A message from Kristin & John Garbett, Founding Partners CRAFTCONNECT

Friend, If you have a substance use disorder, the “We Recover Together” program was created to support you and your family after treatment. This program is not about ontrol, judgment, or telling you how to live your life. You stay in charge of your own recovery and move forward at your own pace. The goal of this program is to help family members learn healthier ways to communicate and respond. When families change how they respond, daily life often feels less stressful. Pressure goes down. Conflict happens less often. Conversations become calmer and clearer. This makes it easier for you to focus on your own recovery goals. The only expectations are your weekly participation and a willingness to try.

PROGRAM ORIENTATION

1. Families Heal Best When They Heal Together

This program is for families who are thinking about life after treatment or who are already in the transition period after their loved one has completed treatment. When one person in a family struggles the whole family often feels it. Stress grows. Fear shows up. Daily life can change. Talking may feel harder. Trust may feel weaker. Children may worry. Adults may feel tired or unsure what to do. You are not alone. Many families feel this way. Well supported research shows that when families learn and heal together, everyone does better. When only one family member gets help, the rest of the family often feels left out. They want to help and may not know how. Families learn together as part of We Recover Together program, so every member feels safe. Talking gets easier. Families feel closer. Healing together does not mean blaming anyone. It does not mean forcing change. It means learning side by side. It means growing as a team.

Discuss: How has one person’s struggle affected your whole family?

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2. Helps Fill the “Gap”

Many families watch their loved one complete treatment feeling unsure about what comes next. They want to help and often do not know how. This program begins after treatment ends and focuses on helping families during the transition that follows. We Recover Together helps fill the gap during this post-treatment period. It is made for real life. It gives families clear steps and simple tools they can use right away. In regularly scheduled weekly in person or online meetings, families learn how to:

·      Live with a substance use or mental health disorder, instead of fighting against it

·      Step out of cycles of arguing, nagging, or threatening

·      See recovery as progress, not perfection

·      Support recovery plans in kind and steady ways

·      Talk about triggers and warning signs early

·      Plan for needs like housing, money, or transportation

·      Feel calmer and less afraid

·      Notice and celebrate small recovery wins

Discuss: What feels most confusing or hard for your family after treatment?

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3. Everyone Has Their Own Recovery

We Recover Together teaches that everyone in your family matters. This includes the family member with the disorder and the people who care about them. Each person has their own recovery. Each person is responsible for their own growth, see the “How Am I Doing Worksheet”. No one is asked to fix someone else. No one is blamed. This program is not about control. In this shared and safe approach, family members keep progress going by supporting healthy choices. Improve relationships by talking in safe and honest ways. Build trust and joy by sharing positive moments together

Discuss: What does it mean that each person in your family has their own recovery?

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4. Recovery is a Journey of Growth

Recovery is progress, not perfection. Recovery is about growing over time. It is learning how to live a healthier life, one step at a time. Recovery does not look the same for everyone. Some people return home after treatment. Some move into sober or assisted living. Others live on their own, near family or far away. Each family’s next steps are different. There is no “one-size-fits-all”. Recovery does not mean problems disappear. There are good days and hard days. Setbacks can happen. This does not mean failure. It means learning. Many people need more than one round of treatment before change lasts. Each step forward still matters. We Recover Together helps families believe again. It helps everyone see what is possible.

Discuss: How does thinking “progress, not perfection” help when setbacks happen?

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5. Healing Together, Day by Day

Research shows that recovery lasts longer when families are appropriately involved. When people feel supported and respected, hope grows. When families work together, healing becomes stronger. Healing does not only happen in treatment. Healing happens at home, in daily life, and in relationships. We Recover Together helps families notice small chances for change. It teaches simple steps that feel possible, even on hard days. Over time, families often feel less tense. They feel more connected. They begin to enjoy time together again. This program supports families as they learn a healthier, more sustainable role.

Discuss: Can you share an example of your family working together on recovery?

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6. Three Simple Steps

·      Self-Assessment. Each family member learns about their values, strengths, and needs. This helps everyone understand themselves better.

·      Program Orientation. Your group meets online with a CRAFTCONNECT Coach. The coach explains the program and helps your family get ready to start.

·      Weekly Recovery Meetings. Your group meets each week on the same day and time, either online or in person, for a maximum of 30 minutes. You talk about progress, how to support one another, make commitments and decide as a group how you will celebrate recovery. Please review the “Weekly Recovery Meeting Format Handout”.

7. Hope to Keep Going

Hope means believing that change is possible. Hope helps you keep trying, even when life feels hard. We Recover Together offers simple practical skills that help families grow after treatment ends. You do not have to be ready for everything. You only need to be willing to begin. If your group feels stuck, a CRAFTCONNECT Coach can help you get “unstuck”. All you need is internet access and a desire to support one another.

Discuss: What helps you feel hopeful enough to keep going, even on hard days?
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8. Group Commitments Before Starting

Before starting We Recover Together, all group members agree to:

·      Read the “We Recover Together Guidebook”

·      Complete the Self-Assessments. See Guidebook appendix

·      Decide who is in your “family” group. Complete the “Who Are My Family? Worksheet”

·      Choose a regular weekly meeting day and time to meet.