A workgroup tasked with making recommendations to enhance oversight of recovery residences held its first meeting on May 29; several local government representatives are participating on behalf of VACo and the Virginia Municipal League. Legislation that passed in the 2025 session required the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene the workgroup as the next step in a process of establishing credentialing guidelines for recovery residences, which provide alcohol- and drug-free housing to individuals with substance use disorders. VACo supported this bill, which was introduced at the request of Henrico County.
Under current law, recovery residences must be certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) in accordance with regulations, which now require an Oxford House Charter or a credential from the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences; failure to comply could result in a civil penalty of $200-$1,000. Beginning July 1, all facilities providing recovery housing must be certified, with noncompliance a Class 1 misdemeanor; conditional certification will be permitted for up to nine months while the facility achieves full certification. The workgroup’s recommendations are intended to guide the development of a new certification process, which would include a uniform set of certification criteria for all recovery residences, with credentialing guidelines to be implemented by the Department, to include elements such as training and standards for recovery residence operators and house managers; a Residents’ Bill of Rights; a process for investigation of complaints; protocols for sanctions on recovery residences, including decertification; and methods for localities to conduct fire, building, safety, and health inspections.
As part of the workgroup’s introductory meeting, the following questions were posed for discussion. Two subcommittees will be formed to discuss these issues in more depth:
- What criteria should be included in the uniform certification process for all recovery residences to ensure fairness and consistency, considering the diversity of recovery models?
- How can DBHDS ensure transparency regarding the certification of recovery residences, including clear communication about the certification status, results, and inspection processes to residents and the public?
- What specific information should be included on the DBHDS website for each recovery residence to foster trust and informed decision-making among residents and their families?
- How can the workgroup ensure that the credentialing process is not overly burdensome to recovery residence operators, while still maintaining high standards for safety, timeliness in its credentialing process, and effectiveness?
The subcommittees will be meeting during the summer, with several additional meetings of the full workgroup also planned to finalize recommendations in advance of the report’s November 1 due date.
VACo Contacts: Katie Boyle and Joe Lerch, AICP