Where do I find help regarding LGBTQ situations in my home?
Our LGBTQ Final Policy document can be found under the tab Applications-Become Certified, and under News-Downloads.
Where do I apply for certification?
Applications can be found under the Applications tab. Please review all available information before applying for certification.
I need help finding a recovery house. Where do I go?
All of our certified recovery homes are listed in alphabetical order by county under the Accredited Operators tab. All contact information and descriptions of the programs are noted.
Do I have to submit my payment at the same time as my application?
Yes. To move forward in the certification process payment must be received.
What do I do about the online payment section of my Certemy profile if I already paid my fees a different way?
Next to the Pay button is a place to attach proof of payment. Take a picture of the check or money order you sent and attach it there.
Can I save my online application to resume later?
No. Once you start an application it must be completed in one sitting.
Can I save my online form for NARR standards documents to resume later?
Yes. As you complete the form and attach your documentation, it will automatically save to your profile so you can complete it at your leisure, but you have 90 days total to complete the form.
What happens after I submit my application and payment?
A MARR representative will review and approve it. Once your application is approved, a welcome letter along with the appropriate form for your level of housing will become available on your profile.
What happens after I complete my form and submit all of my documentation?
A MARR representative will review all of your documents and approve or reject them. If a document is rejected there will be an explanation detailing what is needed. You will then be able to resubmit a more appropriate document in its place. Once all of your documents are approved, an inspector will be in touch to schedule your site review.
If I update my Certemy profile, do I have to let MARR know?
MARR must be notified of the following profile changes: Updated contact information and if a new residence is opened or an existing residence is closed.
How often do I need to login to my profile?
Your profile must be updated with new vacancies at least weekly. Any other updates including new contact information or the opening/closing of a residence must be updated as soon as possible.
Do the NARR standards require live-in staff?
The NARR Standards do NOT require live-in staff. They also do not prohibit live-in staff. Note that house managers/leaders are often referred to as staff.
If my program is a Level 1 or Level 2, do I have to submit documentation regarding policies and procedures for staff?
Any programs with unpaid staff or volunteers should still have policies in place regarding day to day interaction with residents, especially for those in leadership roles, including job/role descriptions. Job requirements and descriptions for owners/operators are required as well.
How do I know what standards are required for my level of housing?
On the right side of your NARR standards document, each level is listed in order. If the standard has a check mark listed under your level, it is required. If it has an 'R' it is recommended but not required. A MARR representative will always assign you the correct form.
What do I do if I don't understand what a standard is asking for?
For more clarification, please refer to the NARR standards compendium listed under the 'Become Certified' tab of the MARR website, or reach out to the MARR team.
Are background checks a requirement for certification?
Yes. A current background check (within the last 12 months) is required from “ICHAT” or any other entity that can complete a similar background check on all owners, directors, employees and chief financial officers that handle the day-to-day operations of your organization (not to include an unpaid house manager/resident residing in the home) This requirement is listed on your application.
As far as policies go, only level 4 housing is required to have written policies and procedures regarding background checks, according to the NARR standards.
Can I save my online form to resume later?
Yes, the form for documentation on your Certemy profile saves to your profile automatically as you complete it. Because of this, the form can be completed at your leisure.
How long do I have to complete my online form?
New recovery programs being certified for the first time must submit all correct documentation before your site review will be scheduled.
Recovery programs renewing their certification have only 30 days after the date of site review to submit all documentation along with any additional requirements noted by your inspector.
If an extension is required, a formal notice must be submitted via email.
What kinds of files are eligible to attach and submit on my online form?
PDF's, Microsoft documents, and screenshots/pictures of documents are acceptable as long as they are clear.
Does each document for each policy all have to be uploaded separately on my online form?
Preferably, yes. For example, it is not necessary to separate whole documents such as "Guest Expectations" or "Code of Ethics" into individual sheets, but it is expected that you upload those 2 titles of documents separately from each other.
Try to limit individual uploads to less than 10 pages in length. Multiple pages of documents must be properly highlighted to help easily pinpoint the policy.
It is understood that some documents will be eligible to upload more than once for multiple standards. Your guest expectations for example may have anywhere from 2 to 20 policies listed within that one document and that is ok. Policies do not have to be individually listed in separate documents.
Do I have to submit my documents online?
Yes, but operators with extenuating circumstances will have 2 other available options upon request.
I am considering opening a recovery residence (RR) and plan on applying for certification of my RR by MARR. I have a felony criminal conviction that is 5 years old. Does my felony criminal conviction disqualifying me from seeking MARR certification of my RR?
The NARR standards do not provide for an automatic disqualification based upon a prior felony conviction. Rather, the question is decided on a case-by-case basis depending upon the nature of the offense, age of the offense, etc. . Many RR operators have had personal experience with the criminal justice system as a result of prior use of drugs or operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence. Provided there are no recent (none within the last 5 years) convictions for drug offenses this single factor would not act as an automatic disqualification. On the other end of the criminality spectrum, that would typically bar the individual from seeking MARR certification, would include convictions, irrespective of the age of the
conviction, for:
- Murder, solicitation of murder, intentional homicide, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, kidnapping, sexual exploitation of a minor; aggravated battery with a firearm, 1st or 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct.
-Financial institutional fraud, identity theft punishable under the criminal code, financial exploitation of an elderly person or persons with disability deceptive practices, forgery, state benefits fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud.
MARR will consider Issuing a letter ruling, upon the request of a prospective or current applicant for MARR certification, making a pre-– application determination of whether a particular conviction acts as a disqualification for MARR certification. The applicant must provide a written certified copy of his or her conviction(s) together with a written statement describing the factual circumstances underlying the conviction and the nature of the applicant's recovery journey since the date of the offense.
Is there a fee to submit an application?
Yes. There is $500 application fee for every initial application. Fees will be waived for any currently certified programs that need to submit any additional applications for the opening of a new residence.
Can I pay my fees online?
Yes. Online payments will always be available within your Certemy profile. Check or money order by mail is also accepted.
How do I know what level of housing I am?
Please refer to either the 'Home' or 'Become Certified' tab of the MARR website to determine your housing level.
Can I submit a paper application?
No. Certifications are monitored trough an online website called Certemy. However, MARR will email a paper application upon request for operators with rare extenuating circumstances.
Do I need to submit another application when it comes time to renew my certification?
No. The process for renewal will automatically generate on your Certemy profile.
When can I schedule my site review?
Programs renewing their certification, are able to schedule their site review after payment has been received.
Recovery programs being certified for the first time must submit payment along with all NARR standards documentation before a site review will be scheduled.
How much does it cost to schedule a site review?
There is an initial application fee of $500 along with the current annual rate of $300 for each recovery residence/address having 16 or less beds. After the initial inspection has taken place, a $100 fee will be incurred for each inspection required of the recovery residence other than the annual inspection. You can refer to the last page of your application for this question as well.
How long will the site review take at each house?
The initial site review typically takes a little longer, about 45 min - 1-hour per home. Once certified, the annual site visit is closer to 20-30 minutes per home.
How often will there be a site review?
Scheduled site reviews are completed annually. Every program is subject to a “randomized” audit. MARR may stop by any address at any time to assure standards are being met.
Does MARR meet with the clients in the home?
Yes, MARR has authority to speak with individuals living in the homes and may do this privately.
What if I can’t get things corrected within the 30-day time frame?
An additional 30-days can be requested, in writing.
What if I can’t finish everything after the additional 30-day extension?
Programs can re-apply for a MARR Certification after 90-days. This would require the operator to pay another $300 application fee along with a $300 fee for each residence with 16 beds or less.
What if I want to close a location that was just reviewed?
Any changes to a home need to be reported to MARR in writing within 30-days of change, (Closing a home, opening a new home, decreasing or increasing beds, change in gender served or population, etc.)
If our organization decides we can’t continue with the Certification process, can we get a refund?
Every situation will be assessed on a case by case basis, but MARR is not in the habit of giving refunds. MARR will assess the situation to determine the amount of time, work and effort already put in to complete the review process.
After a home is certified, is there a refund if the home needs to close before the end of the certified year?
No. Once the review process has been completed and the home is certified MARR does not give refunds.
Do I have to have a license before I can become certified by MARR?”
No. Depending on which county you are in and if you are contracting with a local PHIP, they may require the home to be licensed by LARA. MARR does not require recovery residences to be licensed.
What if I want to change my recovery home to a Level IV? Will MARR change my certificate to state we are a Level IV?
Yes, MARR can make a change to the certificate based on a change that takes place at a particular home/location/address. Level IV is Treatment, and is required to have a LARA License in order to provide this service. Before MARR could note an entity as being a Level IV, MARR would need to have a copy of the LARA License for our records.
How do I know what level of housing I am?
Please refer to either the 'Home' or 'Become Certified' tab of the MARR website to determine your housing level.
How do I become a level 4?
You must provide treatment to become a level 4 home such as inpatient, outpatient or intensive outpatient.
How do I know if I am a level 1 or a level 2?
Level 1 homes are democratically run where the residents are in charge of themselves and their own day to day activities with no ONE leadership role. If you run your own homes with no paid or volunteer staff yet still oversee all residents and their day to day activities, YOU are the staff, and you are a level 2 because of this. All required documentation for staff must be created and aligned to suite your position.
Where do I find help regarding LGBTQ situations in my home?
Our LGBTQ Final Policy document can be found under the tab Applications-Become Certified, and under News-Downloads.
Is a Michigan RR operator, contracting with a state agency to accept all men successfully exiting from a treatment center into its MARR accredited RR, required to accept a biologically female transsexual into its male-only shared-bedroom RR program, based upon federal law, state law in Michigan, or the NARR Standards?
An entity offering housing or recovery services funded or partially funded by MDHHS should be aware that gender identity and expression are protected, and using a person’s gender identity or expression as a sole factor or negative factor in making a decision to offer or deny services may be in violation of State law and would be a violation of MDHHS’s nondiscrimination policy.
Example Situation:
A traditional men's RR (Building Men for Life, Inc.) placed 2 different biological women in a traditional men's house since last September, with excellent outcomes. In both cases when BMFL accepted a female who identified as a male, they were accepted from a phone interview and faxed application directly from a male inpatient drug treatment center. I did not do a face-to-face interview. Communications with the treatment center identified them as a male as well as the funding contractor. In one case, the client applied originally to a female sober living and was denied residence due to the claimed gender. After BMFL moved them in, they did not receive any kick back from the other participants. In fact, they all formed tight bonds fairly quickly. In no case did any sexual advances take place. They were treated as one of the guys. The only complaint BMFL did receive was about the feminine hygiene products in the bathroom trash can, but this was easily resolved. Both clients had a successful stay and moved out into their own apartment's.
Comments/further info from BMFL:
In cases when we accepted a female who identified as a male, they were accepted from a phone interview and faxed application directly from a male inpatient drug treatment center. I did not do a face-to-face interview.
My communications with the treatment center identified them as a male as well as the funding contractor.
In one case, the client applied originally to a female sober living and was denied residence due to the claimed gender.
In two cases, the clients presented as a traditional female with no alterations to the body, no use of hormone therapy, traditional female clothing styles. Besides them telling me they identified as a male and wanted me to use a more traditional male name rather than the name on their driver's license, I would have not been able to immediately know their gender identity. In both cases I mistakenly thought the client who walked in my office was a sister or mother to the client I was expecting.
After I moved them in, I did not get any kick back from the other participants. In fact, they all formed tight bonds fairly quickly. In no case did any sexual advances take place. They were treated as one of the guys. The only complaint I did receive was about the feminine hygiene products in the bathroom trash can, but this was easily resolved.
Both clients had a successful stay and moved out into their own apartment's.
Today, we are housing two males who identify as female. One of the males requested a transfer to a female sober living home. After talking with the female sober living home, he/she was accepted into their program. This is the same female sober living program who denied housing to a female who identified as a male. In the end, our client chose not to transfer to the female home due to fears of not being accepted by the others in the home.
Even though these males present themselves as female, again we find no issues in the housing with the others in the home. In both cases, the clients are doing very well, and I am expecting a good outcome. We never had any complaints from the other participants or any odd behavior that would disrupt the homes operations.
We are also housing around 7 males who identify as gay. We have housed many gay men over the years. We have found no need to separate them or make special rooming accommodations. In 13 years, we have never had a situation where the roommate felt uncomfortable or had reports of any unwanted sexual advances.
We have not found any need to make adjustments to the housing program due to race, gender identity or sexual identity. We expect a code of conduct that requires respect for and from all participants. This expectation is equal to everyone and important to keep a group functioning as a family unit. Anyone is welcome in our program who can maintain the program standards clearly identified in our program participant handbook.
We have not found a need to announce the arrival or in any way change the move in process into the home. We feel this would single out the participant as "different" from the group. They are treated exactly the same as any person in the program.
We have been operating 15 recovery homes for over 13 years. We have had thousands of people through the program.
Feel free to pass on our experience and this email to anyone you want. I am always available to answer any further questions. (Keith Walters: 616-836-2896 keithwalters4@gmail.com)
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