RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

Whole Person Recovery is an approach that recognizes that Recovery is about Restoring and Rebuilding. It is assumed that a person may have “structural damage” physically, emotionally, socially, etc. and will go through various stages of change on their way to wholeness.

Phases or Stages of Recovery

According to Al J. Mooney, MD, of Willingway Hospital, there are three phases which he also refers to as ‘zones’ and describes in detail in his book, The Recovery Book, 2nd Edition.

PHASES OF RECOVERY

Carriage return pointing to the right

Red Zone: Early – Day 1 to 36 months

Yellow Zone: Middle – 18 months to 6 years

Green Zone: Long Term – after 4 to 6 years

FROM: DR. JEAN LACOUR

There are many Pathways to Recovery! Since 2000, there has been a growing focus on the array of services and community systems that provide essential Recovery Support Services (RSS) to help people through the long process of returning to health.

This page will introduce you to major concepts within Recovery Support, including Recovery Oriented Systems of Care/ ROSC.

For two decades I have been privileged to serve on state, national and international initiatives to strengthen and enhance Recovery Support in dozens of nations. NET Institute has developed training to formalize the role of “Peers”, people with lived experience of personal recovery from addiction and/or mental illness, who provide a valuable array of Recovery Support Services in many settings.

RSS are NOT the same as treatment and only recently have they been recognized as a critical part of the continuum of addiction care. Many of these support services began long before the modern era because hundreds of thousands of people have had NO access to clinical treatment or professional addiction services.

Recovery housing, therapeutic recovery communities,

recovery sponsors and mentors, recovery community networks like AA, NA, etc., faith-based recovery services, family services, and programs for prisoners and the homeless have served millions of people worldwide promoting abstinence, social belonging and relationships, practical life skills, personal growth, responsibility and service to others.

People can and do recover. Check out our helpful coursework in Recovery Dynamics. Continuing Education credit is included for various courses for Florida Certification Board, Board of Health licensed professionals, and others. NAADAC accepts a total of 30 hours of Online training for their National CPRSS credential.

NOTE: Recovery Support Specialist/RSS (Addiction) and Peer Specialists/PS (Mental Health) primarily work helping people in active addiction, mental illness or both who may need treatment, behavioral health services and/or recovery support services such as:  connection to community services, recovery housing, food stamps, transportation, medical services, support with legal and criminal justice issues, etc.

Recovery Capitol is another helpful concept in Whole Person Recovery. It is defined as: Resources available to the client to support initiating & maintaining Recovery from a life-changing disorder. Imagine trying to get your life together while living under a bridge and spending your days seeking safety, transportation to needed services such as free food, or day labor, plus looking for alcohol or drugs.

External Resources may include:

  • Financial Resources
  • Housing
  • Employment
  • Education Resources
  • Safe Environment
  • Car/ Transportation
  • Access to healthy diet
  • Access to medical care
  • Access to hobbies, social activities
  • Pets

Internal Resources may include:

The ability to make such serious changes is dependent on other non-tangible personal characteristics.

  • Spirituality
  • Being Present/ Mindful
  • Resilience
  • Self Esteem
  • Problem Solving / Teachable
  • Coping Skills / Crises
  • Assertiveness, Choices
  • Social Connections: family, church, recovery, ethnic, sports
  • Able to internalize information

Extended Recovery Support

Tens of thousands of people never receive clinical treatment for their addiction or substance use disorders. Of the 23+ million people in the U.S. who meet criteria for addiction, approximately 2.3 million people go to treatment. Some go multiple times since they need more time in a structured environment or a different level or type of treatment care.

Since the early 2000’s the idea of Extended Recovery Support to meet the overwhelming need of individuals and families has been championed by many people in government, in the clinical addiction field, and in communities of people in personal recovery.

Another name for this strategy is Recovery Management and it includes:

  • Targeted community-based Service Providers
  • A Focus on needs of the Whole Person
  • Individualized capacity to meet changing client needs
  • Strategies on building ‘Recovery Capitol’

Recovery Support Specialists & Recovery Workers

Thousands of people in Recovery have mobilized in the past decade through training programs and special certifications for redeployment in their communities to help meet the needs of people impacted by addiction.

Blue Badge

RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

This training program will prepare students for FCB’s state level credentialing process that includes 75 hours of content specific training, a minimum of a high school diploma or general equivalency degree as well as 1,000 hours of volunteer or work related experience.

READ MORE

Blue Badge

PEER SPECIALIST TRAINING

To meet the growing demand for Peer Specialists across the nation, we have created a full 40 hours of online training.  Now, for the first time, you will have access to affordable, practical, self- paced courses covering all of the major content areas you need to prepare for this rewarding new profession.

READ MORE

Most Recovery Workers:

1
Are individuals
in recovery from any life altering event or disruption, including substance misuse and mental illness.
2
Have life experiences
that allow them to provide recovery support in such way that others can benefit from their experiences.
3
Provide assistance
employers, health care providers, government entities, and other agencies in the addiction and mental health fields.
4
Above all
Recovery Support Workers are People in Recovery who are Role Models for Hope, Courage, Perseverance, Patience and Service

Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC)

Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care or ROSC is a model and strategy developed in the early 2000’s to address the need of people in various stages of Recovery for Extended Recovery Support in order to rebuild their Recovery Capitol utilizing the support of specialized NON-clinical workers within their own communities.

SAMHSA or the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration in Washington DC defines a ROSC this way:   (SAMHSA / CAT)

  • A coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is person-centered and
  • builds on the strengths and resilience of individuals, families, and communities
  • to achieve abstinence and improved health, wellness, and quality of life
  • for those with or at risk of alcohol and drug problems.

Recovery-Oriented System of Care: “ROSC”

Support for the Whole Person

Flow chart diagram of recovery process

Check out our pages on Addiction Trends  and Recovery Trends and Treatment