About Volusia Recovery Alliance

Learn more about our mission and meet our team.

Our Board of Directors

Executive Director:

Karen Chrapek, BSBM, RCP, RRT

Officers:

Maureen France , Board President

Bill Blower, Vice Board President, LCSW

Ashley Grimes, Board Treasurer, CAPM, PMP, CRPS, BSPM

Tyra Roy, Board Secretary

Directors:

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.