Applicants

General Information

To apply for membership 0n-line, click the highlighted name of the appropriate category. For application by mail, send a completed application to:

Andrew J. Finch, Executive Director
1231 Highland Avenue, Ft. Washington, PA 19034

Membership fees are due by April 30 of each year. An invoice will be mailed upon approval of a completed application. The first year of membership will be prorated on a monthly basis depending on the month in which membership is approved.

The Association of Recovery Schools (ARS) offers three categories of membership.

Institutional Membership:

Institutional Membership is available to secondary schools and college programs that meet eligibility criteria. All active staff and students from a school or college program enjoy the benefits of membership, although only one staff member will be designated as a voting member. Organizations operating multiple recovery schools must apply for Institutional Membership for each school individually.

To join as an Institutional Member, schools and college programs must submit an application for approval by the Membership Committee. Any school or program that does not meet all five criteria may request special consideration. The Operating Committee makes final determinations to accept or reject the membership application.

Annual fee: $250.

Benefits:

i. Recognition as a recovery school.
ii. Networking and mutual support.
iii. ARS advocacy for recovery education at a national level.
iv. Right to vote -- restricted to one designated individual.
v. Eligibility for office and service on committees.
vi. Discounts on conference registration and any products that ARS may produce.

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Associate Membership – Individual and Organizational:

Associate Membership is available to those individuals who are interested in issues of recovery and education but who are not students or staff members in recovery schools or college programs that belong to ARS. This category may be appropriate for, among others, educational administrators and teachers/professors; researchers (affiliated with educational institutions or not); students at the graduate, undergraduate, and secondary levels; counselors, credentialed therapists and addiction professionals (affiliated with educational institutions or not); government representatives; parents; and individuals in recovery. Emeritus members of schools or colleges are also eligible for Associate Membership.

Similarly, organizations that do not meet all five criteria for membership may seek Associate Membership.

Annual Fee: Individual $35. Organizational $100.

Benefits:

i. Recognition as a member of the Association of Recovery Schools.
ii. Networking.
iii. Advocacy at the national level.

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Sponsor Membership:

Sponsor membership is available to individuals or organizations for any one year in which they contribute $500.

Annual Fee: A minimum of $500 per annum.

Benefits:

i. Special recognition on the ARS website and in appropriate organizational reports.
ii. Recognition as an association member.
iii. Networking.
iv. Advocacy at the national level.

Click here for more information

Criteria

Member organizations of the Association of Recovery Schools will meet each of the following criteria:

• Recovery Schools are of two types. Recovery schools at the secondary level meet state requirements for awarding a secondary school diploma. Such schools are designed specifically for students recovering from substance abuse or dependency. Eligible colleges, similarly, offer academic or residential programs / departments designed specifically for students recovering from substance abuse or dependency.
  
Recovery Schools provide academic services and assistance with recovery (including post-treatment support) and continuing care. However, they do not generally operate as treatment centers or mental health agencies.

• Recovery Schools require that all students enrolled in the program be in recovery and working a program of recovery determined by the student and the School. Consequences of relapse are addressed by the individual School.

• Recovery Schools offer academic courses for which students receive credit towards a high school or college degree. At the secondary level, Schools assist students in making the transition into another high school, college or a career.

• Recovery Schools are prepared through policies and protocols to address the needs of students in crisis, therapeutic or other. These procedures can involve
  
  1. full or part-time licensed counselors on staff, or
  2. out-sourced counseling contracts through which a specific outside agency consults with staff in the event of a student crisis or relapse