Recovery as Relational Care: Integrating Policy, Education, and Community Resilience in Rural Appalachia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Despite national media attention and significant policy investment, substance use epidemics continue to impact Central Appalachia. Inequities affecting rural communities and persistent stigma create significant barriers to well-being and recovery. Recovery, however, is more than a healthcare issue; it is a relational and community-rooted process that must involve education, policy, and care. In this article, we reframe deficit-oriented conceptions of recovery to highlight the vital role of relational care and community collaboration in promoting wellness in rural Appalachia. We offer the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) as a practical, evidence-informed strategy to foster emotional regulation, coregulation, and community resilience. We call for a shift in policy and educational practice that positions relational care as a central component of recovery, empowering rural schools to become hubs of healing and collective well-being.
Source: The rural educator
Authors: Jon Dance, Josh Thompson
Institution: Virginia Tech
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416202003
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