A recently published SGA article featured the creation of a new commission called, “Friends of Skidmore” Commission on Sobriety and Recovery. The article focused on the formal legislation of the commission and covered the bylaws by Julia Budsey ‘19, SGA VP for Club Affairs, but did not explain the full scope of work and research that has contributed to the formation of this initiative.
In the fall of 2016, Sophie Staton ‘18, a Social Work major, completed an independent study with Professor Peter McCarthy on the Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) model as a potential tool for addressing the issue of substance abuse and addiction on college campuses. The main goal of a CRC is to provide students in recovery the needed environmental support and services to help them complete their education and become integrated, productive members of the campus community. In her report, Staton set forth a proposal for creating a CRC program aimed at small liberal arts colleges based on the benchmark programs established by Augsburg College, Rutgers University, and Texas Tech University. The program is specific to US schools because norms, school environment, and substance use vary depending on where they are located.
Inspired by this report, Staton, Budsey and Social Work major Mariely Estrella ‘18, formed the new “Friends of Skidmore” Commission. Among the commission’s goals are the launching of an awareness campaign, the gathering of resources and the creation of support groups for Skidmore students in any stage of the recovery process. Throughout the next few years, the group will continue to assess the need for formal addiction and recovery support services on Skidmore’s campus. It is their hope that this work will result in a sustainable program that will receive the support of Skidmore’s administration and any necessary resources to support students in recovery.
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