{"id":942,"date":"2025-07-17T20:22:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T20:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/?page_id=942"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:28:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T15:28:59","slug":"guidelines-around-programming-in-the-recovery-space","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/guidelines-around-programming-in-the-recovery-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Guidelines around Programming in the Recovery Space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Start with principles: equity, privacy, safety, and trauma-informed practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Equitable access &amp; neutrality.<\/strong> Library programs and spaces must be offered on an equitable basis regardless of beliefs or affiliations. Build your program and meeting-room policies to reflect the <strong>Library Bill of Rights<\/strong> and ALA\u2019s guidance on meeting rooms and library-initiated programs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/intfreedom\/librarybill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Patron privacy.<\/strong> Treat participation lists, referrals, and program feedback as sensitive data. Follow ALA\u2019s <strong>Privacy Toolkit<\/strong> and checklists when using sign-ups, third-party platforms, analytics, and room-use logs. Don\u2019t collect more than you need; default to opt-in. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/aboutala\/privacy-tool-kit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trauma-informed approach.<\/strong> Train staff and design programs around SAMHSA\u2019s six principles: <strong>safety; trust &amp; transparency; peer support; collaboration &amp; mutuality; empowerment\/voice\/choice; cultural, historical &amp; gender humility.<\/strong> Reflect these in room setup, facilitation norms, and communications. <a href=\"https:\/\/library.samhsa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/sma14-4884.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAMHSA Librar<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/mental-health\/trauma-violence\/trauma-informed-approaches-programs?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">y<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Co-design with experts: peers, public health, and recovery partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Partner early.<\/strong> Successful library responses to the opioid crisis paired librarians with health departments, harm-reduction groups, hospitals, and recovery community organizations. Use OCLC\/WebJunction\/PLA\u2019s case studies and support kit as a blueprint for roles, MOUs, outreach, and evaluation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/pla\/issues\/opioidcrisisresponse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Include peer support workers.<\/strong> Peer specialists extend reach, reduce stigma, and improve engagement. Align roles with <strong>SAMHSA\u2019s peer support guidance and core competencies<\/strong>; if you host peer-led groups, reflect this in job\/volunteer descriptions and supervision. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/technical-assistance\/brss-tacs\/peer-support-workers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAMHSA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Language &amp; messaging that reduce stigma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use person-first, recovery-oriented language<\/strong> in flyers, intros, and press. Replace labels (\u201caddict,\u201d \u201cabuser\u201d) with \u201cperson with a substance use disorder\u201d; emphasize recovery as possible and common. Share a simple \u201cWords Matter\u201d table with staff and partners. <a href=\"https:\/\/nida.nih.gov\/research-topics\/addiction-science\/words-matter-preferred-language-talking-about-addiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) Program formats that work in libraries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low-barrier, high-dignity offerings<\/strong> observed across public libraries include: community forums with health partners; drop-in resource tables; peer-led support groups; naloxone trainings with public health; \u201crecovery-ready\u201d collections and displays; and pathways to treatment and housing supports. Expect variable attendance; several libraries reported cancellations until trust and word-of-mouth built up. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/content\/dam\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis-case-studies.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Meeting rooms and outside groups.<\/strong> If you allow public use, apply policies consistently and content-neutral; publish how rooms are scheduled, what data you collect, and your code of conduct. Consult ALA interpretations and Q&amp;A to calibrate neutrality, sponsorship, and behavior rules. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/intfreedom\/librarybill\/interpretations\/meetingrooms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5) Safety planning, overdose response, and local law checks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Coordinate with public health<\/strong> on on-site trainings, response protocols, and signage. Research shows bystander-administered <strong>naloxone is safe and effective<\/strong>; if your jurisdiction and board permit stocking it, integrate into staff safety plans and refreshers. (Moustaqim-Barrette et. al., 2021).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Good Samaritan\/Naloxone laws vary by state.<\/strong> Work with city\/county counsel or health dept and consult authoritative legal maps (PDAPS; Network for Public Health Law; LAPPA) before implementing overdose response or distributing supplies. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.networkforphl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/50-State-Survey-Harm-Reduction-Laws-in-the-United-States.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Network for Public Health Law<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental &amp; operations realities.<\/strong> Libraries have faced contamination closures and complex safety tradeoffs; build proactive cleaning, restroom monitoring, and vendor plans alongside compassionate service and outreach. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6) Staff preparation &amp; care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Multi-tier training.<\/strong> Start with trauma-informed service; add de-escalation, culturally responsive practice, stigma-free communication, and referral pathways. Use SAMHSA\u2019s Evidence-Based Practices Center for vetted resources; document competencies. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/libraries\/evidence-based-practices-resource-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAMHSA<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Normalize debriefs.<\/strong> Recovery-adjacent work can be emotionally heavy; schedule brief post-program huddles, set up EAP\/peer support for staff, and rotate duties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7) Inclusion, access, and cultural humility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Design for different audiences.<\/strong> Offer women-only, men-only, and all-gender spaces as appropriate; youth\/young-adult friendly times; and sensory-considerate rooms. Co-create with local RCOs and peer leaders to ensure cultural fit. (See OCLC\/PLA case libraries for models.) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8) Communications &amp; outreach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tell recovery-positive stories<\/strong> (with consent) and share practical entry points (helplines, calendars, rides, childcare notes). Use cross-promotion via city\/county partners; case studies show civic amplification boosts reach and legitimacy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Collections as program companions.<\/strong> Recovery-focused book giveaways and multilingual materials can be part of a program strategy and have been piloted in major cities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9) Measurement &amp; learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Right-size evaluation.<\/strong> Track outputs that don\u2019t compromise privacy (attendance bands, resource uptake, referrals made, post-session \u201cwas this helpful?\u201d dots), plus qualitative stories from partners. OCLC case studies flag that programs often start small; iterate with partners and adjust formats\/time slots. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/content\/dam\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis-case-studies.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick \u201cRecovery-Ready Program\u201d Checklist (adapt or paste into policy)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Policy alignment confirmed (meeting rooms, privacy, code of conduct). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/intfreedom\/librarybill\/interpretations\/meetingrooms\/\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Partner(s) secured with roles\/MOU (public health, RCO, peer org). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/research\/publications\/2020\/oclcresearch-call-to-action-public-libraries-and-the-opioid-crisis.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff trained (trauma-informed, stigma-free language, referrals). <a href=\"https:\/\/library.samhsa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/sma14-4884.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAMHSA <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Safety plan in place (when to call EMS; naloxone protocol if applicable; incident debrief). (Moustaqim-Barrette et al., 2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communications vetted for person-first language and clear logistics. <a href=\"https:\/\/nida.nih.gov\/nidamed-medical-health-professionals\/health-professions-education\/words-matter-terms-to-use-avoid-when-talking-about-addiction\/\">National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data-minimization &amp; privacy practices set for registration\/feedback. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/privacy\/checklists\/OPAC\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/privacy\/checklists\/OPAC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluation approach chosen (no PII; share-outs with partners). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/content\/dam\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis-case-studies.pdf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>ALA.<\/strong> Library Bill of Rights; Meeting Rooms interpretation; Programming guidance; Privacy Toolkit &amp; Checklists. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/intfreedom\/librarybill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feuerstein-Simon, R., Lowenstein, M., Dupuis, R., Dolan, A., Marti, X. L., Harvey, A., &#8230; &amp; Cannuscio, C. C. (2022). <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s10900-021-01048-2\">Substance use and overdose in public libraries: Results from a five-state survey in the US<\/a>.&nbsp;<em>Journal of community health<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>47<\/em>(2), 344-350.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law &amp; policy (confirm locally before acting).<\/strong> PDAPS state maps (Good Samaritan; naloxone protections); Network for Public Health Law summaries. <a href=\"https:\/\/pdaps.org\/datasets\/good-samaritan-overdose-laws-1501695153\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pdaps.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moustaqim-Barrette, A., Papamihali, K., Williams, S., Ferguson, M., Moe, J., Purssell, R., &amp; Buxton, J. A. (2021). Adverse events related to bystander naloxone administration in cases of suspected opioid overdose in British Columbia: an observational study. PLoS One, 16(10), e0259126.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NIDA\/NIH &amp; ASAM.<\/strong> \u201cWords Matter\u201d language guidance for talking about addiction (stigma-reducing, person-first). <a href=\"https:\/\/nida.nih.gov\/research-topics\/addiction-science\/words-matter-preferred-language-talking-about-addiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>OCLC \/ WebJunction \/ PLA<\/strong>: <em>Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities<\/em> (report + case studies + support kit). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oclc.org\/research\/publications\/2019\/oclcresearch-public-libraries-respond-to-opioid-crisis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OCLC<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PLA (ALA).<\/strong> Opioid Crisis Response portal (links to training and tools). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/pla\/issues\/opioidcrisisresponse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Library Association<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SAMHSA.<\/strong> Trauma-Informed approach (six principles); Peer Support workers &amp; core competencies; Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center. <a href=\"https:\/\/library.samhsa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/sma14-4884.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAMHSA <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1) Start with principles: equity, privacy, safety, and trauma-informed practice 2) Co-design with experts: peers, public health, and recovery partners 3) Language &amp; messaging that reduce stigma 4) Program formats that work in libraries 5) Safety planning, overdose response, and local law checks 6) Staff preparation &amp; care 7) Inclusion, access, and cultural humility 8) &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/guidelines-around-programming-in-the-recovery-space\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Guidelines around Programming in the Recovery Space&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-942","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=942"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1084,"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942\/revisions\/1084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lacl.missouri.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}