A Tennessee Certified Recovery Friendly Campus (TCRFC) is a campus that has made a commitment to ensure that its students are adequately supported through following the Tennessee Collegiate Recovery Initiative best practice model as it is laid out by the Department.

What are the benefits?

Campuses will receive access to resources made available through the TCRFC portal hosted by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). The portal will include tools to aid in advocating for collegiate recovery as well as videos on how to support students. In addition, the portal will also include videos specifically for students who are embarking on the recovery process.

The TCRFC will facilitate connections between valuable state and community resources (e.g., community behavioral health providers, recovery support groups, Tennessee Certified Recovery Congregations, etc.) that will bridge the gap between the recovery community as a whole and the recovering population at said institution.

Campuses will receive direct support from the Tennessee Collegiate Recovery Initiative (TCRI) Director, in the planning of events, hosting trainings, and connecting students with necessary recovery support needs.

How does my campus become a TCRFC?

1. Identify an individual in a Leadership/Admin role on your campus interested to be active, vocal, and supportive of recovery efforts on campus. It is preferred that this person is connected to the Campus Student Support/Wellness Center.
2. Identify a faculty member interested in working with a student volunteer and serving as point of contact between the campus and the TCRI Director.
3. Identify a student volunteer who is passionate about creating and sustaining conversations on campus around recovery support as well as providing a list of resources to new students in recovery.
4. Organize a Recovery Ally training, facilitated by TDMHSAS and the TCRI Director, with a minimum of five individuals, three of which are to be faculty, the remaining two may be student and or staff, committed to attend.
5. Campuses must make a commitment to follow the Best Practice Model as it is laid out per the TCRFC and will be required to recertify each year to maintain their certification.

Learn how to become a Tennessee Certified Recovery Friendly Campus by visiting the link above.

Middle Tennessee
Will Taylor
(615) 203-9066
wtaylor@pc4s.org

The TDMHSAS Faith-Based Community Coordinators are people with lived experience who connect with communities of faith to recruit, train, and certify through the Tennessee Certified Recovery Congregation program.  Each community coordinator is employed by their local Community Anti-Drug Coalition.  The department currently has four Faith-Based Community Coordinators, one for each grand division of the state and one dedicated to Shelby County.

Prescription drug take-back boxes provide a place where unused prescription drugs can be safely disposed.

These permanent boxes prevent prescription and over-the-counter medications from getting into the hands of children and into the waterways. They make sure they are disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner. Medication collection events and programs are part of a nationwide effort to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical products being flushed or poured down drains.

Peer Support Centers are places where people with mental illness and substance use disorders can learn about recovery, find peer support, and have fun—all for free. The friends you make there will become like family to you.

There are 45 Peer Support Centers in Tennessee. The staff members are people who have mental illness and/or substance use disorder and who have been trained to give peer support.

If you live in a county that a Peer Support Center serves, the peer staff can give you a free ride to the Center at least once a week. You do not need a referral and you do not need to receive services from the host agency in order to attend.

Host Agency: Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System

Peer Support Center: Friends and Company

Address: 1200 S Willow Ave Cookeville 38506

Phone Number: 931-218-2399

Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri 8am – 4pm

For more information and a full list of Tennessee Peer Support Centers visit the website linked above.

Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition’s mission is to be a community coalition that creates positive cultural change to reduce substance abuse among youth and adults in Lawrence County.

Please visit the website and Facebook page linked above to learn more.

Learn More About Substance Use Prevention Coalition!

In counties and communities across Tennessee, substance use prevention coalitions are working to reduce dependence on harmful and potentially lethal substances such as prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. These local efforts, funded by the state of Tennessee since 2008, help get the word out about the dangers and consequences of substance use. Coalitions are also key partners in many of the department’s special initiatives focusing on opioid overdose prevention and reversal, connection to treatment and recovery resources, and faith-based outreach.

Eight Ways Coalitions Benefit Tennessee Communities:

• Increase the number of community permanent prescription drug take-back boxes per community
• Conduct community-based drug take-back events
• Work to standardize penalties for alcohol and drug offenders
• Education for individuals handling alcoholic beverage transactions
• Monitor current smoke-free ordinances to encourage enforcement
• Post anti-drug, anti-alcohol, and anti-smoking billboards in the community
• Offer a reward for information on illegal drug manufacturing
• Engage youth to participate in drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free efforts

Visit Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to find prevention coalitions located across the state and learn how you can get involved!

Power of Putnam (PoP) is a coalition of community members who are concerned about the issue of substance misuse in Putnam county. 

POP seeks to unite the community in the development and implementation of strategies to prevent and to lessen the progression of substance misuse, particularly underage drinking.  They seek to support the efforts of other community agencies and fill the gap in services to address the problem. 

POP’s mission is to unite the diverse elements of Putnam County in a united substance misuse prevention effort designed to empower individuals, strengthen families and build character and resiliency, resulting in drug free children and youth.

Please visit the website and Facebook page linked above to learn more.

Learn More About Substance Use Prevention Coalition!

In counties and communities across Tennessee, substance use prevention coalitions are working to reduce dependence on harmful and potentially lethal substances such as prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. These local efforts, funded by the state of Tennessee since 2008, help get the word out about the dangers and consequences of substance use. Coalitions are also key partners in many of the department’s special initiatives focusing on opioid overdose prevention and reversal, connection to treatment and recovery resources, and faith-based outreach.

Eight Ways Coalitions Benefit Tennessee Communities:

• Increase the number of community permanent prescription drug take-back boxes per community
• Conduct community-based drug take-back events
• Work to standardize penalties for alcohol and drug offenders
• Education for individuals handling alcoholic beverage transactions
• Monitor current smoke-free ordinances to encourage enforcement
• Post anti-drug, anti-alcohol, and anti-smoking billboards in the community
• Offer a reward for information on illegal drug manufacturing
• Engage youth to participate in drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free efforts

Visit Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to find prevention coalitions located across the state and learn how you can get involved!

Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists (ROPS) are located throughout the state of Tennessee as a point of contact for training and education on opioid overdose and for overdose prevention through the distribution of naloxone.

ROPS focus on three primary groups with their work:

• First Responders
• Individuals at high risk of overdose, their families, and friends
• Agencies and organizations that provide treatment and recovery services or community resources

In addition to the priority populations, the ROPS will train all interested community members.

Regional contact information is routinely updated. Visit the website linked above to find a map with your region’s contact information.