How Adverse Childhood Experiences affects long term health – a TED MED Talk by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Melissa Killeen

Nadine Burke Harris

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, during her TED MED talk presents the results of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study and the substantiated affects the study has brought forth on how childhood trauma can affect the quality of one’s health and length of a person’s lifespan. The San Francisco based pediatrician explains that the repeated stress of abuse, experience of neglect and living with parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of child’s brain. The ACE study concludes that those who’ve experienced chronic, and high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease, addictions and lung cancer. She gives an impassioned plea for clinicians to use the Adverse Childhood Experiences questions during the intact of all patients and confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.

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Faces and Voices in Recovery Develops an Addiction Recovery Toolkit

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Melissa Killeen

Faces and Voices in Recovery Partnering with Members of Congress to Offer Comprehensive Addiction Resources

2016 logoFaces & Voices of Recovery, in collaboration with the Addiction Policy Forum and the House of Representatives Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic developed a comprehensive addiction resources toolkit to help the families impacted by the heroin and opioid epidemic. This week, Members of Congress will unveil this toolkit on their websites and in their district offices and will train their office staff to provide key resources to families and individuals in their communities facing addiction. This toolkit is a resource that every recovery community organization, treatment center, doctor’s office, library as well as every family and individual should have access to.

More Americans die every day from drug overdoses than from car accidents – an average of 129 people per day, with six out of 10 deaths related to opioids. This toolkit was developed in response to the fact that a majority of those who need help with addiction issues are not receiving it. In 2014, only 11 percent of the approximately 22.7 million Americans who needed treatment for substance use received it, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“We are honored to partner with Members of Congress to offer individuals, families and communities important resources that will help them find support to achieve long-term recovery. We have offered our expertise for this toolkit and are pleased that Members of Congress understand the importance of making this information easily accessible and available in each Congressional district across the nation.”   -Executive Director Patty McCarthy-Metcalf

Leading national and community organizations contributed to this comprehensive set of resources that includes resources around prevention, drug treatment, recovery support and general information for families, community organizations, schools, and parents concerned about addiction and seeking support. The groups who contributed to this guide include: Community Anti-Drug Coalition, the National Council, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, Shatterproof, Faces & Voices of Recovery, Legal Action Center, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In preparing this toolkit, Faces and Voices of Recovery strengthens it’s mission and dedication to organizing and mobilizing the over 23 million Americans in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, our families, friends and allies into recovery community organizations and networks, to promote the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery.  Faces & Voices of Recovery is the parent organization of the Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO) which unites and supports the growing network of local, regional and statewide recovery community organizations (RCOs). ARCO links RCOs and their leaders with local and national allies and provides training and technical assistance to groups. ARCO helps build the unified voice of the organized recovery community and fulfill our commitment to supporting the development of new groups and strengthening existing ones.

Link to Tool kit: http://media.wix.com/ugd/bfe1ed_439f2d84f59c4461a4eef39a7b00596d.pdf

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How do I get recovery coaching certification?

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Melissa Killeen

20150609_223702 (2)One of the most frequent questions I receive is “How do I get my recovery coaching certification?” The second most frequent question is “How do I get my peer recovery support-specialist certification?”

A recovery coach and a peer recovery support-specialist (focusing in addiction recovery) execute the same job, the positions simply have a different title. Just like a certified drug and alcohol counselor (CADC) has the same job description as a certified addiction counselor (CAC).

Peer recovery support-specialists can also be certified to assist individuals in mental health recovery; slowly but surely, states are requiring different certification training for these two different peer classifications.

The most important considerations in obtaining your recovery coaching credentials are:

  1. Receive your training from an organization that is recognized by your state certification board to give the training (Google the Certification Board in your state, and go to the end of this post for a link).
  2. In the event your state does not offer certification for recovery coaches or peer recovery support-specialists, look up the IC&RC, the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium, (http://www.internationalcredentialing.org/ ). Read about the Internationally Certified Peer Recovery (ICPR) certification tests from the IC&RC. This IC&RC certification is a credential that is recognized by almost every employer.
  3. Every state has different fees (the IC&RC has fees as well). Expect the following fees: To register for the test: $150-$250. To order study materials: $80-$100. To renew your certification: $100-$150. Renewal is necessary every two-five years. Remember, every state is different in their fee or renewal structure; this is only a guide.
  4. After taking the test, and receiving a passing grade, you are required to complete a certain amount of “practice” or internship hours. These hours vary from state to state. New Jersey requires 500 practice hours. The hours can be completed as a volunteer recovery coach at a social services agency, or as a paid recovery coach at an agency, or with private clients.
  5. These practice hours must be under the supervision of a licensed clinical supervisor (LCS) or certified, recovery coaching supervisor. A licensed clinical supervisor is a licensed counselor, psychologist or social worker that has completed training to oversee the management of other practitioners. Usually one hour of supervision is required for every 40 hours of client contact a coach may have. Documentation of these supervisory sessions are required and will be submitted to the certification board with your certification application.
  6. Once your practice hours and documentation of the supervision are completed, you submit the paperwork to your state’s certification board. When the certification is approved, you are issued the certificate.
  7. It is important you retain this certificate, because every job you apply for will ask for a copy of this document.
  8. Throughout the next few years, you must regularly take continuing education courses for the renewal of your certificate. Every certification board outlines the courses and number of continuing education credits you are required to complete.

If you want to know where you can take the training courses to be a recovery coach, please go to my web site and look for approved training organizations in your state. Here is a link to this list: https://www.mkrecoverycoaching.com/recovery-coach-training-organizations/

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