Level 3.1 and Recovery Housing –A Crucial Component in the ‘Continuum of Care’
Halfway House (Level 3.1)
A Halfway House is a residential program licensed by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to deliver a 3.1 level of care for individuals who are “capable of self-care, but not ready to return to family or independent living”. Residents receive at least 5 hours/week of clinical treatment directed toward preventing relapse, applying recovery skills, and reintegrating into the community, as well as either withdrawal management or medication-assisted treatment.
Recovery Residence
A Recovery Residence is a residential program that is NOT licensed, supervised or regulated by MDH. Residents MAY have been assessed as needing a 3.1 level of care (halfway house). Up until 2017, these programs were not monitored by MDH and had no programmatic oversight. MDH is working with the owners/operators, and the National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR), to develop a statewide set of consistent and uniform programmatic standards and criteria for the operation of these privately owned and operated residences, in order to ensure a high quality of care for the vulnerable population which they serve. These residences provide an environment conducive to recovery, free of alcohol and illicit drugs. The program MAY contract with a clinician to offer outpatient clinical treatment and MAY offer peer support services –provided by individuals who are in recovery from mental health or substance-use disorders, and who use their personal ‘lived experience’ and training to support other individuals with mental health or substance-use disorders. These programs have staff – typically a house manager – who MAY or MAY NOT be state certified or trained.
Oxford House
An Oxford House is a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home, where residents are expected to be capable of independent living. These residences do not offer or require clinical care and there is no MDH licensing or oversight involved. This option works for individuals who are stable in their recovery and simply desire affordable living with housemates who are also ‘in recovery’ or practicing abstinence.