Assessing Technical Assistance Needs among Recovery Residence Operators in the United States

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Recovery housing is crucial for social support, employment, and systems of care access.
• There's a recognized need for enhanced training and technical assistance for recovery residence operators.
• Current knowledge on specific operator needs for technical assistance is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the technical assistance needs of recovery housing operators in the United States.
• To identify differences in needs based on the number of residences operated.

Main Methods:

• A survey was developed and administered to recovery residence owners and operators.
• A convenience sample of 77 owners/operators completed the survey (20% response rate).
• Data were analyzed to identify technical assistance needs across different operator types.

Main Results:

• Operators of single residences prioritized technical assistance on house-specific policies and linking to care systems.
• Operators of multiple residences sought guidance on financial sustainability and integrating best practices.
• Needs varied based on the scale of operations, from single homes to multiple facilities.

Conclusions:

• Targeted technical assistance is essential for improving recovery residence quality and standards.
• Understanding operator needs is vital as states implement certification and licensing.
• Tailored training will support the adoption of evidence-based practices in recovery housing.