Hello Recovery Warriors,
I’ve been out and about over the past month and hearing about what’s
happening in real time in the recovery community. I’ve heard so many
amazing stories and I congratulate you for your hard work and
dedication. I’ve also heard some not so positive stories about
confidentiality breaches from one recovery coach, or CRSW to another,
work place gossip and toxic environments. I’d like to pose a question to
the community…Did you read your code of Ethics?
The CRSW Code of Ethics is included in this FILE – ALC 400 & 500 Rules.
These are the state licensing requirements for the CRSW license. To
review the Code of Ethics, skip over to page 18 on this file. Every CRSW
in this State signed and agree to adhere to them. Maybe you’re not yet a
CRSW and an active Recovery Coach; you are not excluded from adhering
to your Organization’s code of ethics.
I trained many of you out there, and we sat together and proclaimed we
wanted to help others not go through what we went through. Maybe, what
wasn’t expected was some accountability with the role of a recovery
coach. That’s understandable, however, not the case. We’ve joined the
Human Service field, a helping field and one that improves the lives of
many every day. Your passion and dedication is essential to help make
the world a better place. To effectively do this, we must adhere to our
Code of Ethics and organization accountability in order to effectively
“do No Harm” which translates to “I want to help.”
If you know or see someone breaching organization and state licensing
requirements there is an appropriate manner in which to navigate that.
You can call the state licensing board at 603.271.6761, contact me, ask
your supervisor or other manager, etc.
Remember the 3 legged stool from your Recovery Coach Academy includes “Manage Your Stuff.” Are you managing your stuff, or are you allowing your stuff to spread like cancer to others? Keep up the passionate work. Lives are at stake. Ginger
February 21st Newsletter from NH Recovery Coach Academy
For newsletter with images click here: https://mailchi.mp/cf57339a8df9/upcoming-trainings-688275?e=9d821394a6 How do team NH recovery! Many of you took the Ethics training and learned about William White’s Zones of Vulnerability; a tool to use when faced with making decisions for the first time. They don’t have to be difficult, or “challenging’ situations, to utilize this tool. The decision could seem as mundane as the the day of the week, but it is likely not. In Ethics you learned about Multi Party Vulnerability, Iatrogencis and Boundary Management AND Wants Vs. Needs. These concepts as well as the Zones of Vulnerability are tools for you to use everyday. Your role as a Recovery Coach is a new role for all of us. We’re building a profession and it is crucial that we, collectively, are all on the same page and First, Do No Harm. Take out your manuals and keep them by your side! Review Zones of Vulnerability and Wants V Needs and apply it in your daily encounters. For the Good of All. Thank you.
Ginger Ross, CRSW Trainer One great job opportunity Avenues Recovery Extended Care is looking for a Group Facilitator for Sundays at their Concord, NH location. The person who fills this position will facilitate a 3 hour group and then lead a 3 hour adventure based activity for a total of approximately 6 hours each Sunday. If you are interested in hearing more about this position or applying, please reach out to Kris Lang via Kris.lang@avenuesrecovery.com. HIV/AIDS Trainings *HIV Update for Substance Use Professionals – March 8th, 2019; 8:30am – 4:00pm. 8 Clover Lane, Whitefield, NH. Sponsored by NHADACA. Visit www.NHADACA.org to register.
*HIV/AIDS/HepB&C & Harm Reduction for Recovery Support Service Workers – March 27th, 2019; 8:30 – 4:00pm. AMC Highland Center, Bretton Woods, NH. Registration is FREE for IDN Region 7 workers/providers. $40.00 for all others outside of Region 7. Register Here. Training provided by NH Recovery Coach Academy; Ryan Fowler Trainer. From a local NH Recovery Warrior – Thank you Michael!
Each free 1-2 hour webinar is brought to you live by a subject matter expert and worth continuing education (CE) hours (free for NAADAC members!).
Can’t make the live webinar? All webinars are recorded for later viewing and added to our on-demand library of over 145 hours of free addiction-specific education available 24/7. Earn CEs on your schedule! Join one of our Recovery Warriors, Wendy Elizabeth, as she hosts her radio show every Monday evening between 7pm-8pm and discusses recovery oriented topics. Always looking for guest speakers! http://www.980wcap.com/
Addiction Policy Forum Launches 192 A Day Campaign Last November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its latest report revealing that 70,237 lives were lost due to drug overdose in 2017. This data means that we are losing 192 children, parents, friends and neighbors each day to this epidemic. We’re launching the 192aDay awareness campaign to honor loved ones who lost their life to addiction and to give families and friends a platform to share their stories. We hope this campaign will help eliminate the stigma surrounding addiction and connect people with resources. If you are a family member or a friend that has lost a loved one to addiction, we encourage you to share their story as part of the #192aDay campaign. Check out our 192aDay social media toolkit here. Use the messages and graphics in this toolkit to spread awareness on social media and help remember those we have lost to this disease. AMERICORP is a wonderful way to get your toes wet in working in the Recovery Community in NH. Check it out! Harbor Homes AmeriCorps RecoveryCorps MemberIMMEDIATE NEED TO FIND CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK AND OBTAIN A CRSW – CERTIFIED RECOVERY SUPPORT CERTIFICATE.HELP TO DIMINISH AND COMBAT THE OPIATE CRISIS. New Hampshire residents have been hit hard by the current opioid epidemic – it seems as though everyone in the Granite State has been effected personally either personally or through a friend or relative. Harbor Homes is currently seeking AmeriCorps members that will be responsible for providing social support to substance users. Members will be trained as Recovery Coaches and will have the opportunity throughout their term of service to become NHCertified Recovery Support Workers. Responsibilities for RecoveryCorps members include, but are not limited to: · Offering recovery coaching services via meetings and phone calls · Building positive relationships with service users and encouraging them to pursue their next step in recovery · Providing appointment reminders and case management, with a goal of increasing clients’ recovery capital, i.e. their capacity to access transportation, housing, insurance, childcare, education, employment, and other services that facilitate recovery · Serving an average of six clients per week (six hours per client) – this number could fluctuate depending upon the stage of recovery that the client is in · Members will serve clients until all significant barriers to treatment and recovery are resolved · Ensuring availability to clients as needed for support and recovery guidance · Maintaining accurate records and documentation of treatment steps, recovery, and progress/setbacks · Create and engage in outreach for workshops, events, and recreational opportunities geared toward individuals in recovery as well as their families · Periodically reporting progress to Harbor Homes staff and site supervisors Expected Outcomes for the Member’s Service Term: · Clients served that have maintained recovery for 9 – 12 months will show improvement (as compared to original intake data) · Clients will have increased abstinence from drug use and alcohol misuse by 80% · Long-term engagement with recovery support and self-help groups will have increased by 60% · Decreased inpatient and hospitalizations for clients served · Marked decline in opioid related deaths and overdoses in service region RecoveryCorps Member Benefits · Monthly living stipend contingent on location · Support in completing the Certified Recovery Support Worker Training including cost coverage · Case management training and professional development opportunities · Health insurance and paid time off · Educational award at the close of service RecoveryCorps Members will work 40 hours per week and be required to complete a total of 1700 hours of work in order to be eligible for the educational award at the close of service. Term of service is for one full year and members will be eligible for all benefits of membership with AmeriCorps in addition to benefits from Harbor Homes. Following the close of service, interested members should be able to receive their Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW) which includes 64-hour training, 500 hours of services, and 25 hours of supervision with a Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO & TO APPLY. CONTINUING EDUCATION: Check out NAADACS 2019 FREE Webinar Series: https://www.naadac.org/webinars. Looking for something you recently read in a newsletter from me? Archives of all NH Recovery Coach Academy Newsletters can be found at www.NHRecoveryCoachAcademy.com May all your decisions be healthy today! Growing your branches Scholarship Opportunities: http://www.nhblackscholarships.orgNH Charitable FoundationAmmon Foundation Continue your education with these online resources – many are free – some are nominal charges. http://www.nhadaca.org/webinars/
Greetings and Happy Monday! I’m very fortunate to have trained my new Boundaries training at a center last Friday. I was humbled to work with such a dedicated group of folks passionate about helping others. Despite their immeasurable passion they were experiencing serious struggles around boundary management. Caught between wanting to help so bad and not knowing what the CRSW Code of Ethics is lies enormous gray area, that even with the best of intentions can lead to unintended harm.
How many of you have read the CRSW Code of Ethics in the State of NH 500 Rules? Because when I go out into the field I see a lot of confusion and ethical boundary crossings and violations.
When you signed your application to become a CRSW, there’s one tiny little question reads, “Do you agree to abide by the ethical standards set forth in ALC 500? I’m guessing you checked off yes. Are you? Have you ever read them? How about your supervisors or managers, do they know what they read? Are you seeing potential boundary violations or unethical practices daily. How do you handle those? If you have not read the 500 rules, I strongly suggest you do that pronto, because if you are a CRSW you agreed to abide by them.
Working in the HUMAN SERVICE Field is a calling and an honor, not to be taking lightly. There are clear rules and guidelines that were established long before this day, These rules span decades, even centuries. Please learn your ethical principles and rules. Please reach out to me, or the licensing board, if you have any questions. If you want to make a difference in other people’s lives, your life has to be on track first. Stay motivated and passionate. Ginger Ross, CRSW Visit the CRSW link on this website to read the 500 rules and what you agreed to when you submitted your application for CRSW or LADC/MLADC.
When you’re taking on the difficult task of bringing the disease of
addiction into remission—commonly referred to as recovery—it’s helpful
to have someone who understands what it was like to live with this
disease. A Recovery Coach (RC) does just that. Here at the Massachusetts
Helpline, we’ve been privileged to get to know Alex Fidalgo, a Recovery
Coach supervisor and trainer who works in Springfield and Worcester. We
recently talked in depth with him about recovery coaching and how he
approaches his work.
In recovery himself for years, Alex fell in love with recovery coaching early on after attending the Recovery Coach Academy when he moved to Massachusetts from Florida. “Recovery
coaching gives people options and treats people as resources. They are
the experts in their own lives—it is a unique partnership,” he shared in our conversation.
A Recovery Coach works one-on-one with a person in early recovery
(the “Recoveree”) to provide support, education, and tools to live the
life they desire. “I put tools in front of them, remove barriers with
them, work on today and what they want to do in the future,” he says.
Central to the relationship is the peer perspective: because Alex is in
recovery himself, he can relate to what his Recoveree has gone through. A
collaboration and partnership is created, and together they define what
the Recoveree’s recovery will look like.
When working with someone new, Alex focuses on relationship-building
and creating trust through conversation and shared experience. The
relationship is vital, as it’s through these conversations that the
coaching happens. Early in the process, he develops a wellness plan and
sets realistic goals with his Recoveree. A RC typically works with
someone once or twice per week over the course of six months. “I am not
going to be there with them forever,” he says. A plan needs to be in
place to make sure the Recoveree’s goals are met.
Removing barriers is critical to the work. RC’s help their
Recoveree identify the barriers that are holding them back and help them
work around and through anything blocking their path to a happy life in
recovery. Although RC’s can help navigate state systems and
structures, the Recoveree leads the process. For example, the RC will go
to court or an appointment with someone if they are nervous, but it is
up to the Recoveree to do the rest of the footwork.
In his work, Alex sees the person he’s working with as “full of
resources” and helps his Recoverees identify their internal strengths
and assets. He lets them know that he believes in them. He says that he
aims to “draw from their power and help them realize, ‘I can do that!’
Then I help them get there.” Sometimes people new in recovery need to
address issues of trauma and past abuse. In this case, “I identify and
listen closely to what they need and connect them to needed resources.”
Alex is clear that it’s not all about overcoming barriers, however.
It is also about identifying what makes life worth living and getting
supports in place to get there: “People who enjoy life are more
likely to stay in recovery—I help them discover what that is for them.
Recovery coaching gives people options.”
After working for years as a RC himself, Alex now trains others to
become Recovery Coaches and Recovery Coach supervisors in MA. He’s
currently working to diversify the pool of available coaches so that
there are relatable coaches for everyone. Recently he watched people he
coached just a few years ago now becoming his colleagues as they
graduated from the Recovery Coach Academy. It was incredibly powerful
for him to see this transformation. The non-clinical, judgment-free peer support of recovery coaching is extraordinary and creates a space for people to flourish. Alex feels privileged to witness this growth over and over.
Recovery Coaches are available statewide. They work in the emergency department of some hospitals, in many community health centers, and Peer Recovery Support Centers, and are also found through ATR, Multicultural Wellness Center, and other locations. There are vouchers available to receive coaching and MassHealth often covers the cost. Contact our Helpline specialists at 800.327.5050 to get connected to a Recovery Coach today.
The language used to discuss and describe mental health and substance use has changed dramatically over the last 100 years. Modern and postmodern society has transcended labels such as teetotaler, derelict, crazy, and psycho, though iterations of these negatively associated phrases remain. Changing linguistic trends within the mental health and substance use disorder fields have been propelled forward by the inclusion of concepts such as person-first language; first by mental health advocates, and later co-opted by advocates within the substance use disorder space. Similarly, medical professionals are driving change towards the use of more clinically appropriate language (e.g. substance use disorders, rather than substance dependence and abuse), which is having both positive and negative impacts.
