To ensure recovery is accessible and equitable, our actions and advocacy must have an impactful voice to effect long-term change. Participation from all levels of the community, including people who use drugs, people in recovery, and those who support them is essential to lowering barriers to recovery support and creating inclusive spaces and programs. For this focus area, presenters may cover topics related to state or federal policy and advocacy, community outreach and civic engagement, advocacy efforts that are inclusive and just, and skills-building for successful advocacy.  

Supporting and building leadership skills among staff and community members is key to the success and growth of any organization. Identifying, cultivating and celebrating new leaders of all backgrounds and experiences is a fundamental part of continuing to advance the recovery movement. Presenters are encouraged to submit creative ideas to address organizational capacity building such as board development, organizational policies & procedures, supporting effective partnerships, utilizing participatory processes for change, data collection and reporting, and systems improvement.

The recovery movement is in a time of growth, innovation, and change. However, recent research notes continued stigma surrounding substance use disorders, persistent racial & socioeconomic inequities within recovery spaces and funding opportunities, and disparate outcomes among rates of recovery for poly-substance use. This focus area will highlight ways to grow, transform, and inspire new systems. Presenters are encouraged to address innovative program ideas and expanding viewpoints that are forward-thinking and challenge us to be more inclusive and to grow as a movement. Topics may include new technology, innovative programs & delivery, peer integration, alternative pathways, etc. 

Evaluating and maintaining organizational wellness and sustainability are important to the legacy and longevity of an organization. Healthy organizations cultivate a transparent and positive work environment for employees while offering healing and building bridges for all people and communities. Topics in this focus area may include addressing compassion fatigue, employee wellness, organizational succession planning and financial sustainability.

Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) and peers have developed creative approaches to peer recovery support services (PRSS) with a desire to be more inclusive and meet diverse needs related to gender, ethnicity, and rural equity, among others. We encourage presenters to think outside the traditional PRSS delivery box and consider topics around progressive development and delivery of PRSS, such as peer ethics, peer supervision, role clarity working within systems of care, and building rapport and skills like motivational interviewing. 

The recovery movement, born out of a need for advocacy for equitable rights and access to services free of stigma or shame, has grown into a social justice outcry for more inclusion of people who have been and, in some cases, continue to be unseen and unheard in recovery spaces. Having inclusive systems of care and communities free of racism with services to meet diverse needs, and where all people can thrive and reach their own full potential, is necessary to diminish disparities in recovery spaces among the services offered, the peer workforce, and recovery community organization (RCO) leadership. Some examples of topics in this focus area include diversity, outreach to communities that distrust systems, and social justice solutions for discrimination and prejudices in recovery spaces.