Application of the Recovery College Model in the Post-Secondary Space
The goal of the application of the recovery college model in the post-secondary space is similar to community-based recovery colleges. Post-secondary recovery colleges aim to empower young adults to become experts in their own care and to assist in the co-production of courses that are relevant and meaningful to student life. Given that young adulthood is marked with the shaping of identity, decision-making, relationship building and risk taking; the recovery college can serve as an impactful means of support as it is designed to promote empowerment, build connections, enhance inclusivity and assist in the development of a positive sense of self (Whish et al., 2022). Further, recovery colleges offer the potential to reduce the sense of stigma and power imbalances between service users and providers by putting students in the drivers’ seat through co-design and peer support.
The post-secondary recovery college initiative leverages the experience of a mental health hospital with recovery colleges to operate with a consultative model. The role of Ontario Shores, as the consultant, is to provide leadership and expertise in the implementation, sustainability, and evaluation of recovery colleges. The role of the post-secondary institutions is to operationalize and sustain the recovery college.
Types of Post-Secondary Recovery College Courses
- Meaningful and healthy connections (i.e., healthy boundaries)
- Skill development (i.e., time management)
- Self-discovery and learning about yourself/strengths (i.e., telling your story)
- Learning about mental health and treatment options (i.e., finding and accessing resources)
- Work/education-related (i.e., balancing work, school, and life)
- Recreational and leisure (i.e., reading for pleasure)
- Co-Design (co-creating education)
Contact Us
Please contact Rachael Battistelli if you are interested in discussing implementing a recovery college on your campus.
Rachael Battistelli, Recovery College Implementation and Evaluation Coordinator
e: @email
t: 905-430-4055 ext. 6202
Resources
High level overview of program application and impact.
The toolkit is a practical resource for post-secondary institutions who are developing, leading, and supporting the implementation of a recovery college or sustaining and growing an existing recovery college.
References
Whish, R., Huckle, C. and Mason, O. (2022), "What is the impact of recovery colleges on students? A thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 17 No. 5, pp. 443-454. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-11-2021-0130
