Vermont health department says recovery residence certification should remain voluntary, seeks rulemaking authority and data collection

At a meeting of the House Housing and Services Committee, Kelly Dougherty, Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, briefed members on the department's report on the recovery residence certification program required by Act 163 of last year.

Dougherty told the committee that recovery residences are "basically sober living environments for people who generally are in early recovery" and distinguished them from recovery centers, which are nonprofit brick-and-mortar organizations that provide drop-in services and peer recovery coaching. She said the department's report reflects extensive stakeholder engagement and recommends giving the department rulemaking authority to establish regulations for recovery residences and the authority to select the certifying body.

The department identified the Vermont Alliance of Recovery Residences (VITAR) as the current certifying affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). Dougherty said VITAR has operated in Vermont since 2019, requires documentation and annual inspections, and charges a $250 flat…