What is a Recovery Community Center (RCC)? Community-and-peer-based solutions for addiction recovery...

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 delivered

Services are designed, tailored, and delivered by the local community

Volunteer 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

www.WilliamWhitePapers.com

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 2016 @ McConnell Center)

• Ethics, Training of Trainers

• Recovery Advocacy Trainings • “Our Stories Have Power” workshop• “What is an RCO?” workshop

The Birth of a Recovery Movement

https://vimeo.com/89777865

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 StreetPortsmouth, NH 03801

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: /www.facebook.com/OneVoiceNH