LGBTQIA+ 

This specialized track is designed for LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery, offering culturally responsive coaching tools tailored to the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. To provide participants with a strong foundation, completion of the Recovery Health Coach Training is required before enrolling in this track.

This program empowers participants to support their peers as they navigate substance use recovery and the intersectional experiences of identity, discrimination, and marginalization. Coaches will be equipped with the skills to provide compassionate, identity-affirming, and culturally sensitive support.

Who Is This For?

• LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery
• Allies and professionals who wish to enhance their ability to support LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery.
• Organizations serving LGBTQIA+ populations that want to build culturally competent coaching teams.

Learning Outcomes 

1. Identity-Affirming Coaching: Learn how to provide compassionate, culturally responsive coaching that honors the unique identities of LGBTQIA+ individuals in recovery.
2. Addressing Intersectionality: Understand how discrimination, marginalization, and identity-based trauma intersect with substance use and how to support individuals in navigating these challenges.
3. Building Resilience and Empowerment: Develop strategies to foster resilience and empowerment in LGBTQIA+ individuals as they work toward sustained recovery and personal growth.
4. Culturally Responsive Practices: Gain tools to offer coaching that is sensitive to the cultural, social, and emotional needs of LGBTQIA+ clients, promoting holistic and inclusive recovery.
5. Supporting Emotional Well-Being: Learn to support emotional well-being by creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and respected, while staying within the boundaries of a recovery coach’s role.
6. Promoting Belonging and Connection: Cultivate techniques to foster a strong sense of belonging and community among LGBTQIA+ individuals, helping them build supportive recovery networks.

Program Structure

12 hours of immersive learning, delivered over three 4-hour virtual sessions.

Course Fee

$425 USD

Reentry and Returning Individuals 

The Reentry and Returning Citizens Track is specifically designed to support Black, Hispanic, and other communities of color as they navigate the unique challenges of reentry after incarceration. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system and incarceration. For example, as of 2021, Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans, and Hispanic Americans at a rate 1.3 times higher than whites. The transition from prison to community is especially difficult for returning citizens from these populations, as they often face additional barriers related to racial inequity, economic marginalization, and discrimination.

Without proper support while incarcerated, there is a high probability of recurrence, overdose, and re-incarceration. The period immediately following release is particularly vulnerable due to forced abstinence during incarceration. Forced abstinence can significantly lower an individual’s tolerance to substances, making them more susceptible to overdose if they relapse upon release. Studies have shown that recently released individuals are up to 40 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose within the first two weeks after leaving prison compared to the general population.

This track empowers coaches to address the systemic inequities, social stigmas, and personal challenges that these returning citizens face. Participants will be equipped with tools and techniques necessary to guide individuals through reentry, helping them reclaim their lives, achieve sustainable recovery, and build a sense of purpose. By providing targeted support, we aim to reduce recidivism rates—which currently stand at about 70% within five years of release—and improve the overall well-being of returning citizens from marginalized communities.

Who Is This For?

• Peers: Individuals from Black, Hispanic, and other marginalized communities with lived experience of incarceration.
• Recovery Coaches: Coaches working with formerly incarcerated individuals who wish to provide support to this population.
• Reentry Program Workers: Individuals  working within community reentry programs and services

What You Will Learn

1. Understanding Systemic Barriers: Gain insight into how systemic inequities, racial discrimination, and social stigmas impact individuals returning from incarceration, and learn how to support them in navigating these challenges.
2. Building Resilience and Empowerment: Develop strategies to foster resilience and empowerment in formerly incarcerated individuals as they work toward sustained recovery and personal growth.
3. Culturally Responsive Practices: Acquire tools to offer coaching that is sensitive to the cultural, social, and emotional needs of Black, Hispanic, and other communities of color, promoting holistic and inclusive recovery.
4. Supporting Emotional Well-Being: Learn to support the emotional and psychological well-being of returning citizens by creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and respected, while staying within the boundaries of a recovery coach’s role.
5. Facilitating Rebuilding and Reintegration: Cultivate techniques to assist formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives, including navigating housing, securing employment, rebuilding relationships, and managing the stigma of incarceration.
6. Promoting Financial Empowerment: Discover strategies to support clients in developing financial literacy, creating budgets, building savings, and accessing employment or entrepreneurial opportunities that do not discriminate based on criminal records, empowering them toward financial independence.
7. Fostering a Growth Mindset: Learn how to encourage a growth mindset and sense of purpose in returning citizens, guiding them to set meaningful goals for their future and take ownership of their recovery journey.
8. Reducing Overdose Risk: Understand how to mitigate the heightened risk of overdose for individuals returning from incarceration, especially those who lacked adequate addiction support while incarcerated.

Program Structure

12 hours of immersive learning, delivered over three 4-hour virtual sessions.

Course Fee

$425 USD

Veterans and Military Personnel 

The Veteran and Military Personnel Recovery Coaching Track, developed by the Sankofa Institute for Collective Wellbeing, is designed to empower veterans and military personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to support their peers facing addiction and substance use challenges. By drawing on the shared experience of military life, this program offers a space where veterans can guide each other toward recovery, focusing on resilience, wellness, and community support.

Why This Track is Important

Addiction and substance use are significant challenges within the veteran and military population, often driven by trauma, stress, isolation, and the complexities of transitioning back into civilian life. This track is designed to offer trauma-informed and culturally responsive coaching strategies that recognize the unique needs of veterans and promote long-term recovery and wellness.

Who Should Attend:

• Veterans and military personnel who have lived experience with addiction and recovery.
• Peer recovery coaches who work with veterans and wish to deepen their understanding of military-specific challenges.
• Providers and professionals who support veterans in addiction recovery settings.

What You Will Learn

1. Recovery in a Military Context
   Understand how addiction manifests within military life, including the stressors related to service, reintegration, and isolation. Learn how to approach addiction in a way that respects the unique culture of the military, acknowledging the complex issues veterans face such as survivor’s guilt, combat trauma, and the pressure to stay “strong.” Coaches will learn how to address these issues with empathy and authenticity, helping peers navigate the transition back to civilian life.
2. Addressing Trauma and Addiction in Military Populations
   Learn how to support veterans in exploring the root causes of their addiction, including service-related trauma, PTSD, and grief. Coaches will be trained to use trauma-informed approaches, offering a safe space for veterans to process their experiences and reduce emotional triggers that may lead to substance use.
3. Building Emotional and Mental Resilience
   This module focuses on strategies to help veterans reconnect with their emotions in a healthy way, fostering mental resilience and emotional intelligence. Participants will learn how to help veterans cope with emotional triggers, stress, and anxiety using practical tools for emotional regulation.
4. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
   The high-stress nature of military service leaves many veterans in a heightened state of arousal, making it difficult to relax or disengage from hypervigilance. Learn how to introduce mindfulness practices that help veterans calm the nervous system, manage anxiety, and reduce stress.

Program Structure 

This track consists of three 4-hour virtual sessions 

Course Fees

$425 USD

Newcomers and Global Citizens 

The Recovery Coaching Track for Newcomers and Global Citizens is designed to provide culturally sensitive and trauma-informed addiction recovery coaching, specifically supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds as they navigate the challenges of substance use and addiction. This program addresses the unique experiences of newcomers, global citizens, and immigrant populations, offering a comprehensive, community-centered approach to addiction recovery and wellness.

This track focuses on the intersection of cultural displacement, systemic discrimination, and trauma as contributing factors to substance use. It equips participants with tailored coaching methods to support individuals from African, Latin American, Haitian, and other immigrant populations on their recovery journey. Participants will also explore how the political and social landscape influences mental health and substance use patterns, providing the tools to offer compassionate, culturally informed support.

Why This Program Matters

Newcomers and global citizens often face significant trauma and stress related to displacement, systemic discrimination, and violence. These experiences increase the risk of substance use and addiction, which can be exacerbated by barriers to mental health services and recovery support in their new environments. For individuals from countries like Haiti, Mexico, Latin America, and Africa, the trauma of resettlement is compounded by systemic inequities that can further fuel addiction. This program offers a culturally relevant and trauma-informed approach to recovery, addressing the specific needs of these communities.

Who This Program is For

• Peer recovery coaches, community health workers, and allies working with immigrant and global populations.
• Leaders and advocates within cultural and community organizations.
• Health professionals and service providers seeking to enhance their understanding of culturally responsive recovery coaching.
• Individuals with lived experience who wish to support others from immigrant and newcomer communities in their addiction recovery journey.

Learning Outcomes 

1. Supporting Substance Use Recovery in Immigrant Communities: Learn effective coaching practices to help immigrant communities address substance addiction and misuse, focusing on culturally relevant strategies that meet their specific needs..

2. Culturally Inclusive Recovery Coaching: Discover how to integrate cultural backgrounds into recovery plans, ensuring respect for traditions and values to enhance substance misuse recovery efforts within immigrant communities.

3. Empowering Mindset and Agency: Understand how to foster empowerment and self-efficacy in immigrant communities, equipping individuals with tools to take control of their recovery journey and reduce substance misuse.

4. Overcoming Language Barriers and Social Isolation: Develop strategies to address language barriers and social isolation, enhancing access to substance misuse recovery services and support networks for immigrant communities.

5. Building Stability: Gain skills to help immigrant communities establish stability through employment, education, and community involvement, crucial for reducing substance addiction and misuse.

6. Supporting Emotional and Mental Health: Understand how to address the emotional and psychological toll of migration linked to substance misuse, recognizing signs of mental health issues and facilitating appropriate support within immigrant communities.

Program Fees

$425 USD

Interfaith Community 

The Interfaith Track for Recovery Coaching is a specialized pathway within the Recovery Health Coach Program designed for individuals in faith communities who are committed to addressing addiction with compassion and cultural sensitivity. Whether you are a layperson, minister, or faith leader, this track empowers you with the tools and knowledge to support those struggling with addiction and guide them through their recovery journey using a faith-based, culturally responsive approach.

Why It’s Important

Addiction impacts every community, including faith communities, and yet many faith leaders and members may feel unequipped to address it with the compassion and expertise it requires. This track bridges that gap by offering recovery coaching practices tailored specifically to the intersection of faith and recovery. Faith leaders often serve as a source of support, hope, and guidance for individuals in times of crisis, and addiction recovery is no exception. By approaching addiction with understanding and cultural responsiveness, faith leaders can create safe spaces for healing while incorporating spiritual and emotional well-being into the recovery process.

Who Is This For?

• Laypeople: Those who serve in faith communities and wish to provide more informed and compassionate support to individuals and families affected by addiction.
• Ministers and Clergy: Faith leaders who want to integrate recovery coaching practices into their pastoral care and counseling, helping congregants navigate the complexities of addiction with empathy and spiritual guidance.
• Faith-Based Counselors: Those offering formal or informal counseling in religious settings.
• Faith Leaders from All Traditions: The track is inclusive of all religious and spiritual backgrounds, allowing participants to explore how their faith tradition can enhance recovery efforts.

What You Will Learn

1. The Role of Faith in Recovery: Explore how faith and spirituality can be powerful tools in supporting addiction recovery, offering meaning, purpose, and hope to individuals on their journey.
2. Cultural Responsiveness in Recovery: Gain insights into the importance of cultural humility and responsiveness in coaching those from diverse faith backgrounds, ensuring that recovery is a respectful and inclusive process.
3. Recovery Coaching Skills for Faith Communities: Learn practical coaching techniques designed to meet the needs of individuals seeking support from their faith leaders, including motivational interviewing, positive psychology, and trauma-informed care.
4. Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Recovery: Understand how to integrate pastoral care with recovery coaching, addressing both the spiritual and emotional needs of individuals struggling with addiction.
5. Tailoring Faith-Based Coaching for Communities: Discover how to adapt the program for your specific faith community, whether in small group settings, one-on-one pastoral care, or broader congregational initiatives.

Program Structure

This 12-hour track is delivered over the course of three 4-hour virtual sessions. 

Course Fees

$425 USD