Mapping community assets that can help young people in recovery to thrive. in recovery to thrive

Mapping community assets that can help young people

in recovery to thrive.

Community Mapping is a dynamic discipline for creating an inventory of individual, organizational and physical assets that can inform and shape the practices of local place-based recovery efforts. The idea of mapping has roots in the community development process of uncovering local talents and gifts that can contribute to a healthy and thriving recovery community.

The true value of the mapping discipline, and why it is promoted as a keystone activity for capacity building, is the promotion of an ongoing process of outreach and relationship-building. Just as every recovery path is unique, so is every recovery community. It is the act of mapping that will reveal the unique characteristics and associations that can be brought to bear on helping you, as young people in recovery, to thrive in the fullness of your recovery journey.

Every community is rich in the life experiences it has to offer. Typically, only a fraction of a community’s assets are accessed fully by young people – whether they are in recovery or not. What we have found interesting is that recovery can open wide the doors to experiences that have long remained hidden. Providing access to and encouraging new relationships, support systems, life skills and educational resources is the intent behind any mapping effort – a discipline that yields those assets capable of providing access to the fullness of life experiences.

Add to The Map @ http://tyr.capacitype.com

Principles for mapping and buildingasset-rich recovery communitiesWalk the Talk; Talk the WalkUsing the common language of capacity building and community-based assets can bring together entire communities and strengthen the sense of belonging within groups. Recognize that this activity is as much about finding your assets as it is about building a sense of community and belonging.

Partner as Young People in RecoveryThis is easier said than done, but capacity building is all about the fundamental shift from people working for those in recovery to people working with those in recovery. You will find invaluable assistance from invested leaders in your community. Because they are more permanent fixtures within the community and can provide access to certain assets, those who are advocating on your behalf play a critical role in your efforts. They can provide needed guidance, open doors and create stability year-to-year as recovery communities grow and mature. The caution is not to underestimate the role you must play in cultivating relationships in your community. The easy solution is to ask others to find and mobilize community assets on your behalf.

Plan and Act at the Same TimePlanning provides a road map for where you want to go, who you want to talk with. But you can get trapped spending too much time planning and never advancing. The other extreme is to jump right in without much thought or planning. The best approach, in our experience, is to do both simultaneously. Develop an immediate plan for finding and mapping your community assets. At the same time, devote some energy to a bigger picture outlook for finding the type of assets that can best support for young people in recovery. Start acting on your immediate plan right away so people can see and experience capacity building.

Think Purpose, Then ProgramRelationships among all kinds of individuals and associations are what makes any capacity-building effort unique and special. In its early stages, capacity building is more about building positive relationships among young people and other community members than it is about starting new programs. This is about people and purpose first, with events and programs taking a supportive role.

Honor AnonymityThere will be cases when you feel it is important to maintain anonymity during the mapping process. While placing a focus on the development of individual recovery stories is meant to help overcome this barrier, what is most important is your engagement in the planning and evaluation process to foster a sense of connection and belonging within the community. In our experience, the “voice of the young person” often has the greatest influence.


Terminology

AssetAn asset can be a place, a resource, a service, an experience or a relationship. Focus is placed on finding individual and organizational assets in a community and mobilizing them into recovery practices and local coalitions.

PracticeA practice is the useful application of assets. For example, an AA community might be an asset, and a dedicated meeting space might also be an asset. Hosting regular AA meetings in the dedicated meeting space would be a practice.

CoalitionA coalition is an alliance of assets working together to remove barriers to local action and to build a community’s capacity for helping young people thrive in the fullness of their recovery journey.

NetworkNetworks are a means of connecting people, ideas and resources. The Capacitype network platform is intended to help local organizers amplify school-based efforts and connect recovery communities that span geographies.

CapacitypeCapacitypes (capacity types) are clusters of assets that are made visible so that those leading recovery efforts can look out, find and learn from what others are doing to build capacity in communities similar to their own.

Based on asset-based research being conducted by Transforming Youth Recovery, potential community assets are a composite of eight categories that combine to connect, support and serve young people in recovery.1. Advocacy and Public Policy2. Community College Recovery Support3. Health and Well-Being4. Higher Education Recovery Support (Collegiate Recovery Programs)5. K-12 Prevention and Family Support6. Recovery Support7. School-Based Recovery Support (Recovery High Schools)8. Treatment and Counseling

Mapping of collegiate recovery support efforts is expanded to include three programmatic categories (http://collegiaterecovery.capacitype.com)9. Collegiate Recovery Efforts10. Collegiate Recovery Programs11. Sober Housing

Mapping of school-based recovery support efforts follows definitions created during the 2013 Market Study for Recovery High Schools (http://recoveryschools.capacitype.com)• Recovery Schools Planned, Operating and Closed• Non-Traditional Schools• Recovery Support Programs• Therapeutic Boarding Schools• Treatment Center Schools• Traditional Schools



Public release of new community mapping platform (3.0) in August of 2014


Asset pages have been expanded to include tools to create and view community network models and community-specific practices.


The Community Network Model reveals a dynamic display of those connections that are helping to support and serve students and young people in recovery. Community leaders can use the model to explore the relationships, practices, and local coalitions that might extend the reach and influence of recovery efforts in their community.

The center point of the model is the recovery organization, program or effort being viewed.

The wide grey bands reflect the Relationshipbetween mapped assets (within a 100-mile radius)and the organization, program or effort.• Collaborator (light grey): Assets that are actively

engaged and participate with the recovery organization, program or effort.

• Friend (mid grey): Assets that are somewhat engaged and may participate with the recovery organization, program or effort.

• Possibility (dark grey): Assets not yet known by the recovery organization, program or effort.

The size of an asset appearing in the model indicates Use by Students or Community Members involved in therecovery organization, program or effort. Fromlargest to smallest size, use is defined as: High,Medium, Low, or Not Used

The location of an asset within its grey band is set according to Use for visual spacing. Higher utility assets (larger sized nodes) are pushed toward the outer rim of a band to avoid overlapping. Assets that are Not Used remain positioned on the outer rim of a band awaitinguse by students and young people in recovery.


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Mapping community assets that can help young people in recovery to thrive. in recovery to thrive