BIO

Kirsten is a second-year student majoring in Pre-Public Health and double minoring in Communications and Public Administration at Florida State University. She serves as an undergraduate research assistant for the recovery ally program and the campus rec program within the Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness. Specifically, through the recovery ally program, this program has not only taught her how to support her peers going through recovery but also understand how to reach out to those that may need support. Going forward, she plans on utilizing her voice to talk about the stigmas surrounding substance misuse and how to address misuse specifically on college campuses. Kirsten plans on attending graduate school for public health and being an ally and supporter of people in recovery and those that are wishing to be in recovery.

Using Challenge Course Education in Recovery Ally Programs

Abstract

The Recovery Ally Challenge Course was delivered to students in a fraternity at a large southeastern public 4-year institution. The program provided participants with an experiential learning activity with debrief questions that connected the process of recovery to physical activity in an effort to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and recovery. The activity in this project focused on supporting students to develop skills needed for assessing their substance-using behaviors and forming recovery-friendly environments through critical self-reflection and problem-solving activities. This presentation will report on the implementation process, evaluation methods, and directions for scaling.

Keywords: Collegiate Recovery, Health and Wellness Initiatives, College student initiatives