FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 10, 2018
Contact: Tracey Lynn Shifflett, 301.602.8688, Tracey@safeproject.us
HOUSTON,TX – Today at the University of Houston, the Association of Recovery in Higher Education
(ARHE) and S.A.F.E. Project (S.A.F.E.) announced a partnership and unique opportunity for college
students in recovery to thrive and move forward in a supportive environment.
S.A.F.E. Project and ARHE unveiled the Recovery Leadership Regional Academy during remarks at the nation’s
largest comprehensive collegiate recovery conference, where more than 700 attendees are gathered
for four days of educational sessions and collaboration. The Academy will provide college students in
or seeking recovery assistance for substance use disorder with the information needed to create and
strengthen efforts on their campuses, while training them to be effective leaders throughout life.
“S.A.F.E. Project US is very excited about working with the team at ARHE,” said Co-Founder Admiral
James Winnefeld. “Our son Jonathan entered college life at a vulnerable point in his recovery, without
a supportive community on campus, and we lost him three days into his freshman year. S.A.F.E. was
established to, among other purposes, identify critical gaps like this in recovery. One of our key efforts
is to work with ARHE to create S.A.F.E Campuses. The Recovery Leadership Regional Academy will
make a major contribution to this effort. It will strengthen and support students in recovery, help
them eliminate stigma, and further empower them to redirect their lives.”
The Academy will host 2-day regional Campus Recovery Leadership Academy convenings nationwide
from 2018 to 2020, beginning this November in Washington, DC. The program will be attended by
students who are currently involved in a campus recovery programs or are interested in developing
recovery support services on their campuses.
“The Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) continues to prioritize support for collegiate
recovery programs and development opportunities for the students they serve,” said ARHE Executive
Director Tim Rabolt. “Partnering with S.A.F.E. Project US to provide the skills and tools to maximize
those student development opportunities truly brings collegiate recovery leadership to the forefront of
the field.”
Learn more about the Recovery Leadership Regional Academy: collegiaterecovery.org/academy/.
Learn more about S.A.F.E. Campuses: safeproject.us/safe-campuses.
About S.A.F.E. Project
S.A.F.E. Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic) is a non-governmental
organization that is committed to contributing in a tangible way to overcoming the epidemic of
addiction epidemic in the United States. The organization uses an action-oriented, fact-based, non-partisan
approach to substantial progress through six interdependent lines of operation that address public
awareness, full-spectrum prevention, prescription medicine, law enforcement and medical response,
treatment and recovery and family outreach and support. The organization was founded in November
2017 by retired Navy Admiral and former ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James
Winnefeld and his wife Mary Winnefeld, after they lost their 19-year old son, Jonathan, to an
accidental opioid overdose. For more information, visit safeproject.us.
About Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE)
The Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) is the only association exclusively representing
collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) and communities (CRCs), the faculty and staff who support them,
and the students who represent them. ARHE provides the education, resources and community
connection needed to help change the trajectory of recovering student’s lives. We are a network of
professionals, administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents and policymakers that serves as a
national support for propagating and supporting the vision of collegiate recovery programs. ARHE
offers time-tested research- and experience-based modeling for fostering and supporting those in
recovery who seek to excel in higher education. ARHE is the central authority on the modeling and
tailoring of CRPs to best integrate them into the institution, and ultimately to best serve students in
recovery. For more information, visit collegiaterecovery.org/.
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