Residence Selection Guide
PARR receives calls, emails and, in some limited instances, grievance submissions from residents and their family that originate out of misguided expectations related to the service intensity or recovery support level offered by the provider. Pennsylvania offers a broad selection of certified homes from which to choose. However; it is important to appreciate “one size does not fit all“. Certification criteria may vary according to support level and most recovery residences serve specific populations and recovery pathways.
Value of PARR Certification
Four Distinct Support Levels
Residence Rights & Responsibilities
Through a voluntary process, Certified Residences provide PARR unrestricted access to interview management, staff and residents to verify implementation of policies, procedures and protocols previously documented by the provider. Certification to the NARR Standard ensures, for all stakeholders, provider compliance with measures demonstrated to enhance the quality of recovery support in a community-based, residential setting.
We recommend careful consideration of NARR support levels before commencing your selection process. One level is not better than another; rather levels offer distinctly different support characteristics and intensity of service. The effort you invest to familiarize yourself with these options helps to set appropriate expectations and ensure your selection of the support level that is most appropriate given your individual needs and circumstances.
All residents have an inherent right to be treated with respect and dignity by management, staff and peers. All residents have an inherent responsibility to abide by house rules and to actively engage in support of fellow residents. First and foremost, a recovery residence is home to persons in recovery who elect to live together as the functional equivalent of a ‘family unit’ and help one another to enhance their individual recovery capital.
National discussion continues regarding the efficacy of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment modalities. Some advocates for longer term protocols suggest recovery residences provide an ideal platform for engaging clients in partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment through a blending of the Social Model of Recovery and Medical Model of Recovery philosophies. Studies confirm the efficacy of this approach and more research is underway. Clearly evidenced is that when persons, internally motivated to develop the necessary skills to sustain long-term recovery, live together as a ‘family unit’ for extended periods ranging from four (4) to twenty-four (24) months, greater numbers achieve measurable, positive results through engagement in peer supportive activities while residing in these micro-communities.