"Bridging The Gap - The Voice Recovery"
Sober Living Environments
(SLE)
Adopted By the
Illinois Association of Extended Care Facilities
From the
California Association of Alcoholic Recovery Homes
Adopted July 7, 1994
Revised May 2006
Revised October 2008
Agency/Site Address: ____________________________________
Agency Phone: _________________________________________
Contact Name: __________________________________________
Date of Inspection: _______________________________________
Date of Approval: ________________________________________
Signature of Inspector: ____________________________________
GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETING CHECK LIST
The ratings on the checklist are defined as follows:
1: Fully acceptable
2: Needs Improvement
3: Not Acceptable
Fully Acceptable: Fully meets the type, quality and quantity of the requirement in the Sober Living Environment Standards.
Needs Improvements: Exists, but is not up to the general quality found in most programs.
Not Acceptable: Completely non-existent, or of such poor quality that for all intents and purposes it does not exist, or is completely inconsistent with SLE guidelines and principles.
In order for the program to be included in the registry, and to receive a certificate of registration, it must have all “Fully Acceptable”.
If the program has any “Not Acceptable” it will not be registered. The program may apply again, and must submit a written statement that indicates the changes made in the not acceptable category.
If the program has any “Needs Improvements” it will be titled “Registration Pending” until the deficiency is corrected as determined by the review team.
PROCESS
If a program desires to be registered with IAEC it will submit an application with a fee. IAEC will then schedule a visit to the program. At least two persons from “Registered” programs will be asked to make a site visit and review the program according to the established process. They will make their recommendations to IAEC.
The program may appeal the decision through the Executive Committee of IAEC. The Association’s decision will be final.
In the past few years there has been a proliferation of Sober Living Environments throughout the State. The purpose of a Sober Living Environment (SLE) is to offer a housing alternative to individuals who are recovering form alcohol and or drug addiction. SLE’s offer a supportive non-drinking environment to persons who would otherwise find themselves limited to housing space that is not conducive to recovery. These environments are not subject to licensing by any State agency and are not subject to certification or accreditation. As a result SLE’s have not been associated with the larger movement in some instances.
The Illinois Association of Extended Care (IAEC) endorsed the concept of sober living, and the establishment of Sober Living Environments. It has been our experience that a majority of persons leaving our recovery programs do not have access to affordable sober living accommodations. We have also learned through our experiences that the longer a person is exposed to and part of a sober community, the better his or her chances are for long time recovery. Many of our programs have established “alumni houses”, resident run housing, recovery homes, three quarter-way houses, etc. We have encouraged our graduates to seek other sober individuals and to live in a sober environment.
We have been concerned about the reported misconduct in some living environments, which have been identified with the sober living movement. We are working with programs throughout the state, and have been involved with community groups who are trying to reduce the number of abuses. As a result, IAEC has adopted from the California Association of Alcoholic Recovery Homes, minimum standards for Sober Living Environments. We are circulating these standards in the communities around the State. We are incorporating suggestions from individuals and the final standards soon to be available for groups contacting our office who are interested in establishing SLE’s. Standards are the first step in asking the industry to regulate itself. The second step is to establish a process where by programs can be recognized by their peers for meeting the minimum standards.
IAEC will be establishing a registration process for homes meeting the Sober Living Standards. It is not a certification or accreditation but rather an acknowledgement that a home states that it meets the SLE Standards, declares that it will continue to abide by the Standards, and is visited on an annual basis by peers who witness the environment and recognize that the program meets the minimum Standards. The name of the program will then be placed in an official Registry, and the program will receive a certificate.
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SOBER LIVING ENVIROMENT |
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2100 Physical Environment |
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2101. Architectural Aspects of Recovery Conducive Housing |
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Does the home design encourage social interaction? |
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Is the space adequate for all residents to meet for community events? |
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Are the entrances and exits secure and controlled? |
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Are the furnishings attractive and durable? |
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Is the home well maintained without obvious need of repair or paint? |
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Is the home clean throughout? |
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Are the grounds neat and attractive? |
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Does the home reflect its residents? |
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Are personal items displayed? |
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2102 Space |
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Is the home large enough to accommodate all residents comfortable? |
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Is there a living room with adequate space for social functions? |
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Is there a dining area furnished for group or individual meal service? |
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Are there separate sleeping areas with enough beds for each resident? |
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Are bathrooms conveniently located and adequate for the number of residents? (No more than 5 people per full bathroom) |
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Is there a kitchen with adequate cooking and storage space? |
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2103 Fire Safety |
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Is smoking prohibited in the sleeping areas? |
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If smoking is allowed, are there receptacles for proper disposal? |
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Are the living/sleeping areas free of combustible materials? |
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Are the cooking areas and stove free from grease accumulation? |
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Are the furniture and drapes of fire retardant materials? |
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Are there smoke detectors and fire extinguishers installed? |
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Are exit doors marked? |
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Does the home encourage fire drills? |
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2104 Health Standards |
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Is there adequate space for food storage? |
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Is food stored in covered containers, or properly wrapped? |
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Are perishable items refrigerated? |
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Are dishes and implements washed upon use? |
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Is there adequate hot water for dish washing? |
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Is bathroom space adequate for number of residents? |
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Are bathrooms clean? |
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Is personal privacy available in the bathrooms? |
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2200 Management |
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2200 Management Responsibility |
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Is the person in charge clearly identified to all residents? |
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If the person is designated, are the lines of authority clearly defined? |
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2203 Staffing |
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Is a person identified as responsible for the safety of the building? |
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Is a person or persons designated to be responsible for safety? |
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Is a person or persons designated to maintain records? |
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Is a person or persons designated to collect fees? |
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Is a person or persons designated to register and check out guests? |
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Is a person or persons designated to maintain rules of the house? |
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Is the NCRS or CADC Certificate on premises? |
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2300 Record Keeping |
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2301 Resident Records |
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Are formal records maintained? |
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Is personal data maintained that provides an identification profile and emergency contact? |
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Is a resident log maintained? |
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Is there a resident fee payment record? |
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2400 House Rules |
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Are the house rules clearly defined? |
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Is there a rule of no drinking or using alcohol and drugs at any time? |
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Is there a rule that no alcohol or drugs may be brought on the premises? |
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Is there a requirement that fees be paid on time? |
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Is a weekly house meeting required? |
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2500 Residency Requirements |
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Are the residency requirements clearly defined? |
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Do all residents desire to live a clean and sober life style? |
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Have all residents completed a formal recovery program or can document stability in a self help group? |
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Are all residents willing to abide by all the house rules? |
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Is there a signed residential agreement on file for each resident? |
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1= Fully Acceptable |
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2= Needs Improvement |
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3=Not Acceptable |
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