The University of Iowa Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) provides an environment that supports the therapeutic and educational needs of Iowa students who are considering recovery, in recovery, or wanting to support those in any stage of recovery from addiction.
- The CRP facilitates support through community building, social support, academic support, substance-free activities, advocacy, outreach, and access to resources and services available on campus.
- The CRP is inclusive of all Iowa students seeking to recover from addictive behaviors and values the personal dignity of each member.
The CRP is sponsored by a partnership between Student Wellness, University Counseling Service (UCS), and Office of the Vice President for Student Life.
Our mission
The mission of the University of Iowa Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) is to provide a supportive network of services and educational opportunities for students at any level of recovery from substance use and addiction (e.g., in recovery, thinking about recovery, or supportive of recovery) so students can achieve academic and personal success, free from addiction.
The CRP is not an addiction treatment program.
The CRP aspires to become a Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) offering recovery-based living and social space, events, and a like-minded community of peers. Students are supported by qualified, trained, and ethical professional staff.
Review our informational flyer about what the CRP provides and how the University supports our mission. Watch our interview on Iowa’s New Now about what we do to support students wanting to change their substance use.
Contact us
Email: UI-CRP@uiowa.edu
Facebook: @UICRP
Instagram: @uiowacrp
Staff:
- Heidi Schmitt, LISW, University Counseling Service
- Karen Grajczyk-Haddad, MPH, CADC, CHES, Student Wellness
Support group meetings
Mindful Recovery, IMU #208 | Wednesdays at 4:00PM
Meetings occur during the academic year only.
What is Mindful Recovery?
This group provides a safe and supportive space for UI students committed to making changes in their substance use. The focus for this group, different than Success, Not Excess, is for students seeking abstinence or maintaining abstinence from substances. Activities and support is rooted in mindfulness-based stress reduction practices and Koru Mindfulness.
Success, Not Excess, IMU #208 | Thursdays at 5:30PM
Meetings occur during the academic year only
What is Success, Not Excess?
This group provides a safe and supportive space for UI students wanting to make or considering changes in their alcohol or other drug use. The group emphasizes success in academics, relationships, mental and physical health, and other goals through abstaining or reducing alcohol and other drug use.
Not ready for a support group? Students may schedule a fifteen minute meeting prior to Success, Not Excess at the CRP Open Office Hour by going to this link.
Connection & Resilience Workshop
The Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) is offering a 6-week workshop based on Brené Brown's Connections Curriculum. The goal of this workshop is to assist students in examining the roles of shame, resilience and empathy and the impacts on how they view themselves and their relationships. This interactive workshop will include group discussions, opportunities to practice coping strategies and selected readings from Brené Brown.
Brené Brown's Connections Curriculum, is a multifaceted approach, developed to address issues relating to shame, and to facilitate the development of shame resilience. The curriculum is ideal for students working with issues such as self-esteem, love and belonging, authenticity, the development of empathy, connection, and power, and the ability to cultivate a resilient spirit.
Workshop Information
This workshop is planned for Spring semester 2024.
Strength in Numbers: Recovery Ally Training
What is the Recovery Ally Training?
The CRP is committed to reducing the stigma associated with recovery and substance use disorders. Many universities across the nation hold Recovery Ally trainings to address this need and train thousands of students, faculty and staff on this very important topic. The goals of this training include:
- Provide an overview of addiction and recovery
- Discuss the use of people first language
- Discuss empathy and cultivate skills to support students wanting to make changes to their substance use
- Share about campus and community resources
This training lasts 1.5 hours and participants are provided with resources after the training to continue their allyship. Check out SAFE Project’s recovery ally pledge here.
We are offering several dates for this training in April 2023. To request a future date of this training for your campus organization, university department or class please email: ui-crp@uiowa.edu.
The Ethics of Harm Reduction and Recovery Allyship Training
To Register: Registration for this training is now closed.
Date and time: June 9, 2023; 9:00 am -12:15 pm
CE credits: 3 hours
Location: University Capitol Centre, Iowa City, Iowa; Conference Center - Room 2520D - Seminar Room
Presenters: Cathy McGinnis and Heidi Schmitt
Cost: Free
Map to Room:
Please don't hesitate to reach out to heidi-r-reynolds@uiowa.edu with any questions about registration. If you have concerns or would like to provide additional feedback, please contact Patrick Galligan, Ph.D., Director of Training, at (319) 335-7294 or via email at patrick-galligan@uiowa.edu.
Training goals: The goal of this training is to provide an overview of the foundation of harm reduction and how to ethically incorporate principals of harm reduction in clinical practice. Focus will be placed on ethics of harm reduction treatment, collaboration within a harm reduction model, appropriate referrals and resources and assessing stages of change when setting goals within treatment.
Training objectives:
- Participants will discuss the definition of harm reduction and gain a basic understanding of how to implement principals of this model in their clinical practice.
- Participants will be able to give at least two examples of person first language and demonstrate the differences between person first v. identity first language.
- Participants will increase their ability to provide clinical services using a non-judgmental stance and apply the stages of change and motivation in the recovery process.
- Participants will assess and select clinically appropriate resources for individuals seeking recovery services as evidenced by being able to identify three supportive services for individuals in recovery.
- Participants will describe the role their professional ethical code plays in providing clinical services using a harm reduction model.
Training Agenda
8:30 – 9 am: Registration
9:00 – 9:15 am: Opening introduction, review of goals/objectives and purpose of training
9:15- 10:30 am: Content of training
10:30 – 10:45 am: Break and snacks
10:45 am – 12:15 pm: Content of training
Resources
University Counseling Service (UCS)
Concerns about alcohol and other drugs (AOD) bring students to UCS for many reasons. Students may seek services from UCS because of concerns with their own use of AOD or with concerns about someone else in their lives. They may already have had trouble related to drinking/using drugs, have concerns that they might be heading in that direction, or have already made changes to their usage and would like further support to maintain these changes.
Students can meet with a UCS counselor for a consultation to discuss the role that AOD play in their lives. Afterward, the counselor will discuss options the student may wish to pursue. The options may include, but are not limited to:
- Group therapy
- Brief individual therapy
- Success, Not Excess support group
- Case management and referrals to community referrals
Students requiring assistance beyond the scope of our AOD services at UCS may be referred to other University or community agencies.
At UCS we acknowledge that students may have a range of goals related to their substance use, from abstinence to harm reduction. Students are encouraged to collaborate with their counselor to discuss what goals and changes they would like to make in their lives and to determine what interventions and services would most help them to achieve their goals. Substance use concerns often co-exist with other mental health concerns, and at UCS we believe in providing comprehensive care that focuses on both. We also know that making changes and improvement in one area, may not be possible without making changes in other areas. UCS believes in collaborating with other treatment providers and medical professionals to develop treatment plans that are most appropriate for each individual student.
For more information on scheduling an appointment with UCS, call (319) 335-7294 or go to their website here.
Student Wellness
- Online Resources: How can you tell when you’ve had too much? Student Wellness provides a variety of online services including online screening tools
- Consultations: Student Wellness provides consultations on alcohol and other drug use. Confidential consultations are available with our substance abuse counselor or health educators for any questions or issues you may be experiencing. Costs: Self-referrals, are free. To make an appointment with our Substance Use Counselor (at the Westlawn location), call 319-335-8394 and ask for a self-referral appointment.
Smart Recovery
SMART Recovery is the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group. Participants learn tools for addiction recovery based on the latest scientific research and participate in a world-wide community which includes free, self-empowering, science-based mutual help groups.
The SMART Recovery 4-Point Program® helps people recover from all types of addiction and addictive behaviors, including: drug abuse, drug addiction, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, cocaine addiction, prescription drug abuse, sexual addiction, and problem addiction to other substances and activities. SMART Recovery sponsors face-to-face meetings around the world, and daily online meetings. In addition, its online message board and 24/7 chat room are forums to learn about SMART Recovery and obtain addiction recovery support.
Higher Education Center for Alcohol & Drug Misuse Prevention & Recovery
It is the mission of the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery to promote student success nationally by providing data-driven solutions to alcohol and drug misuse; lead the dialogue on collegiate alcohol and drug misuse and recovery in the national agenda; and ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the center’s efforts.
Iowa City Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous
Anonymous groups are a traditional form of support for individuals struggling with substance abuse. There are meetings worldwide and millions of people identify with belonging to a home group or benefiting from the 12 Steps of Recovery. Anonymous groups are traditionally a spot for individuals to find hope and courage they are not alone in dealing with addiction and is a place to build community and listen to others stories of recovery.
Prelude Behavioral Services
Prelude provides a safe place that promotes healing, treats people with dignity and respect, helps people find their own solutions and achieve their goals, and is with you throughout your recovery journey. Prelude offers a comprehensive approach utilizing evidence-based treatment to meet the needs of people struggling with substance abuse.
At the University of Iowa, we recognize that recovery is a journey. We realize that there is a continuum for students identifying with an addiction, receiving treatment, being in recovery, and adjusting to sober life outside of a treatment program. The UI has formed the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) to support students at all stages of recovery.
The CRP is not a treatment facility. The CRP provides support for students who are actively pursuing recovery or want to be supportive of students in recovery. Through the CRP students can connect to other resources offered by the UI that are supportive to recovery and their academic journey.
T-Break: Take a Cannabis Break
The University of Vermont has created a guide to help students take a tolerance break from their cannabis use.
About our team
Heidi Schmitt, LISW, University Counseling Service
Heidi (she/her/hers) serves as a co-coordinator of the CRP and is also a staff therapist at the University Counseling Service. She supports students in or seeking recovery from a substance use disorder by co-facilitating Success, Not Excess, providing direct support to students through individual recovery planning, co-facilitating Strength in Numbers: A Recovery Ally training and assisting with outreach to grow the vision of the CRP at the University of Iowa.
Heidi grew up in Eastern Iowa and is a proud Hawkeye. Heidi received her BA in History and Interdisciplinary Studies from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Iowa.
Karen Grajczyk-Haddad, MPH, CADC, CHES, Student Wellness
Karen (she/her/hers) serves as a co-coordinator of the CRP and is a Senior Behavioral Health Consultant at Student Wellness. Karen supports student in recovery by coordinating the CRP student advisory board, organizing and leading marketing and communications for the CRP, co-facilitating Success, Not Excess, co-facilitating Strength in Numbers: A Recovery Ally training and strategizing the growth of the CRP.
Karen is a South-Eastern Michigan native and graduated from the University of Toledo with a BS & MPH in Public Health (MPH program formally known as the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health).