APPLYING FOR RECERTIFICATION
Basic Eligibility
The recertification process is designed for operators of recovery housing who have at least one property already certified by Ohio Recovery Housing.
Current Associates may apply to have existing properties recertified as well as add additional new properties at the same time. Any new properties are eligible for full certification if they have been open for 60 days with 60% occupancy. Any properties that do not meet this requirement are eligible for preliminary certification.
Starting January 1, 2023 organizations must list all recovery housing properties on their application for certification. If organizations are operating properties that do not meet quality standards, they must be working in good faith to have those properties meet the quality standards in order to maintain overall certification as an organization. Working in good faith means that there is an approved plan in place to bring the property up to the quality standards and achieve certification. ORH will work with each operator on an individual basis to form such plans.
To make sure your certification does not lapse, please submit your applications for recertification at least three (3) months prior to your certification expiration date. Historically ORH has been able to complete the process from receipt of your application to Board approval sooner than 90 days. However, due to the high volume of applications it currently takes a full three months to complete the recertification process.
If you do not think you will be able to complete the entire process from application through Board approval before your current certification expires, please request an extension.
Step 1: Review the National Quality Standards and Code of Ethics
The first step is to refresh your understanding of the National Quality Standards and the National Alliance of Recovery Residences Code of Ethics.
Print and sign a copy of the Code of Ethics. You will be required to turn in a signed copy with your application.
Step 2: Sign Assurances
You are required to have the following assurances document signed and notarized. This document needs to be signed by the person in your organization who is authorized to sign agreements and documents.
This document clarifies that the Ohio Recovery Housing review is a review of your organization's recovery environment. It is your responsibility as an organization to ensure that you are in compliance with all local, state and federal laws and codes. It is also your responsibility to ensure that your organization carries appropriate insurance for your operation.
When you sign this documentation, you are attesting that you have contacted the appropriate entities, have completed all appropriate inspections, that you are registered appropriately, and that you currently following all business, fiscal and reporting policies as required by the law and your organization.
Submitting the signed assurances prior to engaging in any of these activities will be considered submitting false information to Ohio Recovery Housing and a violation of the NARR Code of Ethics.
Be sure every property you want recertified or certified is listed on the Assurances Document. There is space for up to eight properties, if you have more than eight properties, use two copies.
Step 3: Complete Online Application
The application must be submitted using the following on-line form. Ohio Recovery Housing will communicate with you using the phone number and e-mail address that you list on the application. Your certificates will be sent to the mailing address listed on your application.
We recommend answering the questions in order because the application uses logic. You will be asked future questions based on your responses to the initial questions.
The first question on the application is what type of application you are submitting. Select that you are a current ORH Associate seeking certification. If you have additional properties to add to your application, you have an opportunity to add those later in the application.
This application will ask you if any NEW properties have been open and operating for at least 60 days at 60% occupancy. Homes that do not meet this requirement will be eligible for preliminary certification.
This application will require that you upload copies of specific documentation. The application will also ask you if you have made updates to specific policies since the last time you were certified. If you have made updates, you will be required to submit those documents as well.
ORH is available to provide you with technical assistance and support as you develop policies and procedures.
You may contact us at 614-453-5133 or info@ohiorecoveryhousing.org.
We request that you seek technical assistance and ask questions about documents prior to submitting your application.
If it is determined that your documents are incomplete or do not meet quality standards you will be allowed an opportunity to make quality improvements. However, you will be required to make these improvements within a strict timeline. If you are unable to make the improvements within the timeline, your application will lapse.
Step 4: Application Review
A representative from ORH will review your application, as well as the documents you submitted with your application.
ORH will inform you of the results of this review within 15 business days (about three weeks). ORH will read all of the documents you submit, and will use the documentation checklists to ensure that the documents contain all required elements. ORH will send you a formal communication if we have any questions, require you to submit additional documents, or if you are required to make quality improvements to your policies.
You are required to respond to this communication with answers to questions, copies of any missing documents, or any quality improvements within 20 business days (about one month).
If you do not respond to ORH within the required time frame, your application will lapse. Your response must be complete and address all questions and quality improvement recommendations.
ORH will review any response your organization provided within 10 business days. ORH will determine if your application and documents are complete at this time. If your documentation and application are still determined not to be complete your application will lapse.
Step 5: On-Site Interview & Dwelling Review
ORH will schedule an on site review.
One ORH staff person and one ORH peer reviewer will perform the review.
The Ohio Recovery Housing staff person will be there to ensure that all important topic areas are covered, be available to answer any questions you have about the quality standards, and be sure all paperwork is complete. Any official recommendations or requirements will be communicated to you by the ORH staff member.
The Ohio Recovery Housing peer reviewer will be there to share information and advice as a fellow peer operator. The peer reviewer will also provide insight and share their opinion and recommendations to ORH staff concerning what quality improvement recommendations are needed.
The reviewers will engage in a discussion with you about your program. They will ask questions about how your organization has changed since the last review, and learn from you about your experiences.
The reviewers will examine the physical dwelling. Reviewers are not fire inspectors or building code inspectors. Reviewers will be examining the recovery environment and ensuring the property meets the national quality standards.
During this review you should be prepared
-
Show reviewers where required documents are kept in each of the houses
-
Show the reviewers the property. ORH will look at all common areas of the house as well as resident rooms.
-
To demonstrate that written policies and procedures are being implemented in practice
-
To demonstrate that the house is clean, safe and home-like. Reviewers should be able to see that house chores are being completed and that maintenance requests are addressed.
-
The bedrooms meet space requirements (70 square feet for the first person and 50 square feet for each additional person)
-
To demonstrate that the house has required safety equipment (such as smoke detectors in each sleeping room, CO2 detectors in homes with gas appliances, and fire extinguishers)
-
To demonstrate how the physical environment of the house contributes to a family like environment in the home
-
That there is enough food storage space for residents, including one full sized refrigerator per five residents
Step 6: Payment of Onsite Visit Fee
Once it is confirmed that your application and documentation is complete, ORH will send you an invoice for your Associate Fees.
Fees are based on the number of properties that have been visited by ORH reviewers. This includes all full certification properties as well as preliminary certification properties. More information about what is included in Associate Fees can be found at the link below.
If you submit payment by check, please make checks payable to:
Ohio Recovery Housing
17 S High Street
Suite 799
Columbus, OH 43215
You may also make a payment online.
Associate fees are non refundable.
The links below provide more information on what is included with associate fees and a link to make your payment online.
Step 6: Phone Interview
Step 7: Implement Required Quality Improvements
After the on-site review Ohio Recovery Housing will provide you with an official communication within 10 business days. This communication will list of any required quality improvements that your organization needs to engage in prior to your application being considered by the ORH Executive Committee.
You will be required to respond to these recommendations within 20 business days. You may either respond by engaging the required quality improvement activity and providing appropriate documentation that quality improvement activities have been implemented or by providing ORH with a written response detailing how your organization meets the national quality standards without engaging in the required quality improvement activity.
If you do not respond to ORH within required time lines ORH will make a recommendation on your application based on the information we have available.
Step 8: Approval by ORH Executive Committee
Once ORH has received a response from your organization concerning any required quality improvements, ORH will make a recommendation concerning your application to the ORH Executive Committee of the ORH Board of Directors.
The Executive Committee will take a vote to approve or deny your application. In rare cases, the board may also decide not to take an official vote on the application, and instead request more information from the applicant.
The Executive Committee meets once a month. ORH will communicate with you the determination of the board of directors.
Step 9: Full Certification
All properties that are getting recertified AND all new properties that had 60% occupancy for 60 days will be fully certified. The certification is for two years.
Any NEW properties that did not have 60% occupancy for 60 days will be provided preliminary certification, which is good for six months. At the end of six months, you are expected to have at least 60% occupancy for 60 days in these properties. If you do not yet meet this requirement, you may request an extension from ORH.
At the end of six months, you will contact ORH and request a follow up visit and secondary review for full certification. You can do this by submitting an email to ORH.
At this time, ORH will arrange a second on-site visit to your property. At this visit, ORH will ask you questions about how things have been going for the past six months, any changes you have made to your program during that time frame, and do another review of the physical dwelling now that it is at an appropriate capacity.
Similar to the preliminary certification, ORH will communicate with you any quality improvement recommendations that we may have. You will be provided an opportunity to address these recommendations.
Once you have addressed the recommendations, the ORH Executive Committee will take a vote to approve or deny your application for full certification. If approved, your full certification is for two years. You will engage in the recertification process to have your properties recertified after two years.