Pre-Certification Requirements
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Learning Resource Center

Welcome!

Your one-stop, no-cost library for building stronger recovery housing and support programs — certification information, courses, guides, webinars, podcasts, NAADAC CE opportunities, research, and more.

Whether you’re opening your first recovery home, leading an established program, working as a peer or recovery support provider, or a community partner, there’s something here for you.

Some content may still reference the Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences (CARR) or the 2025 Guidebook. While we have updated these references wherever possible, any remaining content continues to provide relevant, valuable information for certified recovery residences in Colorado. For the most current requirements or questions, please refer to the certification documents in the library or visit our website.

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Latest Highlights

Are you interested in opening a Recovery Residence?

Before starting your ORH-CO New Operator application, click the “Pre-Certification Requirements” button at the top of the screen. Where you will:

  • Watch seven videos in the “So You Want to Be a Recovery Residence Owner or Operator” series
  • Review all certification documents
  • Complete two brief surveys
  • Download your Certificate of Completion for the Pre-Certification Requirements course

Once you have downloaded your Certificate of Completion, proceed with one of the following:

  • Go to ORH-CO’s application page. Complete and submit the New Operator Registration form. You will need to upload your Certificate of Completion in this process.
  • If you would like to schedule a meeting with the ORH-CO team, email info@corecoveryhousing.org with your Certificate of Completion attached.
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Learning Center Support
Fletcher Group
Our Learning Center is hosted on the Fletcher Group (FGI) platform. As a registered user, you're also able to explore Fletcher Group's full library of recovery ecosystem support resources by clicking Fletcher Group Library in the other libraries section of the filter bar.
Course/Training

Recovery House Management: Creating a Supportive Internal Community

When a recovery residence employs the Peer-led, Peer-Driven Social Model, it provides its residents with an environment designed to empower them to make decisions, to be part of a recovery community, to be comfortable and safe, and to learn and grow.

NAADAC CE
Webinar

Addiction as a Chronic Disease

In this Fletcher Group monthly webinar from May 2024, Dr. Alex Elswick argues that the "choice versus disease" framing is a false dichotomy and makes the case for treating substance use disorder as the chronic condition it is. He covers why the acute treatment model falls short, why reducing stigma matters, the most salient risk factors for substance use, and the community-based supports — housing, employment, transportation — that let people build the recovery capital sustained recovery depends on.

Cert. Documents

NARR Recovery Residence Levels of Support

NARR’s overview of the four recovery residence levels of support, from peer-run to service provider.

Course/Training

Not as Complicated as You May Think: SUD 101

An accessible and relatable look at substance use disorder (SUD), how it affects individuals, families, and communities, and the challenges people may experience on the path to recovery. Through lived experience, personal stories, and real-world examples, learners will explore how SUD can impact mental, physical, and social well-being while gaining a better understanding of the misconceptions and stigma that can create additional barriers to recovery. The course emphasizes the value of education, empathy, and informed, compassionate approaches to supporting individuals with SUD and recovery.

Cert. Documents

ORH-CO Certification Application Process Guide

A step-by-step guide to the ORH-Colorado recovery house certification application process — registering on the Learning Center, determining your support structure level, preparing and submitting your policies and documentation, fees, the onsite inspection, and certification award. Includes key points to remember about the policies and procedures that define a recovery residence.

NAADAC CE
Webinar

Confidentiality, Ethics & SUD Recovery Housing

Fear of stigma is a primary reason why individuals do not seek treatment. Your recovery home residents, in particular, may fear what others think and how a loss of confidentiality might affect their potential employment. Dr. Kenneth Martz presents “Confidentiality, Ethics, and Substance Abuse Treatment,” which explores confidentiality laws, how to work within them, and issues of particular interest to recovery homeowners and operators, all in the context of what Dr. Martz calls “the intricate dance between confidentiality and community in the pursuit of recovery.”

Course/Training

Understanding HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 in Recovery Residences

Created in March of 2025, this course discusses breaches of confidentiality in a recovery residence can lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of betrayal, which may trigger a return to use. Maintaining confidentiality helps create a supportive and secure environment conducive to long-term recovery. Protecting confidentiality ensures a safe, supportive, and legally compliant environment where individuals can focus on their recovery without fear of exposure or judgment. Learning Objectives: Be introduced to HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 and the possible applicability of these two federal laws to recovery residences; Understand the importance of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 and their impact on confidentiality in recovery housing

Cert. Documents

Operator Self-Safety Assessment Checklist

A self-safety assessment checklist for recovery residence operators covering smoke detectors, fire safety, and property requirements.

NAADAC CE
Webinar

How Physical and Social Activities Aid Recovery

“When a diverse group of individuals pulls together, inspiring things happen.” That’s the idea behind The Phoenix, a non-profit founded in 2006 that encourages physical and social activity as a means of generating the sense of connection, self-efficacy, and resilience people need to recover from substance use. In this course, the Senior Manager of Research and Evaluation Beth Collinson and National Partnerships Manager Chelsea Dueitt Burge discuss the unique approach that has gained The Phoenix nearly 200,000 members in 44 different states. This is an inspiring lesson in how commitment, action and connection can turn lives around.

Course/Training

Naloxone Training by PAR

Everyone should know how to properly administer Naloxone medication, how it works, and where to access the medication. This course provides the basic tools to educate you in these areas.

Cert. Documents

What Are Recovery Residences?

An ORH Colorado overview of what recovery residences are and the role they play in long-term recovery.

NAADAC CE
Webinar

Role of Recovery Allies

Alison Webb is a recovery coach, public health specialist, and certified prevention specialist who’s worked over 15 years in the field of substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery. In this course she addresses the age-old question of What Can I Do? No matter who’s asking — friend, family, neighbor, or community member — it’s good to have an answer that will stand the test of time. Alison discusses how you can serve as an ally to support recovery, recovery housing, and other supportive services that build recovery capital. As Alison says, “Most adults with substance use disorder don’t receive specialized treatment like counseling, medication, or rehab. Instead, the recovery journey starts in their communities, among family and friends, here and now, with their recovery allies.”

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