top of page

National Standards

The Alliance follows the National Standards set forth by Faces and Voices of Recovery

Governance

  1. Non-profit Organization

The organization is a non-profit with a current 501c3 status. In some cases, a recovery community organization will have a fiscal agent where a fiduciary relationship exists between an RCO and another agency. In these instances, the role of the fiduciary agent is limited to managing assets and distributing funds to the recovery community organization, free from conflicting self-interests, for the purpose of supporting the recovery community organization’s mission. The recovery community organization is autonomous in their decision-making, program development, recovery services provided, and advocacy efforts through the leadership of an executive or advisory board.

2.Led and Governed by the Recovery Community

The organization is peer-led. More than 50% of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board self-identify as people in personal recovery from their own substance use disorders. Additional board members may include family members of persons impacted by substance use disorders and recovery, allies, and persons with co-occurring mental health disorders.

Programs and Activities

  1. Primary Focus is Recovery from Substance Use Disorders

  • The organization’s mission and vision include a primary focus on recovery from substance use disorders. Some organizations also provide ancillary activities such as prevention services, housing, other addictions, and/or mental health peer services. However, the primary function of an RCO is focused on recovery from substance use disorders and related programs

2. Grassroots

  • Community engagement is grassroots and reflective of the community served. The organization provided supportive recovery opportunities to the broader community for all community members to get involved in. This may include volunteering; participating in activities; and planning outreach, events, and programs. Examples of ways to engage local communities of recovery are visible on the website and evident in program delivery.

3. Participatory Processes

  • The organization has accountability to the recovery community through processes that promote involvement, engagement, and consultation of people in recovery, their families, friends, and recovery allies. These processes may include town hall meetings, listening sessions, surveys, committees, task forces, or volunteer opportunities. Participatory Processes (PP) are specific methods employed to achieve participation by all members of a group in priority and decision-making processes.

4. Peer Recovery Support Services

  • RCOs provide primarily non-clinical, peer recovery support services. Some examples of non-clinical services are recovery support groups, recovery coaching, telephone recovery support, skill-building groups, harm-reduction activities, and other events. In resource-scare communities, RCOs sometimes offer clinical services to better meet the needs of their communities.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  1. All Pathways Towards Recovery

  • The organization supports, allows for, and may provide opportunities for all pathways toward recovery and does not exclude anyone based on their chosen pathway. This includes support for harm reduction strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with substance use and improving health and wellness for people who use drugs and/or alcohol.

2. Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Policies, Practices, and Services

  • The organization is purposeful in their board and staff development activities, organizational practices, service offerings, and advocacy efforts to meet the diverse needs of underrepresented populations in he communities that they serve. All communities have groups of people who experience marginalization who are deserving of inclusion. RCOs develop and enact culturally informed plans to diminish inequity in the implementation of their outreach and services.

3. Recovery-Friendly Language

  • RCO websites, materials, and other online platforms use language that is supportive and promotes recovery across diverse geographical and cultural contexts. Organizations regularly conduct reviews on their language and online content. The resource, , will aid in such a review.

4. Code of Ethics and Grievance Policies

  • The organization has an employee and volunteer code of ethics in place, and easily accessible grievance procedure, to protect service recipients an stakeholders engaged with the organization. Physical locations may post these policies and procedure in a common area. Organizations without physical locations may post these on their website. The code of ethics reflects core recovery values and is craft specifically for the RCO and its service roles rather than arbitrarily applying a code of ethics for clinical services to the RCO context.

bottom of page