About Volusia Recovery Alliance
Learn more about our mission and meet our team.
Learn more about our mission and meet our team.
Karen Chrapek, BSBM, RCP, RRT
Maureen France , Board President
Bill Blower, Vice Board President, LCSW
Ashley Grimes, Board Treasurer, CAPM, PMP, CRPS, BSPM
Tyra Roy, Board Secretary
Liam Sweeney
Jose Lopez
Louis Columbo
Dr. Georgia Jackson-Thompson
Donna Collins-Tinsley
Joan Lamupo
Emil Caron, CRPS-V
Lindsay Moore
Volusia Recovery Alliance, Inc. (VRA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Volusia County, Florida. The purpose of the Volusia Recovery Alliance is to coordinate peer driven services that provide substance use recovery resources to our local community.
The VRA is a Recovery Community Organization developed with a grant received through the AETNA Foundation. We began our efforts with a community listen and discussion using a recovery community symposium as the forum. More than 200 people attended the symposium.
The symposium included café conversations which covered a variety of topics. From these discussions we learned what our community members felt were the biggest challenges, which included issues such as better coordination with criminal justice, peer support programs, and community education.
Attendees of the forum provided input about what Volusia County needs, and the VRA has used this information to develop its strategic plan.
Our nonprofit began with a volunteer founding board that helped develop the foundation of the organization. We are a partner organization with Floridians for Recovery. Moving forward, we will establish our board of directors and finalize our services and programs in an effort to provide the most comprehensive source of services and resources for those seeking recovery and their family.
Who We Are
We are people in recovery from Substance Use Disorder (SUD), their peers, families and allies.
What We Do
We are a recovery hub for resources for anyone who is seeking recovery or is a family member or friend looking for help. We are working to make the community a recovery ready community. This means we continue to identify resources for recovery, including employers who are recovery friendly and we share the information. Employment especially is a barrier of the peer movement. Our goal is to break down the common barriers that keep people from recovery.
How we do this:
* We increase opportunities to access SUD recovery resources
* We meet people where they are in any stage of recovery
* We offer peer supported guidance to evidence based services that support all aspects of recovery
* We provide resources that support education, employment, health, and quality of life for people in recovery and their families
* We educate the community about SUD
* We advocate for people in all stages of recovery
* We increase good will and community support for people in recovery
Why?
• Because one in three people are directly affected by SUD
• Because recovery is attainable and sustainable
• Because we must replace fear and pessimism about SUD with security and hope
Our Fundraising Efforts
Advocate. Educate. Equip. Support.
Our fundraising initiatives raise money for recovery scholarships, after care services, community education events, and maintaining the resource center.
Join the Movement
There are many ways community residents and businesses can join the movement. Learn more here.
Vision
The VRA works to mobilize resources, reduce barriers, increase awareness and support in an effort to eliminate stigma and enhance recovery through multiple pathways.
Mission
We exist to serve all those seeking recovery from the impact of addiction including families, friends and allies.