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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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