MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) in partnership with the non-profit organization, Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences (AARR) encourages safe and healthy homes as a prerequisite for recovery. AARR helps individuals with substance use disorders, offering residential settings that emphasize the development of mutual support and skills for people in recovery which enable them to lead sober, productive lives in communities.
“ADMH is committed to ensuring individuals who are seeking a life of recovery have the supports to do so,” said Nicole Walden, ADMH Director of Substance Abuse Treatment and Development. “With the establishment of AARR in the state, individuals in recovery can now trust the home they choose will provide a safe, quality environment as they move forward on their path of recovery.”
“Recovery residences provide a continuum of care for individuals looking to transform their lives,” said Curt Lindsley, President, Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences. “For many who have completed a treatment program, returning to environments they lived in prior to treatment may be an unhealthy setting for them to be able to achieve lasting recovery going forward,” he continued.
This month, AARR was certified as an affiliate of the National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR). Founded in 2011, NARR supports persons in recovery from substance use disorders by improving their access to quality recovery residences through standards, support services, placement, education, research, and advocacy.
“The National Alliance for Recovery Residences is delighted to welcome the Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences as our affiliate organization in Alabama. This achievement is a result of much hard work by the AARR team for more than a year,” said David Sheridan, Executive Director of NARR. “Our partnership means that AARR is entrusted with implementing NARR’s best practice national standards in the state, and that Alabama recovery residence providers will be able to earn nationally recognized AARR/NARR certification for meeting those standards.”
The NARR standards define the spectrum of recovery-oriented housing and services and distinguishes four residence types known as “levels of support.” The standards were developed with input from major regional and national recovery housing organizations, recovery residence providers from across the nation representing all four levels of support, and nationally recognized recovery support stakeholders.
“AARR-certified recovery residences provide home environments that foster a sense of community, accountability, and support, all while building strong supportive relationships within their local recovery communities,” continued Lindsley. With the certification and partnership with ADMH and NARR, the Alliance offers individuals the space to improve their health and wellness by living more fulfilled and self-directed lives.
Two individuals who have lived in recovery residences in Alabama and experienced successful life changes, contributed their testimonies:
To learn more about the Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences, visit https://aarronline.org/.
To learn more about substance prevention and treatment, please visit the ADMH Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at https://mh.alabama.gov/division-of-mental-health-substance-abuse-services/.