1.D.11.a. Priority population

Rule

Policies and procedures that serve the priority population, which at a minimum include persons in recovery from substance use but may also include other demographic criteria.

Levels

I	II	III	IV
N/A	✔	✔	✔

Guidance

Applicant screening and priority populations – Most recovery residences are considered housing, which begs the question, “How can recovery housing legally screen out applicants in ways that other housing cannot?” Recovery housing is designed for persons in recovery from substance use issues, which is a subgroup of “disabled” individuals as defined by civil rights laws. Research shows that living together in recovery housing can ameliorate the disability caused by substance use disorder. In other words, recovery residences “screen in” the priority population. To ensure that this resource is available, recovery residences identify a priority population they serve. The courts have also recognized the need to screen based on other criteria: e.g. gender. Across the US there are numerous recovery residences that specialize in women and children, LGBT, co-occuring mental health or process disorder and more. Disclaimer: NARR does not provide legal advice. Recovery residence providers should see legal counsel regarding screening policies and procedures.
Staffing and governance plan – Granted, recovery residences are about transplanting someone from a culture of addiction into a culture of recovery. However, staff should have a sensitivity and responsiveness to the fact that residents can come from a multitude of geographic, socio-economic, religious, racial, ethnic and self-identity backgrounds. Furthermore, recovery residences that claim to specialize in a subpopulation, such as women or LGBT, should have a staffing and governance plan that reflects a competence and cultural responsiveness in supporting the priority population. It is not to say that a person who identifies as heterosexual cannot staff an LGBT recovery home, but what in the staffing and governance plan demonstrates that the recovery residence is culturally responsive to this target population’s needs.
Service plan – Similar to appropriate staffing and governance discussed above, recovery residences must have a service plan and/or activities that reflect the priority population’s needs and culture.

Evaluation

Are there policies and procedures that identify the priority population?
- At a minimum, is the priority population persons in recovery (pursuing recovery) from substance use issues?
Do staff and leadership reflect the priority population and/or trained in cultural responsiveness?

Evidence

Policy and procedure
Staff / Peer leadership role description
Workforce development

References

Course Syllabus

Not Enrolled

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

	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