RCO Certification Site Reviewer Score Sheet Step 1 of 13 7% Site Reviewer Name(Required) First Last Site Reviewer Email(Required) Date of Virtual Tour & Interview(Required) MM slash DD slash YYYY Name of Organization Reviewed(Required) Review of RCO Definition A recovery community organization (RCO) is an independent, non-profit organization led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery that does any, one, or combination of the following activities. These activities are available to all community members and are not restricted to individuals enrolled in a specific educational, treatment, or residential program. conduct ongoing local recovery support needs assessment surveys or focus groups organize recovery-focused policy and advocacy activities increase recovery workforce capacity and expertise through training and education carry out recovery-focused outreach programs to engage people seeking recovery, in recovery, or in need of recovery-focused support services or events to educate and raise public awareness conduct recovery-focused public and professional education events provide peer recovery support services (PRSS) support the development of recovery support institutions (e.g., education-based recovery support programs, recovery community centers, recovery cafes, recovery ministries, recovery-focused employment programs, recovery-focused prison reentry programs, etc.) host local, regional, or national recovery celebration events collaborate on the integration of recovery-focused activities within local prevention, harm reduction, early intervention, and treatment initiatives After evaluating the organization’s application, website, social media, documentation, and the findings of the virtual tour and interview, please rate how you agree with the following statement. The organization meets the RCO Definition.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree Section 1: GovernanceIn this section, you will review the RCO National Standards section “Governance.” The information presented is from the RCO National Standards, with some further considerations pulled from relevant CAPRSS standards. InstructionsPlease review the RCO National Standards and further considerations pulled from relevant CAPRSS standards before proceeding to scoring for the Governance section. RCO National Standard 1: Non-profit OrganizationThe organization is a non-profit with a current 501c3 status. In some cases, a recovery community organization will have a fiscal agent where a fiduciary relationship exists between an RCO and another agency. In these instances, the role of the fiduciary agent is limited to managing assets and distributing funds to the recovery community organization, free from conflicting self-interests, for the purpose of supporting the recovery community organization’s mission. The recovery community organization is autonomous in their decision-making, program development, recovery services provided, and advocacy efforts through the leadership of an executive or advisory board.RCO National Standard 2: Led and Governed by the Recovery CommunityThe organization is peer-led. More than 50% of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board self-identify as people in personal recovery from their own substance use disorders. Additional board members may include family members of persons impacted by substance use disorders and recovery, allies, and persons with co-occurring mental health disorders.Further considerations: The board of directors is appropriately representative of and responsive to local communities of recovery. Has broad representation from diverse segments of the recovery community in its membership. Has representation on its governing body that is reflective of the cultural diversity of the community. Has bylaws that are clear about board selection process. Receives information and/or training on issues on interest to communities of recovery. Is transparent (open) and accountable to those served. Regularly uses participatory processes to solicit views of diverse segments of the recovery community. Next up: scoring! InstructionsAfter reviewing the organization’s application, documentation, website, social media, and/or the virtual tour and interview findings, please evaluate how well you feel the organization meets the following statements. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization is peer-led and has a board of directors that is a minimum of 51% in recovery.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Organizational oversight is inclusive of and responsive to local communities of recovery.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The board of directors is appropriately representative of and responsive to local communities of recovery.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Additional Overall Findings & Recommendations related to Governance Section 2: Programs & ActivitiesIn this section, you will review the RCO National Standards section “Programs & Activities.” The information presented is from the RCO National Standards, with some further considerations pulled from relevant CAPRSS standards. InstructionsPlease review the RCO National Standards and further considerations pulled from relevant CAPRSS standards before proceeding to scoring for the Programs & Activities section.RCO National Standard 3: Primary Focus is Recovery from Substance Use DisordersThe organization’s mission and vision include a primary focus on recovery from substance use disorders. Some organizations also provide ancillary activities such as prevention services, housing, other addictions, and/or mental health peer services. However, the primary function of an RCO is focused on recovery from substance use disorders and related problems.Further considerations for RCO National Standard 3: The organization incorporates key practices that support and enhance recovery. Encourages participant self-direction. Is community-focused. Is based on mutuality/ mutual support / reciprocity (peers helping peers). Fosters an organization culture that builds recovery capital (defined as personal strengths and external resources that support recovery). Promotes self-care and wellness. Ensures that its programs and supports are provided in a culturally competent manner RCO National Standards 4 & 5RCO National Standards 4 & 5 are closely related. RCO National Standard 4: GrassrootsCommunity engagement is grassroots and reflective of the community served. The organization provides recovery supportive opportunities to the broader community for all community members to get involved in. This may include volunteering; participating in activities; and planning outreach, events, and programs. Examples of ways to engage local communities of recovery are visible on the website and evident in program delivery. RCO National Standard 5: Participatory ProcessThe organization has accountability to the recovery community through processes that promote involvement, engagement, and consultation of people in recovery, their families, friends, and recovery allies. These processes may include town hall meetings, listening sessions, surveys, committees, task forces, and volunteer opportunities. Participatory Processes (PP) are specific methods employed to achieve active participation by all members of a group in priority setting and decision-making processes. Further considerations for RCO National Standard 4 & 5: The organization is grounded in the values of the recovery community—both local community and the national movement. Keeps recovery first, placing recovery at the center of the effort. Uses participatory processes to engage people who are in and seeking recovery. Maintains the authenticity of peers helping peers, drawing on the lived and shared experience of addiction and recovery. Builds leadership and capacity among the participants to guide and direct the organization. Recognizes, acknowledges, affirms, and celebrates peer contributions. Welcomes, affirms, and embraces cultural diversity and inclusion. Encourages and promotes being of service/ giving back to the community. Engages in advocacy activities. RCO National Standard 6: Peer Recovery Support ServicesRCOs provide primarily non-clinical, peer recovery support services. Some examples of non-clinical services are recovery support groups, recovery coaching, telephone recovery support, skill-building groups, harm-reduction activities, and other events. In resource-scarce communities, RCOs sometimes offer clinical services to better meet the needs of their community. Further considerations for RCO National Standard 6: The organization ensures that training and guidance are provided on the implementation of ethical guidelines. Conducts a comprehensive orientation covering ethics-related topics. Conducts participatory ethics trainings on an ongoing basis regarding ethics, relational power, and power dynamics, using scenarios of critical incidents as a training method. Conducts meetings as necessary in which critical incidents are explored in a supportive and judgment-free manner that promotes both learning opportunities and accountability. Uses learning sessions to explore sound approaches to ethical dilemmas that arise. Next up: scoring! Section 2 Scoring InstructionsAfter reviewing the organization’s application, documentation, website, social media, and/or the virtual tour and interview findings, please evaluate how well you feel the organization meets the following statements.The organization’s mission and vision include a primary focus on recovery from substance use disorders.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Community engagement is grassroots and reflective of the community served. The organization provides recovery-supportive opportunities to the broader community for all community members to get involved in.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization has accountability to the recovery community through processes that promote involvement, engagement, and consultation of people in recovery, their families, friends, and recovery allies.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Does the organization provide direct peer recovery support services (PRSS)? Yes No The organization provides primarily non-clinical, peer recovery support services.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization incorporates key practices that support and enhance recovery.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization is grounded in the values of the recovery community—both local community and the national movement.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization ensures that training and guidance are provided on the implementation of ethical guidelines.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Additional Overall Findings & Recommendations for Programs & Activities: Section 3: Diversity, Equity, and InclusionIn this section, you will review the RCO National Standards section “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.” The information presented is from the RCO National Standards, with some further considerations pulled from relevant CAPRSS standards. InstructionsPlease review the RCO National Standards and further considerations pulled from relevant CAPRSS standards before proceeding to scoring for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion section. RCO National Standard 7: All Pathways of RecoveryThe organization supports, allows for, and may provide opportunities for all pathways of recovery and does not exclude anyone based on their chosen pathway. This includes support for harm reduction strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with substance use and improving health and wellness for people who use drugs and/or alcohol.Further considerations for RCO National Standard 7: The organization establishes a welcoming climate that is conducive to/facilitates personal recovery. Promotes a sense of belonging Is accepting of all who are interested in recovery, inclusive of family, friends, and allies, and many pathways to recovery. Establishes an opportunity-rich environment in which each person can participate and contribute in the way of their choosing. RCO National Standard 8: Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Policies, Practices, and ServicesThe organization is purposeful in their board and staff development activities, organizational practices, service offerings, and advocacy efforts to meet the diverse needs of underrepresented populations in the communities that they serve. All communities have groups of people who experience marginalization who are deserving of inclusion. RCOs develop and enact culturally informed plans to diminish inequity in the implementation of their outreach and services. Further considerations for RCO National Standard 8: The organization has clear goals, policies, and oversight practices to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Demonstrates a commitment to cultural and linguistic competence throughout the organization. Ensures that participants receive services in a manner that is respectful of their cultural beliefs, practices, and preferred language. Ensures that information is available in languages and formats that are appropriate for all participants. Collects information/data related to cultural competence on both participant and community level Has the capacity to adapt to the diversity of communities served. Ensures workforce has the requisite attitudes, knowledge, and skills to provide culturally competent peer support. RCO National Standard 9: Recovery-Friendly LanguageRCO websites, materials, and other online platforms use language that is supportive of and promotes recovery across diverse geographical and cultural contexts. Organizations regularly conduct reviews on their literature and online content. The resource, Words Matter: How Language Choice Can Reduce Stigma, will aid in such a review. Further considerations for RCO National Standard 9: The organization establishes a welcoming climate that is conducive to/facilitates personal recovery. Maintains a warm and welcoming physical space (if applicable) Places a high value on lived experience of recovery. Models recovery values. RCO National Standard 10: Code of Ethics and Grievance PoliciesThe organization has an employee and volunteer code of ethics in place, and easily accessible grievance procedures, to protect service recipients and stakeholders engaged with the organization. Physical locations may post these policies and procedures in a common area. Organizations without physical locations may post these on their website. The code of ethics reflects core recovery values and is crafted specifically for the RCO and its service roles rather than arbitrarily applying a code of ethics for clinical services to the RCO context. Further considerations for RCO National Standard 10: The organization has guidelines, policies, procedures, and practices related to ethics that are consistent with recovery and peer values and that protect both providers and recipients of the organization’s services. Uses a participatory process to develop an ethical framework that includes a code of ethics. Has a written and visibly posted code of ethics and related written policies and procedures. Ensures that the code of ethics is specific to and appropriate for the recovery community that is served. Has methods to explore, track and document patterns of critical dilemmas on individual, program, and organizational levels. Next up: scoring! Section 3 Scoring InstructionsAfter reviewing the organization’s application, documentation, website, social media, and/or the virtual tour and interview findings, please evaluate how well you feel the organization meets the following statements. The organization supports, allows for, and may provide opportunities for all pathways of recovery and does not exclude anyone based on their chosen pathway.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization is supportive of harm reduction strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with substance use and improving health and wellness for people who use drugs and/or alcohol.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization is purposeful in their board and staff development activities, organizational practices, service offerings, and advocacy efforts to meet the diverse needs of underrepresented populations in the communities that they serve.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization has given thought to developing and enacting culturally informed plans to diminish inequity in the implementation of their outreach and services.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization’s websites, materials, and other online platforms use language that is supportive of and promotes recovery across diverse geographical and cultural contexts.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization has an employee and volunteer code of ethics in place, and easily accessible grievance procedures, to protect service recipients and stakeholders engaged with the organization.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The code of ethics reflects core recovery values and is crafted specifically for the RCO and its service roles rather than arbitrarily applying a code of ethics for clinical services to the RCO context.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Additional Overall Findings & Recommendations Related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Section 4: Management SystemsIn this section, you will review select standards from the CAPRSS domain Management Systems. Instructions for Section 4: Management SystemsPlease review the standards from the CAPRSS domain Management Systems before proceeding to scoring. Please review the standard and criteria below: The organization is a good steward of financial resources, accountable to the recovery community, as well as funders and donors, in its use of funds. Uses its resources, and assets toward improving the lives of people in recovery. Demonstrates financial stability with sufficient cash flow and reserves to support its programs and services. Develops a comprehensive annual budget that is used as a tool to gauge organizational performance. Has practices that ensure financial matters are handled appropriately. Has appropriate internal financial controls. Produces and regularly reviews financial statements Has a risk management plan in place. Please review the standard and criteria in below: The organization uses best practices in human resources management to create a safe and healthy work environment. Has clearly defined human resource policies, procedures, and descriptions influenced by recovery community values. Maintains, follows, and regularly reviews human resources policies, procedures, and descriptions to ensure they are consistent, fair, and equitably applied to paid and volunteer staff. Ensures effective methods for recruiting, selecting, assessing, developing, and retaining paid and volunteer staff. Has process to foster good working relationships and communication among paid and volunteer staff. Ensures that its workforce has sufficient education and training opportunities to develop requisite knowledge, skills, experience, attitudes, and attributes to deliver quality PRSS. Please review the standard and criteria in the below: The organization establishes record keeping processes and methods that are compatible with peer-led efforts. Keeps records in a secure place. Has appropriate information technology (hardware and software) to keep accurate, confidential records. Next up: scoring!Instructions for Scoring Section 4:After reviewing the organization’s application, documentation, website, social media, and/or the virtual tour and interview findings, please evaluate how well you feel the organization meets the following statements. The organization is a good steward of financial resources, accountable to the recovery community, as well as funders and donors, in its use of funds.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization uses best practices in human resources management to create a safe and healthy work environment.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:The organization establishes record keeping processes and methods that are compatible with peer-led efforts.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeAdditional comments:Additional Overall Findings & Recommendations for Management Systems:Thank you!We are so grateful to our team of site reviewers for their time, commitment, and expertise. Please let us know if you have questions or feedback about the process.
