Bray Community Addiction Team (BCAT), under the guidance of a national steering group, sought expressions of interest from Regional/Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and addiction services in their area, wishing to participate in a pilot to develop SMART Recovery (Self Management and Recovery Training) in their communities.  The overall objective of the Pilot is to establish 25 SMART Recovery meetings nationally by the end of the 12 month period.  The pilot will involve the training of front line service providers in SMART Recovery facilitation, assistance with meeting setup and ongoing facilitator support and development.  The Pilot is the first year of a three year strategy to develop SMART Recovery nationally into a self sustaining network of mutual aid groups with its own governing structure which can then strategise for SMART Recovery’s further development and build on the establishment of a strong network of peers and professionals to take SMART Recovery forward.

The objectives of the Pilot are to:

• Raise the profile of SMART Recovery
• Recruit ‘Champions’ in DATF areas who will support the implementation of the pilot
• Train front line workers as SMART Recovery Facilitators
• Support new Facilitators to set up meetings within their area/agency with the goal being to work to a strategy of having the meetings peer led over time
• Support facilitators through monthly supervision/peer discussions
• Have 25 SMART Recovery meetings established within a 12 month period, a maximum of 5 of which will be focussed on the SMART Teen and Youth Programme
• Report on the process and outcomes of the Pilot to inform future development

 

For more information on the Expression of Interest go to the Resources section on this site.

Developments to Date

The proposal to develop SMART Recovery has been welcomed warmly by serices and Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.  There are now over 30 services signed up to the Pilot, the majority of whom are supported by their Drug/Alcohol Task Forces.  Over the coming months BCAT will be providing training to over 100 professionals across the country, largely focussed in Dublin (Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, D12, North Dublin, Finglas), the South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford), Cork (Arbour House) and Galway who will then establish SMART Recovery meetings in their communities.  This website will be updated with further developemtns and as meetings commence. 

For further information on the National Pilot please contact Finbar Fitzpatrick Email:  f.fitzpatrick@bisimprovement.com