Become a Certified Recovery Residence

Ensuring Safe and Supportive Environments

Certification is now available for Recovery Residences in New York State.  

This new voluntary certification aims to ensure that these residences provide safe, high-quality care in a substance-free, home-like environment.

Recovery Residences are the first recovery support service to be certified in New York. The implementation of Part 860 Recovery Residencies Regulations (PDF) on September 25, 2024, represents a significant step forward for recovery support. It also underscores the importance of recovery as a critical service for individuals affected by substance use disorders. 

There are many benefits to certification.

• Commitment to Excellence - Demonstrate your commitment to excellence and the crucial role of high-quality services for those affected by substance use disorder. Ensure that individuals in need of a residential recovery environment receive safe and high-quality care. More effectively reach and meet the needs of people in recovery. 
• Enhance Trust and Credibility - By obtaining OASAS certification, you can demonstrate that your recovery residence meets recognized standards for quality and legitimacy in the field of addiction recovery support services. This certification can help build trust and confidence in your services, potentially attracting more residents and enhancing your reputation. 
• Ongoing Support and Guidance - Receive access to extensive supports, resources, and guidance critical to operating an effective, safe, and quality recovery residence. 

In order to be certified, residences must:

• Adopt written policies and procedures that reflect national and local standards, as well as the operator's vision for implementing the 860 regulations and guidance. 
• Adhere to OASAS-defined provider obligations and ethical considerations.  
• Meet federal, state, and local housing codes and laws. 

Visit the following links for access to essential information on operations, principles, and best practices of certified Recovery Residences. This includes the rights and responsibilities of providers and residents, as well as incident reporting procedures.

• Recovery Residences Guidance - This guidance provides supplementary information on Part 860 requirements and Recovery Residence operations.
• Foundational Principles - Recovery principles and philosophies that provide a foundation for Recovery Residences.
• Best and Promising Practices - Recommended practices for successful operations in Recovery Residences.
• Provider Responsibilities - List of required responsibilities of certified Recovery Residence providers.
• Resident Responsibilities - List of required responsibilities of residents.
• Resident Rights - List of required rights of residents.
• Recovery Services Incident Reporting Guidance - Information on incident reporting procedures and requirements for all recovery support service providers and programs.

To request a PDF version of the guidance materials, please email [email protected].