One of the advantages of the regular meetings attended by all of the members of the Vermont Recovery Center Network is the potential to more broadly disseminate effective models of peer-support services.  This level of peer support has helped to advance Vermont’s recovery center movement by providing the centers with models of peer support that go well beyond AA, NA & other peer to peer groups. These concepts of peer to peer recovery have expanded out from the original 12-step models and now our challenge is to honor the traditions of these programs while being inclusive of other populations who don’t all necessarily view recovery as a “spiritual solution” but who need and deserve to benefit from help and support. The members of the Vermont Recovery Center Network are not affiliated with AA, NA, or any other approach to recovery; their mission is to provide a safe, supportive, substance free environment, which is welcoming to everyone seeking recovery.

Recovery Solutions:

Recovery center staff and volunteers in all centers are improving their responsiveness in assisting people seeking recovery or trying to maintain recovery and prevent relapses.  Being welcoming and supportive, encouraging people to ask questions (explaining that it is okay to ask for help), making suggestions about other supports or services that might be helpful, being a good listener while gently encouraging people to focus on solutions instead of problems, and introducing newly recovering people to others, in order to make them feel like they are being welcomed into a supportive environment are some of the many examples of providing recovery solutions. These peer to peer, mentoring based services help people to move past abstinence and grow to reach their potential through focusing on assets and addressing deficits. This evolving model is the core of Vermont’s Recovery Center service delivery approach.

Making Change: 

This program, developed in the Upper Connecticut River Valley area of Vermont and New Hampshire, is aimed at engaging young people involved with substances.  The program brings together groups of youth for peer support and has induced many to enter into the recovery process.

Wit’s End

This parent support group was founded in Rutland, Vermont by the parents of a young woman who died of addiction. The facilitated group is for adults who are concerned about some young person’s use and abuse of substances. The model has been most commonly implemented by a peer leader supported by a trained interventionist/therapist.

Medication-Assisted Recovery System (MARS): 

This peer-to-peer model is under development by the Opiate Dependence Resource Center (ODRC) in Brattleboro, VT.  Unfortunately, this approach has not yet been fully refined due to staffing and budget constraints.  Other centers have expressed interest in using the MARS model once it has been finalized and there have been a number of other attempts at establishing core groups of individuals involved in medication assisted recovery, which have lost momentum over time.  

Making Recovery Easier

Vermont Recovery Network has been working with the developers of Making Alcoholics Anonymous Easier (MAAEZ) as we implement this evidence based practice in recovery center settings. The model was demonstrated to be effective using the title Making Alcoholics Anonymous Easier (MAAEZ) but confusion around the use of the name Alcoholics Anonymous in the title has led to the use of the name Making Recovery Easier when utilizing the model in recovery settings as a peer led recovery support group. We have been following the research proven curriculum outlined in documents available on the Centers Site section of this web site.

Seeking Safety Practice Groups:

Peer facilitation of the Seeking Safety exercises and practice materials developed by Lisa Najavits has provided the basis for supports which specifically address the needs of those who have experienced traumatic events in the past or live with the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This use of the materials, developed as a treatment approach, has been done after consultation with Lisa Najavits who has expressed interest in considering the outcomes of these efforts when provided by experienced peer facilitators. Each group includes careful monitoring to assure that if any group participants appear to be badly "triggered" they are supported and referred on to professional support, if necessary.

Double Trouble: 

This 12 step approach to recovering from addiction(s) and mental disorders has been used in Bennington by members identified as being dually diagnosed and there has been interest in helping to spread this approach. There are also Dual Recovery Anonymous groups in Burlington and White River.

Vet to Vet:

Peer support for veterans with an emphasis on supporting issues such as reintegration, substance abuse, PTSD, and mental health which has been hosted across the state.

Discussion on Medication:

This peer support meeting began in Rutland and was created for individuals who take medications in recovery. The leader provides opportunities for people with psychiatric medications to share about their recoveries and learn practices for identifying appropriately in other recovery venues; avoiding lines like, ‘I’m Polly and I’m Bipolar.’ Suboxone users learn how to benefit from 12 step recovery meetings and to avoid sharing in open meetings about things that are inappropriate for that venue, like their medication’s side effects. Peer connections and sponsorship are discussed. “Abstinence is not avoiding your medications.” This model was developed by Riley Regan who has decades of experience in recovery and the addictions field, while volunteering in the TPC and refining the informational, sharing format.

Non Violent Communication (NVC) Practice Groups:

Peer led groups for refining and practicing the skills outlined in the Non Violent Communication model have taken place in a number of centers

Mindfulness / Communication Groups:

Peer led practice groups that employ mindfulness exercises and work on refining communication skills have employed group directed choices in picking topics for weekly discussions/sharing sessions. Groups include meditation and relaxation exercises.

Nurturing Parents Program: 

Teach age-specific parenting skills along with addressing the needs to nurture ones self.  Training of peer leaders has been provided by Prevent Child Abuse Vermont.

A group intervention for mothers 18 to 35 years of age.  This can be a peer-led intervention group promoting parenting skills, building self esteem and reducing substance use. This approach has also been professionally led. This SAMHSA model program has been peer led at centers.

Drug Court Group: 

Recovery Centers have been hosting peer-led, facilitated, “Drug Court Groups.” The format varies but generally the groups meet once a week and serve as a way for those involved to be introduced to recovery environments and the concepts of peer based recovery support

WRAP [Wellness Recovery Action Plan]:

WRAP is a recovery approach which focuses on self-management and incorporating wellness tools and strategies. It is a system developed by a group of people who had mental health difficulties and holds promise for substance abuse as well. A number of people connected with the recovery centers have been trained in the model and they are now exploring ways to introduce this model to people at the centers in order to help them reduce, modify and/or eliminate symptoms by using planned responses.