2. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

NARR Standard 3.0 includes Domain 2: Physical Environment

The physical dwelling of a recovery residence provides the platform from which to support recovery, reflecting one of SAMHSA’s four dimensions of recovery, Home. The role the physical environment can play for many people’s recovery has been well documented with reinforcing literature from the field of trauma-informed care. 26, 27, 28 29 Regarding recovery housing, Wittman et al (2014) explain that, “the setting is the services.”26 The setting can significantly support or hinder residents’ recovery and shape the interactions between the recovery home and its neighborhoods. Wittman (1993) defined six architectural considerations for recovery housing that can be helpful as residence operators consider this domain. These include the following:

  1. Location: The housing is sited in a conventional residential neighborhood with minimal crime that ideally has access to infrastructure: transportation, work, recreation, and social/health services.
  2. Appearance: The look of the residence conveys a sense of being neighborly rather than reclusive. Ideally, it has a design typical of other houses in the neighborhood, is visible from the street (as opposed to hidden behind a wall), and has an approachable front door.
  3. Design for sociability: The floor plan has an open design in which kitchen, dining and social spaces follow into each other, strongly encouraging socializing to promote recovery and healthy interactions.
  4. Design for personal space: The residents typically share rooms but have personal or private space. A balance of shared and private space facilitates both relationship building and personal empowerment.
  5. Facility oversight and security: The physical design enables easy oversight of the premises as well as personal security that promotes a supportive recovery environment. Space is open and free of physical barriers that would separate or seclude residents. 6. Care and Upkeep: High levels of physical maintenance, house-cleaning, and upkeep are vital. 30

Residences must be home-like, safe, promote abstinence, and cultivate community. These settings reinforce the notion that residents have choice in their living environment and can choose healthy spaces. This empowerment can enhance their human recovery capital. Further, space that is recovery-oriented helps to facilitate compliance with the other standards. Physical environment is the first domain in the social model philosophy scale (SMPS): “the extent to which the program facility offers a homelike environment.”10 The standards in this domain reflect the SMPS. — NARR Standard 3.0 Compendium

This domain is support through the following principles:

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