What is REC-CAP?

REC-CAP is a recovery capital assessment that measures a person’s strengths alongside their barriers and unmet needs.

30,000+

assessments completed

15 to 20

minutes to complete

Quarterly

typical reassessment

What it measures

One assessment, a whole picture

Recovery strengths

The 50-item Assessment of Recovery Capital covers personal and social recovery capital.

Community involvement

The Recovery Group Participation Scale, plus a broader measure of community engagement.

Commitment and support

A commitment to sobriety scale and a four-item social support scale.

Barriers

Housing, substance use, risk-taking, criminal justice involvement, and meaningful activity.

Unmet needs

Treatment, mental health, primary care, family support, and other specialist services.

Wellbeing

Physical and psychological health, quality of life, support network, and accommodation.

Components as described in Hard et al., 2022.

How it works

Three ways to use REC-CAP

As an intervention

REC-CAP can be an intervention in its own right, helping a person see their strengths and what stands in the way.

Within a care model

REC-CAP can sit inside Measure, Plan, Engage, the cycle shown below.

As an outcome measure

REC-CAP can measure outcomes on its own, such as longitudinal change over time.

The Measure, Plan, Engage cycle

1. MeasureLearn where a person is in their recovery.
2. PlanUse the results to build a recovery care plan the person owns.
3. EngageConnect them with resources and support to achieve that plan.
Then measure againRemeasuring shows what has changed, and the cycle continues.

The evidence

How programs use REC-CAP

Treatment courtsIn a pilot in two drug treatment courts, staff reported that REC-CAP helped them understand each person’s needs and strengths, and gave them ideas for case planning (Hennessy et al., 2023).Recovery residencesIn Virginia, peers administered REC-CAP at admission and every 90 days to track changes in residents’ strengths and barriers, allowing for better allocation of resources to address current needs (Best et al., 2023).Tracking growthIn Florida, REC-CAP followed 267 residents over six months and showed which supports went with the greatest growth (Hard et al., 2022).

REC-CAP is available in the Recovery Capital Management System (RCMS), which adds care planning and outcome tracking. New to the concept? Start with what recovery capital is.

Common questions

How long does REC-CAP take?

About 15 to 20 minutes (Hard et al., 2022).

Who completes it?

The person in recovery, online, with help from peers, coaches, or staff when needed.

How often should it be repeated?

Programs commonly reassess about every 90 days, which shows change over time.

Is REC-CAP the same as the ARC?

No. The Assessment of Recovery Capital is one part of REC-CAP, which also covers barriers, unmet needs, community involvement, and wellbeing.

See what REC-CAP could show your program.

See how REC-CAP works