UARCO Overview

The United Alliance for Recovery Community Organizations Standards (UARCO) was created in 2021. The National Alliance for Recovery Residences Standards (NARR) provided the model of standards and certification that UARCO has utilized for recovery community organizations (RCOs).

Recovery community organizations are independent organizations that are led and governed by representatives of their local recovery community. They provide a physical space for recovery support services, recovery-focused activities, and recovery-focused community education and outreach. This is a safe and healthy environment to encourage peer support for people suffering from a substance use disorder.

The UARCO Standards have five core principles that are tailored to meet the social model of recovery while encompassing a recovery community organization’s governance, infrastructure, operations, community engagement, and outcomes.