Measure Up: A Guide to the NARR Standard and Code of Ethics

This is a NARR Standard 3.0 rule-by-rule guide for recovery residence administrators preparing for accreditation or reaccreditation. Based on NARR’s Standard 3.0 and Compendium, this resource offers recovery residences and NARR affiliates with a detailed review of each standard’s underlying rule(s), evaluation questions, the evidence used to confirm compliance and guidelines, as well as, links to related resources. Whereas the Compendium explains the philosophical and practice-based frameworks behind the Standard, this document provides a rule-by-rule analysis.

Standard and underlying rules

The NARR standard is evidenced by one or more objective rules. For each rule, this document provides:

  • Identifier – Alphanumeric identifier and a short description

  • Rule – The rule, as stated in NARR Standard

  • Levels – Levels for which the rule is applicable, as stated in the NARR Standard

  • Guidance – Help text including definitions, frequently asked questions or relevant scenarios used to help develop the rule’s evidence or inform the rule’s evaluation

  • Evaluation – Closed-ended question(s) used to evaluate whether a rule is met

  • Evidence – What evidence can be used to confirm the rule is met

  • Resources – Related resources, when available.

Short titles

For formatting purposes, the principles, standards and rules maybe represented by short (two or three word) titles. Refer to the full text for clarity.

Disclaimers

  1. This document is an educational resource, and should not be considered legal advice.

  2. NARR developed a minimum set of standards, but it does not prescribe how recovery residences meet the standards. This promotes diversity across recovery residences in order to match the diverse and changing needs of persons seeking and sustaining recovery from substance use issues.

  3. The origins of recovery residences can be traced back to the mid-1800s, and the standards reflect best practices collected from recovery residence providers from across the United States. NARR did not create any new recovery support service models.

  4. Accreditation or certification does not guarantee the kind of experience a resident will have at an accredited or certified residence. Accreditation or certification indicates that at the time of the review the recovery residence met best practice standards, had committed to maintaining those standards and was in good standing with the Affiliate organization.

  5. Accreditation or certification is voluntary, meaning recovery residences choose to meet best practice standards and welcome strength-based accountability.

Est. Time19 hr 58 min

Table of Contents

1. 1. ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL
2. 1.A. Operate with Integrity
3. 1.B. Uphold Residents’ Rights
4. 1.C. Culture of Empowerment
5. 1.D. Develop Staff Abilities
6. 2. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
7. 2.E. Home-like Environment
8. 2.F. Safe Healthy Environment
9. 3. RECOVERY SUPPORT
10. 3.G. Facilitate Recovery
11. 3.H. Model Prosocial Behaviors
12. 3.I. Sense of Community
13. 4. GOOD NEIGHBOR
14. 4.J. Be a Good Neighbor

Course Syllabus

Not Enrolled
1. 1. ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL
2. 1.A. Operate with Integrity
2.1. 1.A.1. Use mission and vision as guides for decision making
2.1.1. 1.A.1.a. Mission
2.1.2. 1.A.1.b. Vision
2.2. 1.A.2. Adhere to legal and ethical codes and use best business practices
2.2.1. 1.A.2.a. Business entity
2.2.2. 1.A.2.b. Insurance
2.2.3. 1.A.2.c. Property permission
2.2.4. 1.A.2.d. Legal compliance
2.2.5. 1.A.2.e. Ethical marketing
2.2.6. 1.A.2.f. Background checks
2.2.7. 1.A.2.g. Paying residents
2.2.8. 1.A.2.h. Financial boundaries
2.2.9. 1.A.2.i. Code of Ethics
2.3. 1.A.3. Financial accounting
2.3.1. 1.A.3.a. Fee transparency
2.3.2. 1.A.3.b. Accounting system
2.3.3. 1.A.3.c. Refund policies
2.3.4. 1.A.3.d. 3rd party payments
2.4. 1.A.4. Data collection
2.4.1. 1.A.4.a. Resident information
3. 1.B. Uphold Residents’ Rights
3.1. 1.B.5. Rights and Requirements
3.1.1. 1.B.5.a. Applicant orientation
3.2. 1.B.6. Resident information
3.2.1. 1.B.6.a. Secured records
3.2.2. 1.B.6.b. Confidentiality
3.2.3. 1.B.6.c. Social media policy
4. 1.C. Culture of Empowerment
4.1. 1.C.7. Peer governance
4.1.1. 1.C.7.a. Resident driven
4.1.2. 1.C.7.b. Grievance policy
4.1.3. 1.C.7.c. Community posts
4.1.4. 1.C.7.d. Length of stay
4.1.5. 1.C.7.e. Resident voice
4.2. 1.C.8. Resident involvement
4.2.1. 1.C.8.a. Reciprocal responsibility
4.2.2. 1.C.8.b. Leadership roles
4.2.3. 1.C.8.c. Recovery process
5. 1.D. Develop Staff Abilities
5.1. 1.D.9. Role modeling
5.1.1. 1.D.9.a. Self-care
5.1.2. 1.D.9.b. Boundaries
5.1.3. 1.D.9.c. Staff support
5.1.4. 1.D.9.d. Positive regard
5.2. 1.D.10. Staff qualifications
5.2.1. 1.D.10.a. Social model skills
5.2.2. 1.D.10.b. Credentials
5.2.3. 1.D.10.c. Staff development
5.3. 1.D.11. Culturally responsive
5.3.1. 1.D.11.a. Priority population
5.3.2. 1.D.11.b. Cultural training
5.4. 1.D.12. Job descriptions
5.4.1. 1.D.12.a. Roles and qualifications
5.4.2. 1.D.12.b. Resource linkage
5.4.3. 1.D.12.c. KSA
5.5. 1.D.13. Staff supervision
5.5.1. 1.D.13.a. Performance development
5.5.2. 1.D.13.b. Acknowledgements
5.5.3. 1.D.13.c. Work environment
6. 2. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
7. 2.E. Home-like Environment
7.1. 2.E.14. Individual needs
7.1.1. 2.E.14.a. Clean and maintained
7.1.2. 2.E.14.b. Home-like furnishings
7.1.3. 2.E.14.c. Entrances and exits
7.1.4. 2.E.14.d. 50+ sq. ft. per bed
7.1.5. 2.E.14.e. Sink-toilet-shower
7.1.6. 2.E.14.f. Personal storage
7.1.7. 2.E.14.g. Food Storage
7.1.8. 2.E.14.h. Laundry
7.1.9. 2.E.14.i. Appliances
7.2. 2.E.15. Community building
7.2.1. 2.E.15.a. Meeting space
7.2.2. 2.E.15.b. Group space
7.2.3. 2.E.15.c. Dining area
7.2.4. 2.E.15.d. Recreational area
8. 2.F. Safe Healthy Environment
8.1. 2.F.16. Sober living
8.1.1. 2.F.16.a. Prohibited substances
8.1.2. 2.F.16.b. Prohibited items
8.1.3. 2.F.16.c. Drug screening
8.1.4. 2.F.16.d. Medication storage
8.1.5. 2.F.16.e. Peer accountability
8.2. 2.F.17. Home safety
8.2.1. 2.F.17.a. Functional and hazard free
8.2.2. 2.F.17.b. Health & safety codes
8.2.3. 2.F.17.c. Inspections & drills
8.3. 2.F.18. Promote health
8.3.1. 2.F.18.a. Smoking
8.3.2. 2.F.18.b. Universal precautions
8.4. 2.F.19. Emergency plan
8.4.1. 2.F.19.a. Procedures & postings
8.4.2. 2.F.19.b. Emergency contacts
8.4.3. 2.F.19.c. Emergency orientation
8.4.4. 2.F.19.d. Overdose readiness
9. 3. RECOVERY SUPPORT
10. 3.G. Facilitate Recovery
10.1. 3.G.20. Promote purpose
10.1.1. 3.G.20.a. Meaningful activities
10.2. 3.G.21. Recovery planning
10.2.1. 3.G.21.a. Person-centered plan
10.2.2. 3.G.21.b. Recovery capital
10.2.3. 3.G.21.c. Peer roles
10.3. 3.G.22. Community supports
10.3.1. 3.G.22.a. Resource directory
10.3.2. 3.G.22.b. Resource linkage
10.4. 3.G.23. Mutual support
10.4.1. 3.G.23.a. Weekly schedule
10.4.2. 3.G.23.b. Mutual aid
10.5. 3.G.24. Recovery support services
10.5.1. 3.G.24.a. RSS
10.5.2. 3.G.24.b. RSS Staff
10.6. 3.G.25. Clinical services
10.6.1. 3.G.25.a. Clinical services
11. 3.H. Model Prosocial Behaviors
11.1. 3.H.26. Respectful environment
11.1.1. 3.H.26.a. Model recovery
11.1.2. 3.H.26.b. Trauma informed
11.1.3. 3.H.26.c. Resident input
12. 3.I. Sense of Community
12.1. 3.I.27. Family-like
12.1.1. 3.I.27.a. Food preparation
12.1.2. 3.I.27.b. Housing choice
12.1.3. 3.I.27.c. Chores
12.1.4. 3.I.27.d. Household expenses
12.1.5. 3.I.27.e. Household meetings
12.1.6. 3.I.27.f. Common areas
12.2. 3.I.28. Internal community
12.2.1. 3.I.28.a. Informal activities
12.2.2. 3.I.28.b. Formal activities
12.2.3. 3.I.28.c. Social activities
12.2.4. 3.I.28.d. Milestone rituals
12.3. 3.I.29. External community
12.3.1. 3.I.29.a. Recovery linkage
12.3.2. 3.I.29.b. Recovery mentor
12.3.3. 3.I.29.c. Mutual aid meetings
12.3.4. 3.I.29.d. Resource linkage
12.3.5. 3.I.29.e. Multi-membership
12.3.6. 3.I.29.f. Social bonds
13. 4. GOOD NEIGHBOR
14. 4.J. Be a Good Neighbor
14.1. 4.J.30. Responsive neighbor
14.1.1. 4.J.30.a. Contact information
14.1.2. 4.J.30.b. Complaint response
14.1.3. 4.J.30.c. Neighbor interaction
14.2. 4.J.31. Courtesy rules
14.2.1. 4.J.31.a. Preemptive policies
14.2.2. 4.J.31.b. Parking