What is a Recovery Community Center (RCC)? Community-and-peer-based solutions for addiction recovery Presented by Dean LeMire, Person in Long-Term Recovery

Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) Core Principles: You are in recovery if you say you are There are many pathways to recovery Focus on the recovery potential, not the pathology Err on the side of the recoveree Err on the side of being generous “Meet them where they’re at.”

What is an RCC? Sanctuary anchored in the heart of the community where the recovery community can organize, socialize, learn from each other and help others maintain and sustain their recovery Place where Peer-to-Peer Recovery Support Services are deliveredServices are designed, tailored, and delivered by the local communityVolunteer Management System – including people in long-term, sustained recovery People in recovery can come and feel safe, to be with others in recovery, and help the next person coming in the door Portal to other community-based services

What is an RCC not? Treatment agency – no clinical services are provided 12-Step club Place for people to hang out, watch TV, play cards/pool Soup kitchen

Whom does an RCC serve? Individuals in treatment Youth in recovery Persons in 12-step recovery Identified individuals within the Criminal Justice System Individuals enrolled in Drug Court People with co-occurring mental disorders People experiencing homelessness/SUD Veterans Families impacted by alcohol and drug abuse “Rite of Passage” ceremony, Strafford County Drug Court

The Recovery Community Center The Recover Project, Greenfield, MA.

A Model RCC:

What are Recovery Support Services? Basic array All-Recovery Meetings (ARM) Telephone Recovery Support Recovery Coaching Family Support Groups Recovery Training Series Resources Recovery Social/Advocacy Events

Why Recovery Support Services? ● More people achieving long-term recovery ● Reduced relapse rates ● Shortened duration of relapse if it occurs ● Better quality of life for people with substance use disorder ● Reduction in the use of more costly inpatient and outpatient treatment ● Better mental health functioning ● Reduced legal issues ● Decreased homelessness ● Improved physical health and reduced hospitalizations (Laudet, Morgen, White, 2006; Brennan & Moos, 1990; Nelson, 1992; Gonzalez, 2009; Boisvert, Martin, Grosek, Clarie, 2008; Flynn, Joe, Broome, Simpson, Brown, 2003; Gosnold YAOP Report 2014)

All Recovery Meetings (ARM) Open to all affected by SUD Not a program; group support only

Volunteers will call “recoverees” regularly for at least 12 weeks to offer support and help them maintain their recovery Volunteers – Great way to give back to recovery community, may support their own recovery Recoverees – Receive support in their recovery, feel connected + cared for (esp. if mobility is an issue) Telephone Recovery Support

Outcome data gathered by CCAR shows that telephone recovery support is highly effective, especially when it comes to relapse. In a recent sample of 483 individuals who received calls for 12 weeks, 58 self-reported they were no longer in recovery. Out of those 58, all of whom continued to receive telephone recovery support from CCAR, 42 later reported they were back in recovery (72%).

Recovery Coaching

What are Recovery Coaches? Recovery coaches are individuals, usually with lived experience of addiction and recovery, who help “recoverees” along the path of recovery— before, during, after, and instead of treatment. “A recovery coach is a non-clinical person who helps remove personal and environmental obstacles to recovery, links the newly recovering person to the recovery community, and serves as a personal guide and mentor in the management of personal and family recovery. Such supports generated through mobilizing peer based volunteer resources within the recovery community, or provided by the recovery coach where such natural support networks are lacking” (William White, 2002).

Accountability Encouragement Goal-setting Min. power differential No agenda No judgment

Payment for peer recovery services  Volunteer (no payment)  Medicaid  Private Insurance  Private service providers (i.e. hospitals, detoxes, rehabs)

Study in Cape Cod, MA compared 54 young opiate users enrolled in Recovery Coach program for 3-12 months with outcomes of a studied group from prior year, before recovery coaching was available. Tripled their days in recovery Reduced detox admissions by 40% Reduced relapse episodes from 210 days to 3 days (down 6900% ) Reduced hospitalizations from 16 to 3 (down 433% ) Eliminated legal issues from 26 to ZERO

Family Support Education Referral resources Peer-to-peer support Advocacy

Recovery Training Series Recovery Coach Academy (early McConnell Center) Ethics, Training of Trainers Recovery Advocacy Trainings “Our Stories Have Power” workshop “What is an RCO?” workshop

Community Recovery Capital encompasses community attitudes/policies/resources related to addiction and recovery that promote the resolution of alcohol and other drug problems. Community recovery capital includes:  active efforts to reduce addiction/recovery-related stigma  visible and diverse local recovery role models  a full continuum of addiction treatment resources  recovery mutual aid resources that are accessible and diverse  local recovery community support institutions (recovery centers / clubhouses, treatment alumni associations, recovery homes, recovery schools, recovery industries, recovery ministries/churches), and  Sources of sustained recovery support and early re-intervention (e.g., recovery checkups through treatment programs, employee assistance programs, professional assistance programs, drug courts, or recovery community organizations).

The Birth of a Recovery Movement

What’s next? Tuesday, Sept. 29 6:00pm-9:00pm Safe Harbor Recovery Center (Ports) Fundraiser/Screening of The Anonymous People 3S Artspace 319 Vaughn Street Portsmouth, NH January TBA Prevention, Treatment, Recovery Roundtable 2nd Floor Kitchen Goodwin Community Health Friday, Oct. 16 8:30am- 10:00am Recovery Coach Academy 5 Days 70 hours toward CRSW McConnell Center, Dover Watch for updates: /