CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW

What to expect: Document Review

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When going through the document review step of certification for your recovery home, you can expect a thorough and detailed process designed to ensure your policies and procedures meet the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) Version 3.0 standards and the Recovery Residence Alliance of Montana (RRAM) standards. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what you can expect:

1. Submission of Required Documents

You will need to gather and submit various documents that are crucial for the certification process. These typically include:

• Location Documents: General liability insurance, evacuation maps, owner acknowledgment letters, self-safety assessments, and any required licenses.

• Policy and Procedure Manual: Documents like the Code of Ethics, confidentiality policies, discharge procedures, drug testing policies, emergency procedures, financial control policies, good neighbor policies, and others as specified.

• Program Documents: Marketing materials, proof of legal business entity, and other supportive documents.

• Resident Orientation Handbook: Policies and procedures that orient residents to the program, including community resources, house rules, grievance procedures, and more.

• Staffing Documents: Background screening policies, staff codes of conduct, development plans, job descriptions, and wellness policies.

2. Initial Review

An initial review will be conducted by the certifying body to ensure all required documents are submitted and are complete. If any documents are missing or incomplete, you will be notified to provide the necessary documents.

3. Detailed Document Analysis

Each document will be reviewed in detail against the NARR and RRAM standards. Here’s what the reviewers will look for:

• Compliance: Ensuring your documents meet the required standards.

• Areas Needing Clarification: Identifying parts of your documents that need more detail or clarity.

• Non-Compliance: Highlighting areas where your documents do not meet the standards.

• Omissions: Detecting any missing policies or procedures that are required for certification.

4. Feedback and Recommendations

You will receive a detailed report categorizing the findings under compliance, areas needing clarification, non-compliance, and omissions. The report will include specific examples from your documents to support each finding and provide suggestions for improvement.

5. Opportunity to Revise and Resubmit

Based on the feedback, you will have the opportunity to revise and update your documents. It’s essential to address all areas needing clarification, non-compliance issues, and omissions as highlighted in the report. After making the necessary revisions, you can resubmit the documents for a follow-up review.

6. Follow-Up Review

The revised documents will undergo a follow-up review to ensure all issues have been addressed. This step is crucial to verify that the updated documents now meet the required standards.

7. Final Approval

Once your documents pass the follow-up review, you will receive final approval for the document review step of the certification process. This approval indicates that your policies and procedures align with NARR and RRAM standards.

8. Onsite Visit (if applicable)

Depending on the level of support your recovery home provides (Levels 1-4), an onsite visit may be scheduled to verify that the physical environment and daily operations match the standards outlined in your documents.

Tips for Success

• Be Thorough and Detailed: Ensure your documents are comprehensive and provide all necessary details.

• Follow the Guidelines: Use the NARR and RRAM standards as a checklist to prepare your documents.

• Seek Assistance if Needed: If you’re unsure about any part of the process, seek guidance from the certifying body or a consultant familiar with the standards.

• Be Responsive to Feedback: Address all feedback promptly and thoroughly to avoid delays in the certification process.

By following these steps and preparing thoroughly, you can navigate the document review step efficiently and move closer to achieving certification for your recovery home.