Southeastern to expand Collegiate Recovery Program
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has launched the Collegiate Recovery Expansion Project to support college students in recovery. The program is possible thanks to the support of the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health and Florida Parishes Human Service Authority. The initiative includes over $1.3 million to create campus spaces that are recovery-informed, supportive, and empowering. The campuses that will implement the Collegiate Recovery Programs are as follows: Southeastern, Louisiana State University, Tulane University, Grambling State University, Northshore Technical Community College, and Southern Law Center.
“Substance misuse within college campuses is a national issue, which can easily overwhelm college students during one of the most pivotal times in their lives,” said Assistant Director of Intervention and LION UP Recovery Annette Baldwin. “According to the National Institutes of Health, 2007, less than 10 percent of college students suffering from substance misuse seek assistance. Unfortunately, all too often this can lead to academic failures, tragic accidents, and, in some cases, lost lives.”
The goal of the Collegiate Recovery Expansion Project is to create campus environments that meet the needs of all students. The CRPs are designed to support students who have or are at risk for developing a substance abuse disorder, Baldwin explained. This includes creating supportive programming for students in recovery, while educating the campus community on substance misuse prevention and sustaining recovery efforts. CRPs have the potential to save lives, Baldwin said, but are also essential for academic success, as they create supportive environments, promote resilience, increase retention, and graduation rates.
“There are significant benefits to having a Collegiate Recovery Program on college campuses. The presence of CRPs can shift perceptions on campus and reduce stigma, opening doors for more students to seek help,” Baldwin said. “These programs can also serve as important recruitment tools for students in recovery seeking an institution that can support their educational and recovery goals.”
Southeastern launched LION UP Collegiate Recovery in 2019; it was one of the first collegiate recovery programs in Louisiana. Since that time, over 19 students have been served, and 13 students in recovery successfully graduated.
“We want students to know that we are building a network of collegiate recovery programs in Louisiana. If you are a student in recovery, we are ready for you, and we will support you,” said Baldwin.
For more information, contact Baldwin at [email protected].
The grants are made available through funding from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS BG)-American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
COLLEGIATE RECOVERY EXPANSION – Southeastern has launched the Collegiate Recovery Expansion Project to support college students in recovery, thanks to the support of the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health and Florida Parishes Human Service Authority. From left are Southeastern LION UP Recovery Coordinator Bryan Sadler, NTCC College Wide ADA Coordinator Beth Froeba, Tulane Recovery Community Director Jacob Goldberg, LSU Collegiate Recovery Program Manager Adam Singer, NTCC Instructor and Faculty Advisor Robert Pate, Grambling Violence Prevention Coordinator Kim Gibson, Grambling Counseling Center Director Coleen Speed, Southeastern Assistant Director of Intervention and LION UP Recovery Annette Baldwin, and FPHSA Prevention Coordinator Tykesha Robertson. Not pictured are Southern University Law Center Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Support, Counseling, and Bar Preparation and Professor of Law Cynthia Reed, and Southern University Law Center Director of Collegiate Recovery Kimberly Decker.