New England NARR Conference May 15th 2025
The NE NARR Affiliate Regional Conference is a one day conference being held on Thursday, May 15th at SHNU (Southern New Hampshire University) Campus in Manchester, NH. The conference aims to bring together professionals from the recovery residence field to discuss best practices and strategies for operating a successful residence that meets national standards for safe, ethically operated, resident focused, social model recovery housing.
The day will include break-out sessions for new and prospective operators and house leaders (Peer Support Specialists) as well as designated times to visit with our vendors. Attendees, from across New England, will have the opportunity to network with peers and hear from a variety of educational guest speakers who are experts in the field.
Southern New Hampshire University (Campus)
at the Dining Center - Banquet Facility
2500 North River Road
Manchester, NH
Thursday, May 15th
8 am - 4 pm
Registration fee is $35 - includes a light breakfast & lunch - register here
If you are interested in being a Sponsor/Exhibitor for the NE NARR conference, click here for more information.
Speakers
David M. Sheridan
Executive Director of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Dave Sheridan is a co-founder and current Executive Director of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences. He is a national speaker and writer with a primary focus on the development and operation of statewide recovery housing systems. In addition to his work at the national level, Dave advises state agencies on the establishment and growth of their recovery housing support and oversight systems. He has been involved in policy development for recovery housing, including model state recovery housing legislation, on medication-assisted recovery, and on fair housing issues and related legislation.
Dave is a person in long-term recovery and has been active in the addiction recovery field since 2005, initially as a board member of a Southern California recovery housing organization. His experience in the field includes management positions for a treatment provider, and he currently serves on the boards of two nonprofit recovery residences. Dave’s professional background is in institutional investment management, where he held executive positions with nationally prominent financial institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Berkeley and an MBA from the University of California Berkeley’s Haas Graduate School of Business.
Madison Ashworth, PhD
Health Economist at The Fletcher Group
As a health economist, Madison leads various research projects related to substance use disorder stigma, the economic impacts of recovery support services, and program evaluation. She has expertise in designing evaluation protocols, developing survey instruments, implementing data collection processes, completing complex statistical analyses, and using economic modeling for program evaluation. She earned her PhD in economics from the University of Wyoming in 2023. Madison has completed Financial Landscape of Recovery Housing studies in many states across the country, including most of the New England states.
Autumn McCraw
WV RHP Project Coordinator and Community Engagement Coordinator at WVARR
Autumn McCraw brings a wealth of lived experience and professional expertise to her work, spanning human trafficking, substance use disorder recovery, and reentry after incarceration. Drawing from her personal journey, Autumn has emerged as a dedicated leader, committed to transforming systems that once impacted her life. In January 2023, Autumn was published as a contributor in Polaris’ groundbreaking national survivor study, In Harm's Way: How Systems Fail Survivors. She holds certification from the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP) as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) and facilitates WVARR's Peer Recovery Coach Academy.
Autumn’s influence extends beyond her professional roles. She played a key part in Pollen8 Inc.'s development, supporting its growth and now serving as Secretary on their Board of Directors. Additionally, she is an active member of the WV Human Trafficking Task Force and previously served on the steering committee for the Hope In Action Alliance. She also stepped in as the Interim Director for WV Families. Her passion for recovery, justice, and community shines through in all she does, as she continues to give back the hope and support she once received.
Kayt Gagneaux, M. Ed
Resiliency Essentials Program Director at Makin' It Happen
Kayt promotes mental health awareness and suicide prevention education throughout the Greater Manchester Region and beyond. Holding a Master of Education from the University of New Hampshire, Kayt has a robust background in education, having served as a teacher and behavior consultant. She has experience in residential treatment for youth, where she developed and implemented mental health curricula and crisis management interventions. Kayt specializes in creating individualized curricula and presentations focused on mental well-being for organizations and individuals alike. As a certified instructor in multiple programs, including Mental Health First Aid, the Mandt System, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), she is dedicated to equipping individuals and communities with essential tools for resilience and support.
Janelle Havens, MS
Recovery Ready Communities Director at Makin' It Happen
Janelle's focus is on providing the Greater Manchester Region with the tools needed to engage, empower, and educate individuals on the different pathways and manifestations of recovery. She leads the coordination, facilitation, and continued development of the Greater Manchester Region Community of Care Collaborative (CoCC), and leads the 2025 Anti-Stigma Initiative for the City of Manchester. She is a certified instructor for a variety of curricula, including Responding to Addiction, enCompass, Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), and The Mandt System training, among others.
Janelle earned her Masters in Science of Criminology & Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice from Merrimack College. Prior to her role at Makin’ It Happen, Janelle was a former advocate for domestic and sexual violence survivors, focusing on cases where there was co-occurrence between domestic violence and child abuse/neglect as reported through NH DCYF. She has been trained extensively in trauma-informed crisis response techniques throughout her career.
Sponsors-Exhibitors
If you are interested in being a Sponsor/Exhibitor for the NE NARR conference, click here for more information.
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Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
Affiliates
Connecticut:
The Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences' mission is to support CT recovery residences to practice the NARR national standards for recovery residences while improving the availability and quality of recovery housing options for persons seeking and sustaining long term recovery in CT.
Maine:
The Maine Association for Recovery Residences (MARR) is a nonprofit organization, an affiliate of the National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR).
We manage the ethical and safety standards for recovery residences in the State of Maine and certify residences based on the standards established by NARR. We believe all people seeking recovery-based housing should have access to both a safe and accommodating residence where they can live a healthy and rewarding life. The primary mission of MARR is to promote the ethical and sustainable management of high-quality recovery residences throughout the State of Maine.
Massachusetts:
The Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH) was established in 2007 by eight sober homeowners and began managing voluntary statewide sober home certification in 2016. MASH’s goal is to help create and foster safe living environments for those with substance use disorders.
New Hampshire:
The New Hampshire Coalition of Recovery Residences, NHCORR, was established in 2017 by a group of passionate recovery housing providers and recovery advocates to provide voluntary certification of recovery houses to the NARR Standard in New Hampshire, and is committed to building strong recovery communities, eliminating barriers to recovery-supportive housing, and promoting best practices through education and advocacy.
Rhode Island:
RICARES stands as the cornerstone of recovery residences, serving as the national affiliate dedicated to uplifting individuals on their journey to sobriety. With unwavering commitment, RICARES provides a vital network of support, guidance, and resources tailored to the unique needs of those navigating the path of recovery. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, RICARES fosters a culture of empowerment and resilience within the recovery community, ensuring that every individual has access to safe, supportive environments conducive to healing and growth. As the trusted national affiliate for recovery residences, RICARES champions the cause of recovery with compassion, integrity, and unwavering dedication.
Vermont:
The Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences (VTARR) was established in 2019 and is dedicated to providing education, technical assistance, research, and advocacy in the field of recovery residences.