physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing.  Individuals build resources while living in a recovery residence that will continue to support their recovery as they transition to living independently and productively in the community.

Recovery Community Center: 

Recovery Community Centers (RCC) are a resource for education, information, support and socialization for those in recovery and their family and friends. It is meant to authenticate that recovery from the disease of addiction is possible. Recovery Community Centers are the hubs for all of our services.   

The basis of services and programming available through Recovery Community Centers are Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS). These are non-clinical services focusing on removing barriers and providing invaluable resources to those who are seeking to achieve and maintain long- term recovery. Peer Driven and Peer Delivered Support Services are fueled by the energy of volunteers who seek to share their experience and knowledge with others. The support offered is not meant to replace treatment or 12 Step support.  PRSS acknowledge multiple pathways to Recovery. 

A Recovery Community Center promotes improving quality of life, preventing relapse and sustaining recovery. It is not a clubhouse. It is a place where life’s challenges are faced with solutions and guidance. It is a place where skills are shared and learned. It is a place where isolation becomes inclusion and strangers become friends.

(Adopted from PRO-ACT)

Peer Support Group:  

Support groups - also often referred to as self-help groups - are groups of people who gather to share common problems and experiences associated with a particular problem, condition, illness, or personal circumstance. In a support group, people are able to talk with other folks who are like themselves - people who truly understand what they're going through and can share the type of practical insights that can only come from firsthand experience.

Some of the common characteristics of support groups include:

  • They are made up of peers - people who are all directly affected by a particular issue, illness, or circumstance

  • They usually have a professional or volunteer discussion leader or facilitator

  • They tend to be fairly small in size, to better allow everyone a chance to talk

  • Attendance is voluntary (although sometimes people are required to attend support groups by employers or the court system, especially if criminal or destructive behavior has been involved)

(Adopted from The Self-Help Leaders Handbook)

Collegiate Recovery Program or Collegiate Recovery Community: 

A collegiate recovery program (CRP) is a College or University-provided, supportive environment within the campus culture that reinforces the decision to engage in a lifestyle of recovery from substance use. CRPs generally offer onsite sober housing, self-help meetings (e.g. 12-step), and counseling. CRPs’ strive to create a campus-based “recovery friendly’ space and a supportive social community to enhance educational opportunities while supporting students’ recovery and emotional growth.

The Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) is a program designed to support students in or seeking recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction. The CRC and its programs allow students to have an authentic college experience while maintaining their recovery.

(Adopted from ARHE)

Recovery High Schools: 

In short, recovery high schools are secondary schools designed specifically for students in recovery from substance use disorder or dependency. Although each school operates differently depending on available community resources and state standards, each recovery high school shares the following goals:

  1. To educate all available and eligible students who are in recovery from substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

  2. To meet state requirements for awarding a secondary school diploma

  3. To support students in working a strong program of recovery.     

Additionally, recovery schools provide support for families learning to how to live with, and provide support for, their teens entering into the recovery lifestyle.

(Adopted from ARS)

Hospital-Based Opioid Overdose Recovery Programs: 

The intent of the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) is to respond to individuals who have been reversed from opioid overdoses (by police, emergency responders, or friends/family) and are subsequently treated at hospital emergency departments as a result of the reversal.  OORP utilizes Recovery Coaches and Patient Navigators to engage the individuals reversed from an opioid overdose to provide non- clinical assistance, recovery supports and appropriate referrals for assessment and substance use disorder treatment.   The Recovery Coaches and Patient Navigators also maintain follow-up with these individuals after the initial contact.  Recovery services provided for these individuals are fundamentally strengths-based.  Additionally, Recovery Coaches and Patient Navigators deliver or assertively link individuals to appropriate and culturally-specific services and provide support and resources throughout the process.  At minimum, recovery specialists are accessible and on-call from Thursday evenings through Monday mornings.
(Adopted from NJ DMHAS)