Housing Certification Agreement
This Certification Agreement (“this Agreement”) is made this day, by and between Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Resources (“OKARR”) and (“the Organization”).
WHEREAS “OKARR” is the certifying entity.
WHEREAS “The Organization” is the entity seeking OKARR certification.
Now, therefore, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable considerations, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. NARR Core Principle: Operate with Integrity
The Organization attests and affirms:
1.1. That the Organization is in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and will continue to remain compliant.
1.2. That the Organization is in compliance with the NARR Quality Standards V.3.0 and the NARR Ethical Principles in their entirety and will remain compliant.
1.3. That the submission of this application for voluntary certification of compliance with NARR Quality Standards for Recovery Residences and the NARR Code of Ethics truthfully represents full disclosure of facts pertaining to ownership, management, and staffing of all recovery residence locations operated by the Organization and that all policies, procedures, and protocols documented by this submission accurately describe the operational practices of the Organization, management, staff, and volunteers.
1.4. Should OKARR request to review, partially or in their entirety, financial records pertaining to the operation of the Organization seeking voluntary certification for compliance verification purposes, the requested documents will be provided upon request without cost or delay.
1.5. That all marketing practices and marketing materials used are honest and forthright. Representation of the Organization, to include but is not limited to affiliated representatives, owners, operators, staff, volunteers, services provided, operations, practices, and outcomes, must be accurate, truthful, and not misleading and any data presented must be accurate and validated.
1.6. That should OKARR, in their determination, find that this application does not truthfully and accurately represent full disclosure of facts and operational practices of the Organization, sanctions will be applied without further recourse, which may include immediate denial, suspension, or revocation of the Organization’s certification status. Other sanctions are described in the OKARR Grievance Policy.
1.7. Organization will submit annual application at a minimum of 30 days prior to certification expiration.
1.8. Organization will submit an on-line application with a non-refundable application fee.
1.9. A prospective home must be open 90 days prior to an OKARR Certification being applied for.
1.10. OKARR online LMS training must be completed prior to an on-site review being scheduled for any new operators (prior to January 2025) applying for certification status. This training is free.
1.11. Fees are as follows:
- Application fee for renewing operators $250
- Application fee for new operators $275
- Fee for operators housing 99 people and under $600
- Fee for operators housing 100 or more people $800
- Bed fee is $10 per bed
2. OKARR Core Principle: Uphold Resident Rights
The Organization attests and affirms:
2.1. That should OKARR, in their determination, find that this application does not truthfully and accurately represent full disclosure of facts and operational practices of the Organization, sanctions will be applied without further recourse, which may include immediate denial, suspension, or revocation of the Organization’s certification.
2.2. That the Organization’s ownership, management, staff, volunteers, and other affiliated representatives uphold the rights of residents as referenced throughout the NARR Quality Standards and NARR Code of Ethics.
2.3. That the Organization does not subscribe to the “another head to fill a bed” intake philosophy and agrees to consider all applicants for residency, remain mindful of the needs and sensitivities of the priority population, and ensure that the residence community is appropriate for the applicant and that the applicant is appropriate for the community.
2.4. The Organization will thoroughly orient new residents to the residence community, fully disclosing house rules and consequences, resident rights and responsibilities, phasing and discharge protocols, and all fees and financial commitments, billed directly or indirectly, for which the resident may potentially become legally accountable as a result of policies, procedures, or protocols practiced in the operation of the program.
3. NARR Core Principle: Empowerment of Resident Engagement
The Organization attests and affirms:
3.1. That the Organization is in compliance with NARR Quality Standards 10 and 11 in their entirety and will remain compliant with them.
3.2. That the Organization is a recovery-oriented housing provider rather than a “boarding house for persons who do not drink and/or use illicit drugs,” and that the Organization takes deliberate and intentional steps to encourage and mentor resident participation in a self-directed recovery plan. Residents have the ability to be heard in the governance of the residence.
4. NARR Core Principle: Develop Peer Staff
The Organization attests and affirms:
4.1. That the Organization is in compliance with NARR Quality Standards 12 through 17 in their entirety and will remain compliant with them.
4.2. That the Organization values residents’ voices and encourages peer leadership and accountability by nurturing a community culture that relies on and empowers peers to actively participate in community governance.
5. NARR Core Principle: Provide a Home-like Environment
The Organization attests and affirms:
5.1. That the Organization complies with NARR Quality Standards and NARR Ethical Principles in their entirety and will remain compliant.
5.2. That the Organization operates recovery residences that are safe and well-
maintained. Any maintenance issues that arise will be handled appropriately, adequately, and in a timely manner.
5.3. The Organization’s recovery residences provide space that is conducive to building community for social engagement among residents.
5.4. That the Organization understands that overcrowding can negatively impact the objectives sought through communal living. The Organization provides a safe, dignified living environment to each of the residents that includes adequate bed spacing (at least 50 square feet per resident), adequate storage for personal belongings, and clean and fully functional bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry facilities.
5.5. That the Organization fosters peer leadership within the community to model behaviors that promote orderliness and cleanliness by all residents at all times. Peers hold each other accountable to properly maintain the exterior and interior of the residence. Community pride is promoted and encouraged during scheduled house meetings.
6. NARR Core Principle: Promote a Healthy Environment
The Organization attests and affirms:
6.1. That the Organization is in compliance with NARR Quality Standards and NARR Ethical Principles in their entirety and will remain compliant with them.
6.2. That the Organization is a transitional support program for people in recovery from a substance use disorder and that the primary purpose of the Organization is to deliver recovery-oriented housing that provides residents with encouragement and support to develop recovery management skills and recovery capital further.
6.3. That the Organization maintains an alcohol and illicit drug-free environment by means of written policies and procedures that are regularly updated to meet best practices.
6.4. The Organization represents a structured, home-like environment that promotes accountability, consideration of others, and peer support.
6.5. That the Organization maintains a recovery-oriented, home-like environment that protects the well-being of the residents, staff, and community.
6.6. That the Organization periodically and appropriately tests smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers to ensure they are in proper working order and that the Organization holds emergency training to ensure all residents and staff are familiar with emergency procedures as written and established in the Organization’s policies and procedures.
6.7. That the Organization acknowledges that some residents may experience a recurrence of use (relapse) while residing in the Organization’s location(s). The Organization has established a discharge protocol designed to achieve an outcome that protects the safety of the residence community and the subject resident. The residence community understands and is accountable for following this protocol.
6.8. The Organization understands that OKARR requires all residents to maintain Narcan/Naloxone on-site at each residence location and train staff and residents in its proper administration.
7. NARR Core Principle: Facilitate Recovery Engagement
The Organization attests and affirms:
7.1. That the Organization is in compliance with NARR Quality Standards and NARR Code of Ethics in their entirety and will remain compliant with them.
7.2. That the Organization is operating a recovery-oriented residence with access to recovery-oriented programming, both inside and outside of the recovery residence.
7.3. That the Organization provides resources for each resident’s individual recovery and promotes the individual responsibility of developing recovery capital through measures in compliance with OKARR Quality Standards.
8. NARR Core Purpose: Cultivate Community
The Organization attests and affirms:
8.1. That the Organization is in compliance with NARR Quality Standards in their entirety and will remain compliant, including at least 50% of the sub-standards associated with
NARR Quality Standard 27.
8.2. That the Organization organizes routine meetings and/or activities that promote a community recovery environment that functions as a family.
8.3. That the Organization hosts social activities within the residence and/or within the broader recovery community that encourage and facilitate resident bonding and mutual recovery support.
8.4. That OKARR is granted advance permission to conduct unannounced resident and/or staff interviews at any time. Failure to comply with this provision may result in immediate suspension, revocation, or denial of the Organization’s certification.
8.5. That residence staff promote recovery through informal and formal interactions with residents. All members of the residence community, including residents and staff, model recovery principles in all interactions with other members of the external community. The Organization attests that all relationships between residents and staff reflect ethical principles reflected in the NARR Code of Ethics.
9. NARR Core Principle: Be Good Neighbors
The Organization attests and affirms:
9.1. That the Organization is in compliance with NARR Quality Standards and NARR Ethical Principles in their entirety and will remain compliant with them.
9.2. That every effort is taken to maintain the appearance, cleanliness, and upkeep of the Organization’s property.
9.3. That residents and staff respect neighbor persons and property, making every reasonable effort to become a part of, and a valuable asset to, the surrounding neighborhood(s).
9.4. That residents do not loiter, use language that may be offensive to others, create noise disturbances, create parking challenges, or otherwise create traffic navigation issues within the neighborhood.
10. NARR Physical Domain Compliance
The Organization attests and affirms:
10.1. That the physical residence inspected by OKARR at the time of field inspection for certification will not be changed or altered to a lesser state than was presented at the time of inspection, to include the number of beds, bathrooms, and the overall condition of the residence.
10.2. That OKARR reserves the right to conduct drop-in audits or inspections, including but not limited to a physical domain review as well as resident interviews.
10.3. That every OKARR-certified residence operated by the Organization will maintain continuous Commercial General Liability Coverage, with per occurrence limits of not less than $1,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage.
10.4. That OKARR does not operate or maintain any supervisory authority over OKARR Certified properties. Accordingly, OKARR is not responsible for maintaining the condition of any OKARR-Certified property, nor shall it be liable for any injury, death or property damage that may occur on such property. Accordingly, the Organization shall indemnify, defend, and hold OKARR harmless from claims as provided in Paragraph 16.1, below.
11. NARR Code of Ethics
The Organization attests and affirms:
11.1. That the Organization is in compliance with the NARR Code of Ethics in their entirety and will remain in compliance with them.
11.2. That all required representatives of the Organization, including all owners, operators, directors/CEOs, staff, and volunteers have read and signed the NARR Code of Ethics as required for OKARR certification.
12. Professional Code
The Organization attests and affirms:
12.1. That the Organization, including all owners, staff, and volunteers, will abide by a professional code of conduct, to include its dealings with the public. As an organization certified by OKARR, we will not criticize, disparage, or slander any other Organization that operates recovery residences certified by OKARR. OKARR makes no distinction of one Organization being “better” than another, only whether an organization is certified and meets the national standards. To operate in any other manner is counterproductive and would violate the professional code.
13. OKARR Incident Policy
The Organization attests and affirms:
13.1. It is the policy of OKARR, that all accredited residences, members, and Organizations report all major incidents. A major incident is defined as any emergency or situation with a significant impact and urgency, requiring a response beyond routine incident management. This encompasses events such as a fatality, police involvement, ambulance or EMS visit, or any pending legal action against a staff member or the Organization. Additionally, a major incident includes but is not limited to, any violation of the signed code of ethics by volunteers, staff, or Organization owners whose actions directly or indirectly affect a participant or resident. Compliance with this reporting policy is vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of our OKARR Certified Organizations.
13.2. In the event of a major incident, it is the duty of the OKARR certified Organization to promptly report the incident using the official OKARR Incident form, accessible on www.okarr.org. The Organization is required to submit the completed form along with a written summary of the incident within 24 hours of its occurrence. These documents will be forwarded to the Director of Certification, Programs and Training for thorough review. OKARR will keep records and files of each major incident report.
13.3. If a major incident is not reported by an accredited residence, member, or Organization, or if the incident and the timing and/or nature of the incident are deemed “out of the ordinary,” there will be an investigation into the incident by the OKARR Director and standards/ethics committee.
13.4. After the investigation is concluded, OKARR may require an explanation from the certified residence, member, or Organization concerning failing to report the incident.
13.5. If the non-reported incident is determined to involve a certified residence, member, or Organization that is found to be negligent or at fault, this will be reported to the OKARR board for review and decision as to whether a sanction is warranted.
13.6. Possible Sanctions:
13.6.1. A written warning from OKARR concerning the negative effect of failing to report or,
13.6.2. A 30-60-day probationary period in which the OKARR certified residence, member, or Organization would be required to maintain bi-weekly communication with OKARR to ensure no further incidents have occurred; or,
13.6.3. The suspension or termination of OKARR certification for a period of time that would be determined appropriate by the OKARR staff and board of directors.
13.6.4. The Organization attests and affirms that its authorized representative(s) have fully read the OKARR Incident Policy and will fully comply with timely reporting of all applicable incidents.
14. Grievances
The Organization attests and affirms:
14.1. That the Organization will maintain a clear process for resident grievances that will be posted publicly in each of the Organization’s OKARR certified homes. No resident will be retaliated against for filing a grievance.
14.2. That the Organization will post the OKARR contact information and information on how to file a grievance with OKARR publicly in the residence. No resident will be retaliated against for filing a grievance.
14.3. That OKARR has the right to investigate any and all grievances (complaints) about the residences, staff, and operations. The Organization will not in any way inhibit OKARR’s ability to investigate grievances to their fullest ability.
14.4. That OKARR maintains the right to deny, suspend, or revoke the Organization’s certification(s) based on the outcome of any and all grievance investigations.
15. Data Sharing
The Organization attests and affirms:
15.1. Any and all documentation relevant to certification with OKARR may be shared with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR).
15.2. The Provider shall provide the name, email address, and phone number of a designated contact person. The designated contact will be responsible for the timely submission of communications.
15.3. Any changes or updates to the Organization will be communicated to OKARR by email.
16. Multiple Residences
16.1. The organization agrees that beginning July 1, 2025 all abstinence-based homes operated by the organization must attain certification from OKARR. If this requirement is not met, the Organization acknowledges that all certification(s) will be suspended, and it will be promptly removed from the OKARR directory.
17. Representations and Indemnification
17.1. The Organization represents and warrants that: (a) the Organization has the right and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as herein provided; and (b) its officers, directors, employees, and agents will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules, and regulations. The Organization will identify, defend, and save harmless OKARR and its respective partners, trustees, beneficiaries, directors, officers, employees, affiliates, and agents from and against any and all claims, loss, damage, liability, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), occasioned by, or arising out of directly or indirectly violating this Agreement, or the breach by the undersigned of any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, or any act or failure to act by the Organization as required by this Agreement.
18. Effect and Amendment
18.1. This Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and replace any previous documents, correspondence, conversations, or other written or oral understandings between the parties hereto related to the subject matter hereof. No waiver by either party of any breach hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of any other breach. This Agreement cannot be assigned, altered, amended, changed, or modified in any respect unless each such assignment, alteration, amendment, change, or modification is agreed to in writing, signed, and delivered by each party hereto. This Agreement shall become effective upon signature by the Organization and acceptance by OKARR.
19. Assignment
19.1.This Agreement will be binding upon and insure to the benefit of the parties, their respective successors, and assignees, provided, however, that you may assign no rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of OKARR.
20. Headings
20.1. The headings of articles of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed as a substantive part of this Agreement.
On behalf of the Organization, I hereby acknowledge understanding of the requirements of this OKARR Certification Agreement herein and further affirm that I have authorization to execute this document on behalf of
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby execute this Agreement to be effective as of the date first noted above.