The DC Recovery Community Alliance (DCRCA) is an organization of people in long-term recovery and their friends and families committed to victory over the stigma and suffering caused by alcohol and other drug disorders in Washington, DC. We believe in the vital roles of science, faith and personal practice in this effort. We educate, advocate, celebrate and serve to advance and sustain recovery for the entire community.
We envision a community where alcohol and other drug disorders are recognized early, treated promptly, thoroughly, and effectively, and where recovery is sustained for a lifetime.
In our vision, people in recovery are respected as valued citizens – full partners in the larger community that cherishes each member and works to benefit all.
DCRCA was founded in 2006 and its bylaws incorporated it as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in the District of Columbia on May 22, 2007. Participating members have at least two years’ of recovery time and commit their time, energy and resources to fulfilling the goals and objectives of the Corporation. Patron members include individuals, businesses and foundations that support the work and goals of DCRCA.
DCRCA has a strong volunteer Board of Directors whose members have personal experience with recovery, making them extremely sensitive to the challenges faced by others entering or maintaining recovery. Reflecting the DC recovery community at large, they also have extensive experience and capabilities in management, governance and the delivery of social services.
The nine-member board serves two-year terms and elects the officers of DCRCA annually. The current board includes a former DC Deputy Commission of Mental Health, a co-founder of the city’s major Spanish-speaking recovery agency, a veteran political and communications consultant, a former CEO of a major community development national nonprofit, a long-time expert in employee benefits management, a successful DC contractor and home builder, a national recovery housing expert, and an ordained minister.
A full membership meeting is held each December. The board meets monthly, and each committee meets according to its needs and agenda.
This website offers a variety of content and services, formatted for different kinds of users. Sign up for an account to gain access to more content. Become a DCRCA member for even more information and on-line services.
Celebration is an essential part of recovery. It calls the community's attention to the fact that recovery is possible and it reinforces the commitment of those in recovery to continue the practices that worked for them.
DCRCA celebrates recovery in the nation's capital with:
DCRCA has sponsored conferences and training on addiction and recovery, including
See the Events pages for forthcoming education programs.
Why Recovery Coaching?
Washington, DC has the worst drug and alcohol problem in the country. DC has the second-worst gap between those who need help to overcome their problem, and those who get it and a high, rate of relapse after treatment.
Alcohol and other drugs hijack the normal decision-making process, and causing bad choices and rewarding bad behavior. One in 12 adults in DC has some form of alcohol and other drug disorder (AODD),
People with an alcohol and drug disorder usually end up sharing the problem with their families, friends, and neighbors in the form of poor health, crime, poor school and work performance, and family neglect and abuse. The affected far outnumber the afflicted. Everyone in the community has a stake in recovery.
But many people can and do overcome their Alcohol and Drug Disorder and resume a normal, productive, and satisfying life, if they get a little help and sustained support.
A New Approach
Recovery Coaching is a new way to overcome drug and alcohol problems, beyond just treating the abuse and addiction.
Recovery Coaching teaches and reinforces new behavior to replace the old bad behavior, and teaching life skills that may have been missed while a person was struggling with their problem. It goes beyond classroom instruction to include guided practice, reflection and understanding of real-life experience and the rewards for good behavior that alcohol and drugs had corrupted.
Recovery Coaching has been practiced successfully in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. The DC Recovery Community Alliance has established the DC Recovery Coach Academy to teach people in sustained recovery how to coach those new to sobriety.
Who Should Learn?
Anyone who works with people with a drug and alcohol problem can benefit from this training:
substance abuse counselors
school counselors
Employee Assistance Program staff
pastoral counselors
Drug Court and Corrections workers
future Recovery Coaches at the DC Recovery Community Center
Learning Objectives
Students will learn:
the roles and functions of a recovery coach
the components, core values and guiding principles of recovery
how to recognize and resolve ethical issues
how to build skills to enhance relationships
understand co-occurring disorders and medication-assisted recovery
how to recognize the stages of change and their application
how to develop and teach wellness planning
Practice newly acquired skills
All training materials will be provided. Attendance of all classes is required to earn a certificate upon completion.
Instructor
Kirk Frazer is pastoral counselor, foundder of a youth mentoring program, and a graduate of the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Coaching Academy.
People seldom get jobs or job leads from their families and friends. After all, they all have pretty much the same information sources. But they do get leads from "weak ties", casual acquaintences, friendly strangers, and members of their extended social groups, like the recovery community.
So if you know of someplace that is hiring, please add a comment below.
Studies have shown that, much like recovery, people who are looking for new jobs are more successful (as much as 15 percent more) if they are part of a mutual support group, a Job Club. A number of DCRCA members have decided to form a Recovery Job Club to practice the principles of 12-Step Recovery in all their job-seeking affairs. These principles include:
The DCRCA Board has agreed to support the Club by hosting meetings at its offices at 1234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite C1017. You will need to enter at the Lobby level and sign in, then take the elevator one level down and follow the signs to the right.
The Club meets at 10:00 AM on Saturdays.
We have put up several resource pages on the website where people can share their job-seeking experience, strength, and hope:
Here are some information resources the Recovery Job Club members have found useful:
Web sites:
Books and specific web articles:
This page is for a diablog (a multi-party web-log with most of its content in the Comments) about job-hunting while in, and using the tools of, 12-Step Recovery. Think of it as an on-line meeting.
To kick it off, here is a first draft of an adaptation of the 12 Steps to job-hunting, using some of the advice from the gurus (see the Resources page):
12 Steps to Career Recovery
By Rob Fleming
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous conclude with advice to “practice these principles in all our affairs.” Here’s how they might be applied to job-seeking:
DCRCA currently has two major service projects:
Taking 12-Step Meetings to the DC Jail
DCRCA has negotiated permission for people in recovery to take meetings into the men's portion of the DC Jail
DCRCA is negotiating to get similar programs in the Women's Center
Providing Recovery Coaching services
DCRCA is negotiating the terms for Recovery Coaching services and will begin actual provision of coaching soon.
DCRCA has trained one class of Recovery Coaches and plans another class in the Fall of 2011.
DCRCA is involved in two major advocacy campaigns right now: