About VARR

We Are Virginia’s Unified Voice for Recovery Housing

Our mission is to set high levels of standards for quality recovery residences in Virginia and accredit residences that meet such rigorous criteria in order to support persons in recovery with information and access to recovery residences bound together by the core principles of standards, ethics, and unity.

Vision Statement

As Virginia’s only NARR accredited body, VARR monitors, evaluates, and improves standards to build the highest level of quality for recovery residences; so all Virginian’s have timely access to effective recovery support services.

History of VARR

VARR was established in 2012 as the Virginia state affiliate for NARR (National Association of Recovery Residences), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the availability of well-operated, ethical and supportive recovery housing. NARR has developed the most widely referenced national standard for the operation of recovery residences and work with and support 30 state affiliate organizations.

Continued expansion of VARR included the development of a partnership with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), as well as other community stakeholders. Through this, VARR was able to help guide efforts for state certification of recovery homes in 2018.

In mid-2019, VARR announced the hiring of their first full time and paid Executive Director, Anthony Grimes. With a full-time Executive Director in place, and with staunch advocacy efforts, VARR has been able to secure significant funding to support persons seeking recovery from SUD and certified recovery residences in Virginia. With funding, VARR has established a successful model to support individuals with financial barriers seeking recovery support services; has supported capacity expansion of recovery support services in rural and underserved communities; and has helped to create and support staff peer positions at recovery organizations.

In early 2020, VARR began pioneering the use of the REC-CAP in recovery residences throughout the Commonwealth. The REC-CAP is an evidence based recovery planning and assessment tool. In collaboration with Dr. David Best and the Recovery Outcomes Institute, there are ongoing research efforts around the REC-CAP and its use in VARR recovery residences. There has been one published research paper using REC-CAP data from VARR certified recovery residences. Currently, there are multiple research papers being developed around REC-CAP data in Virginia.

VARR hosted NARR’s Best Practices Summit in both 2021 and 2022.

Recently, in 2022, VARR, the DBHDS and Ampact launched the Recovery Corps in Virginia. The Recovery Corps program placed 35 individuals at different Recovery Community Organizations (RCO’s) across the state of Virginia. These individuals get job experience for a year, the training and support needed to become Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS), and receive educational grants. VARR  has grown to include four full-time staff members who all identify as persons in recovery from SUD and have experience working in recovery residence operations, including current Executive Director, Anthony Grimes. VARR continues to be dedicated to representing Virginia as their unified voice for recovery housing.

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What We Do

  • Create, monitor, evaluate, and continually improve recovery residence standards and measures of quality;
  • Accredit recovery residences who meet criteria and standards of VARR;
  • A voice for social model recovery programs in Virginia, which includes recovery treatment programs that provide housing to clients;
  • Ensure ethical practices in certified recovery residences;
  • Maintain a forum for exchanging ideas, lending support, problem solving, and developing new and existing residential programs;
  • Provide education, training and information on best practices
  • Promote recovery within the community;
  • Ensure quality and safe recovery residences, through our accreditation processes.

Milestones & Accomplishments

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