Recovery Residences That Work

Supporting implementation of quality standards at substance abuse recover residences across Wisconsin to evaluate improved outcomes

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Full Project Name:Recovery Residences that Work: Building Quality through Accreditation Standards StatewidePrimary Community Organization:WisHope, Inc.Primary Academic Partner:Katinka Hooyer, PhD, Family MedicineAward Amount:$399,975

Award Date

July2021

Project Duration:36 months

Project Summary:

Substance abuse in the state of Wisconsin is a critical public health issue. Substance abuse disorder (SUD) is the fourth leading contributor to deaths and hospitalizations in the state, accounting for nearly $7 billion in economic costs.

Following treatment for SUD, the transition to community life is a vulnerable time. Recovery residences are an aspect of care related to SUD treatment that use a social model of recovery to help residents build the skills necessary to stabilize and sustain treatment gains. However, across Wisconsin there are significant variations in compliance with nationally recognized standards for recovery residences, resulting in a range of quality.

Through this award, project partners aim to develop and enact accreditation and quality improvement systems and promote practice standards for recovery residences across Wisconsin, and understand how improvement in quality can contribute to improved recovery outcomes.

Community partners: Wisconsin Association for Sober Housing, Apricity, Dave Gallup Foundation, Pres House, UW Population Health Institute

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Engaged 18 recovery residences from across the state and supported the 15 who were not already certified by the Wisconsin Association of Sober Housing (WASH) to become certified according to nationally recognized standards
Hosted a statewide conference in which housing advocates, recovery residence operators, and healthcare professionals worked together to identify the standards that drive recovery
Conducted a PhotoVoice project with two participating residences to support social change and displayed the PhotoVoice exhibits in Manitowoc, at the state Capitol during the 2023 Rally for Recovery, and at a national conference
Created and disseminated a white paper to compile and share the project results with broad audiences