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Cougar Health Services

Collegiate Recovery Support

In 2020, WSU received the State of Washington Collegiate Recovery Support Project contract from the Washington State Health Care Authority. The purpose of this project is to implement Collegiate Recovery Support across Washington in Institutions of Higher Education, including providing seed grants, evaluation of recovery services, and state-wide virtual education sessions.

The goal of Collegiate Recovery Support is to offer the chance for students in recovery from substance use to experience the opportunities higher education offers both in the college environment, and after by providing support, preventing a return to substance use, and promoting successful academic performance.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the work of the people and agencies, who have made the Collegiate Recovery Support Project possible.

  • WA Representative Lauren Davis (32nd district), Joe Schmick (9th district), and colleagues for their work on the collegiate recovery Initiative and funding source, House Bill 1528
  • WA Health Care Authority (HCA) Contract Manager Liz Venuto: Transition Age Youth Integrated Services, Children, Youth, and Family Behavioral Health Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Manager

What is a Collegiate Recovery Program?

A collegiate recovery program is a college or university-provided, supportive environment within the campus community that reinforces the decision individuals make to engage in a lifestyle of recovery from substance use. It is designed to provide an educational opportunity alongside recovery support to ensure students do not have to sacrifice one for the other.

Foundational Pillars of Collegiate Recovery

  • Health: Learning to overcome, manage, or more successfully live with symptoms and making healthy choices that support one’s physical and emotional wellbeing
  • Purpose: Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, volunteer work, or creative endeavors; increased ability to lead a self-directed life; and meaningful engagement in society
  • Community: Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, hope, and engagement in the broader community
  • Academics: Progress toward successful academic and professional pursuits, which supports one’s ability to lead a self-directed life, physical and emotional wellbeing, and meaningful engagement in society

Collegiate Recovery Virtual Learning Community

The Collegiate Recovery Virtual Learning Community is a six-part webinar series from December 2020 through April 2021, covering topics on how to construct a sustainable Collegiate Recovery Program/Community.

Pre-registration is required. Open to all faculty, staff, and students, these Spring 2021 sessions will be facilitated via Zoom:

  • Introduction to Collegiate Recovery | December 3 | Video | PowerPoint
  • Collegiate Recovery Data Collection for Beginners | January 7 | Video | PowerPoint
  • Asset Mapping | February 18 | Video | PowerPoint
  • Cultivating Community Partnerships |March 4 | Video | PowerPoint
  • Multiple Pathways of Recovery and the Intersection of Harm Reduction | April 1 | Video | PowerPoint
  • Student Recruitment and Retention | Thursday, April 29, 11:00 a.m. – noon | Video | PowerPoint

Reshaping the Conversation: Integrating Recovery Supports

State of Washington 2021 Collegiate Recovery Conference

Save the date! May 20-21, 2021

The conference will include:

  • Keynote speakers
  • Presentations from colleges across Washington State
  • Presentations from Evaluation Research
  • Practical information regarding overdose prevention and on how to foster welcoming spaces on campuses that are more inclusive of students in or hoping for recovery.
Visit the landing page for more!

Resources

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Cougs for Recovery Scholarship

In an effort to build community and for academic support, we awarded scholarships of $2000 each for Spring 2021 to be applied toward tuition. This scholarship is open to all WSU students in recovery.

Please check back with us for Fall 2021 scholarship opportunities!

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In the News

WSU Collegiate Recovery Grant Team

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