An Evaluation of the Living in Victory Program
Black men in recovery for substance use disorder (SUD) face substantial barriers to employment and housing, exacerbated by punitive drug policies, structural racism, and historical place-based disinvestment. Although the evidence base points to the important role that employment plays in attaining and sustaining recovery, little is known about job readiness services and employment supports for Black men with SUD. Even less is known about which strategies can best support Black men served by programs in resource-constrained communities.
Living in Victory (LIV) Recovery Sober Living is a community-based residential recovery program in St. Louis, MO, that supports Black men in recovery. The program provides respite and recovery housing, access to wraparound services, life skills training, and job placement, to help residents on their journey toward wellness and economic stability. These services address social determinants of health and interrupt the cycle of substance use trauma and its intergenerational impacts. LIV’s program offers a unique opportunity to learn about a strength-based approach that supports Black men in recovery.
Focus of the Study
AIR is conducting a descriptive study that is guided by a theoretical lens that foregrounds race, place, and intersectional experiences. This study aims to:
- Understand the barriers and facilitators of employment for Black men in recovery;
- Document the strengths and opportunities of LIV’s wraparound treatment program services and related outcomes, with a focus on its place-based workforce development services and service delivery model;
- Identify opportunities for technical assistance to bolster the infrastructure of LIV’s current workforce programming, and to expand their capacity for long-term data management, continuous quality improvement, and advocacy; and
- Explore the return on social investment for the community.
Implications
There is currently a research-to-practice gap in the literature. There is evidence that employment is important to recovery but less is known about how to implement job training programs and support clients once they are employed. In addition, studies often do not disaggregate findings by race, and given the significant variation across program components, it is currently difficult to determine what works for whom. This study has the potential to expand our knowledge of what works for Black men in recovery, while also highlighting an example of a community-based response to SUD that stands in contrast to criminalization.
When organizations invest in individuals, they also invest in communities. As more individuals sustain their recovery goals and find employment in the community, they also engage economically in the community (e.g., supporting local businesses in their neighborhoods). In this way, tailored social support and workforce development opportunities for Black men in recovery can have positive spillover effects and strengthen economic development in the community as a whole.