Friends of Recovery of Delaware & Otsego Counties (FOR-DO) Services is pleased to offer a Recovery Coach Academy (RCA) and an optional Training of Trainers* (TOT). This training is for individuals in sustained recovery themselves who are involved in the recovery initiation of others and who want to become a personal guide and mentor for people seeking or already in recovery.

Recovery Coaching is a peer-based recovery support service that is non-clinical and designed to engage others beyond recovery initiation through stabilization and into recovery maintenance. Similar peer interventions in clinical settings have been shown to improve engagement and retention of people seeking services. It is also known that long-term treatment and/or recovery outcomes are improved by assertive linkages to community-based recovery supports such as Recovery Coaching.

Recovery Coaches:

• Help to initiate and sustain an individual/family in their recovery from substance use disorder or addiction
• Promote recovery by removing barriers and obstacles to recovery
• Serve as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking or already in recovery

This 30-hour training is provided over five-weeks, meeting on Mondays and Fridays each week from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at The Turning Point, 22 Elm Street, Oneonta, NY. The training will follow the Connecticut Center for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) model for peer specialist roles and responsibilities. RCA and TOT training is free; however, participants are required to purchase a copy of the RCA Manual at a cost of $20.00, and those participating in the TOT classes must also purchase the TOT Manual at cost of $30.00. Payment in cash, check or money order for the RCA Manual or both the RCA and TOT manuals must be submitted to FOR-DO along with the application (checks or money orders to be made out to Friends of Recovery).

The schedule and location for the RCA training is as follows:

Start Date: Monday July 12, 2010. (Barring any need for schedule changes based on trainer and/or participant needs, classes should run for five weeks.)

Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – (with registration starting at 4:30 pm on July 12)

Location: The Turning Point, 22 Elm Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

The TOT requires one additional hour of classes on Fridays for five weeks, beginning on July 16, from 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm, plus an additional three hours (time and date to be determined).

Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a Recovery Coach Certificate and a Standardized OASAS Certificate of Completion applicable for OASAS CASAC, CPP and CPS Credit.　No certificates will be issued for partial completion.

The application for participation in this training requires the submission of a brief candidate plan providing the following information:

• Briefly describe your experience with addiction recovery;
• Briefly describe your history of sustained recovery;
• Explain why you are interested in Recovery Coach training;
• How do you think Recovery Coaching can benefit others? What do you think peer coaches may guide others to achieve--e.g., accessing mutual assisted recovery support? Or, exploring wellness opportunities?

Applicants wishing to take the TOT must also submit a description of their training skills and experience, as well as how and where they would plan to offer the Recovery Coach training.

To secure a place in this training, applications and payment must be received no later than June 21. Application forms are available at the FOR-DO website www.friendsofrecoverydo.org, at The Turning Point facility, or by emailing or calling Betty Currier at ecurrier@stny.rr.com 607-547-1834.

Application and payment are to be mailed to Betty Currier, 58 Brunlar Court, Apt 52, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or dropped in the mail slot in the office door at The Turning Point.

Letters of acceptance will be emailed (or mailed, if necessary) on June 28.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Betty Currier at the e-mail address shown above or by telephone at 607-547-1834.