Frequently Asked Questions
What is recovery?
The common definition of recovery is to get better from an illness or injury. Another concept is the process of overcoming an addiction or mental health disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery as “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”
SAMHSA’s Working definition of recovery
Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA has delineated four major dimensions that support a life in recovery:
Health
Overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) or symptoms—for example, abstaining from
use
of alcohol, illicit drugs, and non-prescribed medications if one has an addiction problem—and for everyone in recovery, making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional wellbeing.
Home
A stable and safe place to live
Purpose
Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income
and
resources to participate in society
Community
Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope
What does a recovery coach do?
There are several variations in the roles and settings of recovery coaches. The main distinction is between the highly paid for-profit Recovery Coach and the peer recovery support specialist (PRS) working in an agency or volunteer organization.
A peer recovery coach at Communities for Recovery is PRS, a person with lived experience who supports and guides another person to achieve, sustain, or enhance their own recovery.
A PRS provides social support and wellness recovery planning:
Social support:
Emotional Support – providing person-centered mentoring to bolster confidence and self-esteem
Informational Support – sharing knowledge and information and/or skills training
Instrumental Support – providing planning, or help accomplish tasks such as accessing services
Affiliational Support – connecting with people in recovery, creating a sense of belonging.
Recovery Wellness Planning:
Goals – a person’s needs, hopes, wishes, and dreams
Challenges – the obstacles, barriers, and stigma of addiction
Strengths – the assets, relationships, and recovery capital to leverage & enhance recovery
Plans – the action steps to overcome challenges, and achieve goals
PRS’s are supervised in practice domains of ethical responsibility, mentoring, wellness, and advocacy.
Like other helpers, Peer Recovery Coaches guide a person to work towards their goals. Unlike other helpers they do not work on a specific program or therapy. They are not a sponsor, caseworker, or clinician. They are a peer who has been there and done that and can help them establish and maintain the foundation to be successful.
The role of the Peer Recovery Coach is to help the peer achieve their hopes and dreams through social support and person-centered recovery wellness plan
Where do I start if I’m new to recovery?
Quite a few resources exist for people seeking recovery or for people who want to learn about recovery. Below are a few links to get you started.
Front Steps Community Resource List
Does CforR provide bus passes, financial assistance, food cards, etc.?
Communities for Recovery provides recovery support services to help persons build sustainable recovery. This may come in the form of social support, resource navigation, or recovery wellness planning. Our main focus is assisting people to find and support them accessing resources already available in the community. Some participants may be eligible for some material supports on a limited basis if formally engaged in long-term coaching. There is an application, screening, and selection process for this (if funding is available). A staff member or recovery mentor may assist with the application process. Social support and resource navigation are always available at no cost to participants in our resource center.