Faces & Voices of Recovery for Providers

• Recovery Organization
• FVR

Faces & Voices of Recovery

Faces & Voices of Recovery leads national recovery advocacy and organizes Recovery Month, shaping the public narrative on recovery.

At a Glance

Type

Recovery Organization

Acronym

FVR

Headquarters

Washington, DC

Official Website

Visit site ↗

Founded

2001

Last Verified

Mar 15, 2026

Reading Time

6 min

Why This Matters

• Leads national recovery advocacy and public education campaigns
• Organizes and promotes National Recovery Month (September)
• Trains recovery community leaders and organizations
• Advocates for recovery-supportive policies at federal and state levels
• Builds the public narrative that recovery is possible and achievable

Overview

Faces & Voices of Recovery (FVR) is a national advocacy organization dedicated to organizing and mobilizing the recovery community to promote and celebrate recovery from addiction. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Washington, DC, FVR works to change the public conversation about addiction and recovery by amplifying the voices of people in recovery and their families.

FVR’s founding premise is that the recovery community must speak for itself. The organization emerged from a recognition that millions of Americans are reportedly living in recovery from substance use disorders, but their stories were largely invisible in public discourse. By making recovery visible and giving the recovery community a collective political voice, FVR has helped shift national narratives about addiction from hopelessness to possibility.

For treatment center operators, FVR’s work creates a more favorable environment for treatment seeking and recovery support. When public attitudes toward addiction shift from stigma to understanding, more individuals and families are willing to seek professional treatment. FVR’s advocacy for recovery-supportive policies also creates infrastructure — housing, employment support, peer services — that improves post-treatment outcomes and reflects well on the treatment providers who serve this population.

Why Faces & Voices of Recovery Matters for Behavioral Health Providers

Stigma remains one of the most widely cited barriers to addiction treatment. Individuals may delay seeking help because they fear judgment. Families may delay intervening because they feel shame. Employers may hesitate to support treatment because they doubt recovery is possible. Every organization that works to reduce stigma — and FVR is among the most effective — expands the population of individuals who will ultimately seek the treatment services your facility provides.

FVR’s most visible contribution is its role in sustaining National Recovery Month, observed every September. Recovery Month provides treatment centers with a natural platform for community outreach, alumni engagement, and public awareness activities. Participating in Recovery Month events demonstrates your facility’s connection to the broader recovery community and positions your organization as more than a clinical service provider — it positions you as a community partner in recovery.

FVR also trains recovery advocates and supports the development of recovery community organizations (RCOs) across the country. These organizations typically operate peer support services, recovery housing, employment assistance, and other recovery support infrastructure that complements clinical treatment. For treatment centers, a strong local recovery community means better post-discharge support for your clients, which improves outcomes and strengthens your aftercare metrics.

The organization’s policy advocacy focuses on recovery-supportive issues including housing protections for people in recovery, employment anti-discrimination enforcement, expansion of peer support services, and funding for recovery support infrastructure. These policy wins create the community conditions that enable sustained recovery after clinical treatment ends.

Key Programs and Services

National Recovery Month. FVR has been a driving force behind National Recovery Month, working alongside SAMHSA to build the campaign into a nationally recognized observance. Recovery Month provides resources, toolkits, and event templates that treatment centers and recovery organizations can use to organize local activities. Events range from recovery walks and community celebrations to legislative briefings and public awareness campaigns.

Recovery Advocacy Training. FVR provides training programs for individuals and organizations that want to develop their advocacy skills. These programs cover message development, media engagement, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Training is generally available for individuals in recovery, family members, treatment professionals, and organizational leaders, though specific offerings may vary.

Public Awareness Campaigns. FVR conducts national public awareness campaigns that showcase the reality of recovery, challenge stereotypes about addiction, and promote the message that treatment works and recovery is achievable. These campaigns use media, social media, public events, and partnerships with other organizations to reach broad audiences.

Recovery Community Organization Support. FVR supports the development and strengthening of recovery community organizations across the country. This includes technical assistance, peer learning networks, and resources for RCO leaders. A strong RCO network benefits treatment centers by providing post-discharge recovery support infrastructure.

Policy Advocacy. FVR advocates at the federal and state level for policies that support recovery, including fair housing protections, employment protections, peer support service reimbursement, and funding for recovery support services. The organization mobilizes the recovery community as a political constituency on issues affecting people in recovery.

How Faces & Voices of Recovery Affects Your Facility

Recovery Month Participation. Develop an annual Recovery Month strategy for your facility. This might include community open house events, alumni celebrations, social media campaigns, participation in local recovery walks, or collaborative events with other treatment providers and recovery organizations. Recovery Month activities build community goodwill, engage alumni, and generate referral activity.

Alumni Engagement. FVR’s framework for recovery advocacy provides opportunities for your facility’s alumni to get involved in their community. Connecting alumni with recovery advocacy organizations strengthens their recovery and maintains their connection to your treatment center. Alumni who become recovery advocates are also powerful ambassadors for your program.

Community Partnerships. Build relationships with recovery community organizations in your service area. These organizations provide recovery support services that complement your clinical programming and improve post-discharge outcomes for your clients. FVR’s RCO directory can help you identify potential partners.

Marketing and Messaging. FVR’s public awareness work has helped establish messaging standards for recovery-positive communication. Ensure your facility’s marketing materials use language that is consistent with current best practices — person-first language, hope-based messaging, and accurate representations of recovery as a process. This alignment strengthens your credibility with recovery-informed referral sources.

Advocacy Alignment. Consider supporting FVR’s policy advocacy efforts on issues that affect your clients and your operations. Recovery-supportive housing policies, employment protections, and peer support service expansion all create conditions that support sustained recovery and, by extension, reflect positively on the treatment services you provide.

Resources and Contact Information

Official Website: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org ↗

Mailing Address: Faces & Voices of Recovery, Washington, DC

Key Resources:

• National Recovery Month toolkit and event resources
• Recovery advocacy training programs and schedule
• Recovery community organization directory
• Public awareness campaign materials
• Policy advocacy updates and action alerts
• Recovery messaging guidelines and best practices

Frequently Asked Questions

This profile is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or professional advice. Information about this organization may change — always verify current details with official sources. is not affiliated with this organization unless otherwise stated.

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