Combatting Addiction & Supporting Recovery with Indiana's Only Recovery High School and Alternative Peer Group

1. Combatting Addiction & Supporting Recovery with Indiana’s Only Recovery High School and Alternative Peer Group Rachelle Gardner MA, LCAC Chief Operating Officer – Hope Academy Rachel Beehler, MSW, LSW Program Coordinator – Guiding Paths to Success

2. Objectives • Learn the clinical application of an alternative peer group and their role in adolescent recovery. • Gain knowledge of the effectiveness of recovery high schools. • Discover the amplifying impact of these two specialized environments.

3. The Healing Forest

7. How does society define our young people • Bad • Not worthy • Not able to change • Lock them up • Unmotivated • Defiant

8. Who are they really? • Highly intelligent • Kind • Wanting to make something of themselves • Compassionate • Depressed • Anxious

9. Top Substances Abused The majority of adolescents also reported using at least one other substance. The use of multiple substance is called polysubstance abuse. Adolescents Marijuana Alcohol Opioids Sedatives Meth

11. So what are some solutions for young people here in Indianapolis

12. The alternative peer group at Hope Academy

13. Alternative Peer Group (APG) An evidence-based, peer-based, family centered program promoting positive peer support for young people and their families struggling with substance use, abuse, and dependence APGs Incorporate • Case Management • Psychosocial Education • Family Support • Counseling • Community Recovery Support • Social Functions

14. 1Johnston, O’Malley, Miech, Bachman, Schulenberg, 20142Rochat et al., 2011 1 in 4 high school students report drinking to intoxication at least once in the past 2 weeks1 1 in 15 report daily or near-daily use of marijuana2

15. Of youth who receive treatment for substance use, abuse, or dependence, 85% relapse within the first year with the majority relapsing within the first 90 days Gonzales, Anglin, Beattie, Ong, Glik, 2014

16. APGs have been shown to increase rates of abstinence by 200-300% Over 89% of youth who completed an APG program reported 2-year rates of sobriety Nash, 2016; Rochat et al., 2011

17. Significantly better perceptions of inter-peer relationships • Academic outcomes improve • Parents are satisfied with the success of APGs Rochat et al., 2011

19. Activities Check-In / Check-Outs Life & Social Skills Development Group Therapy Multi-Family Group Therapy Family Therapy Recovery Workshop Community Recovery Meeting Relapse Prevention Social Activity

21. Level System • Level 1 (min. 90 days) – During this time, the group member will: • Obtain a GPS mentor • Complete a recovery plan • Participate in at least three individual and three family therapy sessions • Establish family contract and abstinence plan • Maintain at least ninety days of abstinence • Level 2 (min. 30 days) - During this time, the group member will: • Continue to abide by family contract and abstinence plan • Continue to participate in individual and family therapy sessions as deemed appropriate • Maintain at least four months of abstinence

22. Level System Continued • Level 3 (min. 30 days) - During this time, the group member will: • Demonstrate knowledge of and use of coping mechanisms and support systems • Become eligible to begin as a GPS mentor • Maintain at least five months of abstinence • Level 4 (min. 30 days) – During this time, the group member will: • Remain active as a GPS mentor • Complete service project • Maintain at least six months of abstinence

23. GPS Members • Young people ages 14 –19 • Experienced adverse effects relating to substance use, abuse, or dependence

24. GPS Costs • $25/ day (sliding fee scale available) • Includes: • Supervision • Homework help/ tutoring • Food • Social activities • Individual therapy • Family therapy • Group therapy

25. Hope Academy is a tuition-free, public charter high school for students in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. As the only recovery school in Indiana, the school provides opportunities for academic achievement, sobriety and personal growth. Students take all required courses to achieve a Core 40 diploma. As one of the first schools accredited by the Association of Recovery Schools, Hope Academy adapts to the needs of substance impacted youth by providing recovery support during school, small class sizes and individualized instruction. Substance Abuse in Adolescents • 1.3 million young people between the ages of 12 and 17 are affected by substance use disorders (SUDs) in the U.S.  • 7 - 9% of adolescents in the United States meet the the criteria for alcohol or illicit substance use disorders. • 47% of young people in 8th through 12th grade admitted to use of illicit drugs in the past 30-days, and almost one-third (28.4%) consumed alcohol within the same timespan.

26. Why do we need Recovery Schools? • The first 60 days after treatment completion when the youth returns home, is often the of greatest risk of relapse, with the school environment sitting at the heart of this threat. • Students report being offered drugs upon returning to school within the first 24 hours. • Students in Recovery need an environment that provides understanding of their disease and constant support for their issues • Substance impacted kids develop unique characteristics which impact traditional learning • Education can support the academic success of students through best practices and research • Kids are more successful in recovery when they stay connected to a recovery system/ community

27. Outcomes • 68 students served during the 2018-2019 school year. • 8729 days of sobriety were collected by the student body in semester one of the 2018-20199 school year. • 40% increase in grade point average for students with over 200 days of sobriety. • Attendance rate for 2018was 95% • 94% of credits attempted were earned by students in 2018. • Prior to attending Hope Academy, our students are typically one to two semesters behind in earned credits necessary to earn a Core 40 diploma.

28. Outcomes • 37 different schools served during the 2018-2019 school year in addition to students from Ohio, Georgia, and Mexico. • 89% of students enrolled at Hope Academy for at least one year showed growth in their standardized test scores for reading. • 40% increase in grade point average for students with over 200 days of sobriety.

29. Tuition-free, Indiana public charter high school for students in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction • The only recovery high school in Indiana • Provides a supportive community for students to maintain their sobriety and receive a Core 40 diploma • One of seven recovery high schools in the United States accredited by the Association of Recovery High Schools • Hope Academy opened in 2006, has served 600 plus students, and has graduated over 160

30. Substance Impacted Students Behavior barriers • Unable to self-regulate • Acting out • Aggressiveness • Escalatory behavior • General boundary problems • Poor error detection and correction • Disengagement and withdrawal • Sadness and depression From research compiled by Sig Zielke, PhD

31. Substance Impacted Students Academic Barriers • Fragmented learning • Memory and information processing difficulty • Poor language development • Poor motor skills • High number of learning disabilities From research compiled by Sig Zielke, PhD

32. Substance Impacted Students Readiness & “pathways” barriers • Irregular attendance • Forgetting things • Not bringing in or completing work • Poor physical care • Lack of sleep From research compiled by Sig Zielke, PhD

33. Hope Academy ServicesOffering support to students in all phases of drug and alcohol use Experimenting Using Addicted

34. ServicesEducational / Clinical Support within the school • Drug and alcohol education to students • Hope Academy will provide to schools and/or districts speakers who can present to small or large group settings about the challenges of drugs and alcohol. These speakers would include peer presenters as well as parents and/or Hope clinical staff • Professional Development training to school or district staff • Hope Academy can conduct PD sessions at both the district and school level on current trends of drug use, the signs and effects of drugs and how best to discuss this with parents and students • Drug and alcohol resource to schools • Hope Academy will serve as an additional resource for schools and/or parents of a student when there is a drug or alcohol related issue • Hope can provide a clinical screen to help determine the extent of the student’s issue • Attendance at drug or alcohol disciplinary (expulsion hearings) • A representative from Hope Academy can attend drug or alcohol hearings to provide clinical perspective • Hope can provide a screen as an additional data point to consider in the decision

35. ServicesSupport outside of the school setting • Alternative to suspension • Rather than serving a suspension in a room at the school or at home, the student would serve part of their suspension at Hope Academy as an “alternative placement” • This half day session (2-5) allows the child to continue their education while attending counseling on drugs and alcohol related issues • This improves the sending school’s attendance record (A-F Grade) and allows them to address the substance issue rather than merely punish the student • Students would come to Hope for a minimum of 5 days and maximum of 45 days • Initial plans for Hope would be to cap this at 10 students prior to expansion (morning program and/or more students) • Transfer to Hope Academy in lieu of expulsion • Schools do not want to expel a student. It reflects poorly upon them and is not in the best interest of the student • Hope Academy will allow the sending school to transfer a student (1 semester minimum) instead of an expulsion

36. Map of Recovery Schools

38. Questions and Comments

39. Contact and Enrollment Information Rachelle Gardner – MA, LCAC Chief Operating Officer - Hope Academy rgardner@fairbankscd.org www.hopeacademyrhs.org 317.572.9382 Rachel Beehler, MSW, LSW GPS Program Coordinator rbeehler@fairbankscd.org (317) 806- 7530