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

Course Syllabus

Not Enrolled
1. ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL
1.A. Operate with Integrity
1.A.1. Use mission and vision as guides for decision making
1.A.1.a. Mission
1.A.1.b. Vision
1.A.2. Adhere to legal and ethical codes and use best business practices
1.A.2.a. Business entity
1.A.2.b. Insurance
1.A.2.c. Property permission
1.A.2.d. Legal compliance
1.A.2.e. Ethical marketing
1.A.2.f. Background checks
1.A.2.g. Paying residents
1.A.2.h. Financial boundaries
1.A.2.i. Code of Ethics
1.A.3. Financial accounting
1.A.3.a. Fee transparency
1.A.3.b. Accounting system
1.A.3.c. Refund policies
1.A.3.d. 3rd party payments
1.A.4. Data collection
1.A.4.a. Resident information
1.B. Uphold Residents’ Rights
1.B.5. Rights and Requirements
1.B.5.a. Applicant orientation
1.B.6. Resident information
1.B.6.a. Secured records
1.B.6.b. Confidentiality
1.B.6.c. Social media policy
1.C. Culture of Empowerment
1.C.7. Peer governance
1.C.7.a. Resident driven
1.C.7.b. Grievance policy
1.C.7.c. Community posts
1.C.7.d. Length of stay
1.C.7.e. Resident voice
1.C.8. Resident involvement
1.C.8.a. Reciprocal responsibility
1.C.8.b. Leadership roles
1.C.8.c. Recovery process
1.D. Develop Staff Abilities
1.D.9. Role modeling
1.D.9.a. Self-care
1.D.9.b. Boundaries
1.D.9.c. Staff support
1.D.9.d. Positive regard
1.D.10. Staff qualifications
1.D.10.a. Social model skills
1.D.10.b. Credentials
1.D.10.c. Staff development
1.D.11. Culturally responsive
1.D.11.a. Priority population
1.D.11.b. Cultural training
1.D.12. Job descriptions
1.D.12.a. Roles and qualifications
1.D.12.b. Resource linkage
1.D.12.c. KSA
1.D.13. Staff supervision
1.D.13.a. Performance development
1.D.13.b. Acknowledgements
1.D.13.c. Work environment
2. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
2.E. Home-like Environment
2.E.14. Individual needs
2.E.14.a. Clean and maintained
2.E.14.b. Home-like furnishings
2.E.14.c. Entrances and exits
2.E.14.d. 50+ sq. ft. per bed
2.E.14.e. Sink-toilet-shower
2.E.14.f. Personal storage
2.E.14.g. Food Storage
2.E.14.h. Laundry
2.E.14.i. Appliances
2.E.15. Community building
2.E.15.a. Meeting space
2.E.15.b. Group space
2.E.15.c. Dining area
2.E.15.d. Recreational area
2.F. Safe Healthy Environment
2.F.16. Sober living
2.F.16.a. Prohibited substances
2.F.16.b. Prohibited items
2.F.16.c. Drug screening
2.F.16.d. Medication storage
2.F.16.e. Peer accountability
2.F.17. Home safety
2.F.17.a. Functional and hazard free
2.F.17.b. Health & safety codes
2.F.17.c. Inspections & drills
2.F.18. Promote health
2.F.18.a. Smoking
2.F.18.b. Universal precautions
2.F.19. Emergency plan
2.F.19.a. Procedures & postings
2.F.19.b. Emergency contacts
2.F.19.c. Emergency orientation
2.F.19.d. Overdose readiness
3. RECOVERY SUPPORT
3.G. Facilitate Recovery
3.G.20. Promote purpose
3.G.20.a. Meaningful activities
3.G.21. Recovery planning
3.G.21.a. Person-centered plan
3.G.21.b. Recovery capital
3.G.21.c. Peer roles
3.G.22. Community supports
3.G.22.a. Resource directory
3.G.22.b. Resource linkage
3.G.23. Mutual support
3.G.23.a. Weekly schedule
3.G.23.b. Mutual aid
3.G.24. Recovery support services
3.G.24.a. RSS
3.G.24.b. RSS Staff
3.G.25. Clinical services
3.G.25.a. Clinical services
3.H. Model Prosocial Behaviors
3.H.26. Respectful environment
3.H.26.a. Model recovery
3.H.26.b. Trauma informed
3.H.26.c. Resident input
3.I. Sense of Community
3.I.27. Family-like
3.I.27.a. Food preparation
3.I.27.b. Housing choice
3.I.27.c. Chores
3.I.27.d. Household expenses
3.I.27.e. Household meetings
3.I.27.f. Common areas
3.I.28. Internal community
3.I.28.a. Informal activities
3.I.28.b. Formal activities
3.I.28.c. Social activities
3.I.28.d. Milestone rituals
3.I.29. External community
3.I.29.a. Recovery linkage
3.I.29.b. Recovery mentor
3.I.29.c. Mutual aid meetings
3.I.29.d. Resource linkage
3.I.29.e. Multi-membership
3.I.29.f. Social bonds
4. GOOD NEIGHBOR
4.J. Be a Good Neighbor
4.J.30. Responsive neighbor
4.J.30.a. Contact information
4.J.30.b. Complaint response
4.J.30.c. Neighbor interaction
4.J.31. Courtesy rules
4.J.31.a. Preemptive policies
4.J.31.b. Parking