Module 2 - Unit 4: Voluntary & Relationship-Focused
Core Principle: Voluntary
“Peer workers are partners or consultants to those they serve. They do not dictate the types of services provided or the elements of recovery plans that will guide their work with peers. Participation in peer recovery support services is always contingent on peer choice” (SAMHSA, 2018).
Core Principle: Relationship Focused
“The relationship between the peer worker and the peer is the foundation on which peer recovery support services and support are provided. The relationship between the peer worker and peer is respectful, trusting, empathetic, collaborative, and mutual” (SAMHSA, 2018).
Building Community Within the Home
Why?
- Residents who feel they are in a supportive social environment prolong their length of stay (LOS)
- LOS is positively correlated with recovery outcomes
How?
- Group activities, such as sharing of meals and sobriety meetings, can foster compassion and empathy towards one another
- Characteristics of a social environment tend to be more helpful when they are related to the residents recovery, such as development of practical skills like finding employment and accessing healthcare
- Empowerment of residents in decision-making process tends to boost residents positive perception of the home
Community Member Expectations
Ideas to Support Your Residents
- Resident and House Manager perceptions of home’s social environment usually differ
- Recovery Home Environment Scale (RHES) aims to capture resident perceptions of the social environment
- Post expectations of residents for easy access and adherence
- Allow flexibility for what types of recovery meetings residents attend. (Polcin et al, 2021)
Recovery Home Environment
The Recovery Home Environment Scale (RHES) assesses home environments and how this translates to successful outcomes for residents. Take a look at some questions used in the assessment.
- To what extent do residents socialize together?
- To what extent do residents support each other to address practical problems, such as where to find needed services, how to find employment, and transportation?
- To what extent do residents go to 12‐step meeting together?
- How effective are house meetings in terms of resolving problems and conflicts?
- To what extent are residents involved in decisions that affect the house?
As you think about your own home, what stands out? What is going well?
What would you like to improve?
Honoring Recovery Journeys
Healing and recovery looks different for each person. While many benefit from 12-Step programs like AA, it may not be the right fit for everyone.
Other approaches include harm reduction, SMART Recovery, and MOUD, and other forms of treatment and support.
Discuss: Do you provide alternatives to AA in your recovery home? If not, what do you do if a client is not comfortable with this approach?
As a reminder from our Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) module, some clients may use MOUD as part of their recovery.
“Like a good neighbor…”
In order to become certified by AzRHA, recovery residences must have a Good Neighbor Policy & Procedure in place. A good neighbor policy can:
- Communicate to those around you about the impact of recovery housing. Due to previous negative experiences, lack of education, or belief in stereotypes about recovery residences, neighbors can sometimes assume the worst.
- Let neighbors know more about the home. Consider having events and communication with the house, such as the contact information for the house manager / home operator.
- Consider additional general courtesy like being mindful of parking, noise level, avoiding gathering outside near neighbors’ properties, smoking, etc.
- Building relationships through open communication, service (e.g., neighborhood clean ups together), or other activities can help instill trust between neighbors and the recovery residence.
Key Takeaways
- Building community in the home is important to increase client’s length of stay, a positive indicator of recovery success
- Building Community outside of the home helps break down bias and gives community members information that helps ease their worries about a recovery residence
- There are multiple pathways to recovery, including 12-step, Harm Reduction, and SMART Recovery.
