One of the very important positions we have at the Café is Recovery Coach Advisor (RCA). RCAs are similar to what Recovery Coaches (RCs) are to Members, but they are there for the Coaches. Our RCAs, Nick and M’lissa, have taken the vital role in providing support for our RCs by helping with goal setting for Coaches (similar to goal setting with coachees), coaching RCs about their approaches to coaching, providing a safe place to speak about coaching and what’s going on in their own lives, and advise RCs about resources for coachees.
The RCA position was started by former Café employee, Sarah, when it was discovered that there was a need for someone to assist RCs with advice and to provide a safe space to talk about different topics. Nick started out in the Café as a liaison writing vouchers for members and became the Coach Advisor 3 years ago. At his busiest last year, he was meeting with 27 coaches while still writing vouchers. It was too much for one person to do. In October 2023, M’lissa was brought in as the second RCA.
Nick and M’lissa’s job as RCA encompass 3 main functions:
- They conduct our Recovery Coach Intros, where they will sit with Members and pair them with a RC. They’ll prepare paperwork with the Member, give them an intro regarding what to expect from a RC, and assign a coach based on the Member’s needs and what their life situation is. The goal is to assign a coach with a similar background or life experience to that Member.
- They hire our Recovery Coaches. Some things they look for in a RC are what did the prospective Coach retain during their Recovery Coach training, how organized they are, evidence of self care and self management. In fact, many coachees have gone on to be hired as RCs, with Nick particularly being on the lookout for coaching talent.
- They also approve voucher requests, if needed, for coachees to help with living expenses. The Café has identified 3 barriers to early recovery. Food, transportation and housing. The Café provides food 5 days a week, has vendors to cover transportation, and has vendors for recovery housing. Vouchers must be requested through a Recovery Coach.
Toughest Part of the Job
Though it does not happen often, the toughest part of their job is when a coach relapses. If that happens, the coach will be asked to step away from coaching for a period of time to get support in the way the Café was designed; attend a Recovery Circle, get a RC for themselves, and then revisit becoming a RC again in the future. The Café will give people multiple chances to succeed and will not shut individuals out.
Challenges and Goals
There is currently a waiting list for RCs of over 100 people. This list showcases the absolute need for it in our community. Ultimately, Nick and M’lissa would like to increase the number of RCAs to work in the Café. This will allow Nick and M’lissa to perform outreach at places like the DOC, recovery centers, and detox facilities. This can set the stage to get RCs into those places.
With all the important work they do, Nick and M’lissa are highly valued by the Café community. They do all this while also being RCs to Members, too. Coaching has honed their skills and kept them grounded in the needs of both RCs and Members. This provides crucial insight in their roles as RCAs. All of us at Everett Recovery Café appreciate them and are immensely grateful for their contributions!
