2026 MARCO Self Readiness Assessment

MARCO Self Readiness Assessment

MARCO is committed to growing the grassroots recovery movement across Minnesota. The self-assessment is the first step in the MARCO RCO certification process.
The self-assessment is intended to help your organization get ready for the MARCO RCO certification process. It should take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. Your responses will help you and MARCO identify areas where you might need coaching, mentorship, or other resources before you submit your RCO certification application. The topics addressed in the self-assessment align with Recovery Community Organization criteria defined in Minnesota Statutes 245B.01 Subdivision 8 and 254B.05 Subdivision 1, and National Standards for Recovery Community Organizations.

Your answers to these questions in no way preclude, guarantee, or otherwise influence MARCO certification and are intended only as a guide to help you get ready for your application.

After you submit your self-assessment, MARCO staff will contact you to set up a time to discuss it with you. If you need assistance in completing the self-assessment, feel free to contact us at certification@marcomn.org.

Please remember, there are no wrong answers!
Section one: GENERAL INFORMATION
Organization Name*
Contact Person*

First NameLast Name
Contact Title/Role with organization*
Contact Phone Number*
Contact Email*
This will be the main contact email for this form
Contact Preferred Pronouns
Pronouns of person filling out assessment
Please include this information about your organization (either main location of organization or billing address)*
Website
Social Media Links (if available)
What year did your organization begin operations?*

Section two: RCO CORE STRATEGIES

RCOs achieve their recovery-oriented missions through the activities identified in Minnesota Statute 245B.01 Subdivision 8. These activities fall under the three core strategies below.

Does your organization provide programs, services, or activities in any of these areas? Reminder: There are no wrong answers! It's okay to select "Not Sure" if you are uncertain.*

Rows	Yes	No	Not Sure
Strategy One: Public Education and Awareness - Does your organization work to educate the general public in your community about substance use disorders and recovery? Do you offer publicly available programs that raise awareness about recovery resources, break stigma, and promote engagement with your mission? Examples might include but are not limited to tabling at public events, outreach to other providers, Recovery Month events, training, partnering with local media, etc.
Strategy Two: Policy Advocacy - Does your organization work to address barriers found in public policies that hinder an individual’s ability to access sustainable recovery through supports and services? Does your organization advocate to end punitive measures and discrimination against people based on histories of addiction? Examples might include but are not limited to working with local jails to increase access to recovery supports for people during or after experiencing incarceration, sitting on County advisory boards (such as Opioid Advisory Boards), or working with elected officials on recovery-supportive policies. Advocacy efforts can be focused at all levels - local, state, or federal.
Strategy Three: Peer-based Recovery Support Services - Does your organization provide non-clinical recovery support services throughout the community that are delivered by people with lived experience of substance use issues and recovery? Activities might include but are not limited to telephone recovery support, all recovery meetings and/or multiple pathways to recovery, harm reduction, workshops, resource brokering, and life skills development.

Section four: GOVERNANCE

Minnesota statute requires that RCOs must "be led and governed by individuals in the recovery community, with more than 50 percent of the board of directors or advisory board members self-identifying as people in personal recovery from substance use disorders".

Please do your best to answer the questions below. Remember, this is just a self-assessment, not your certification application. There are no wrong answers! It's okay to select "Not Sure" if you are uncertain.*

Rows	Yes	No	Not Sure
Do you have at least 3 people on your Board of Directors, as required by Minnesota law?
Are the Board roles of Chair/President and Treasurer filled by different people, as required by Minnesota law?
Do at least 50 percent of the members of your Board of Directors self-identify as in personal recovery from substance use disorders?

Section five: RECOVERY from SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FOCUS

Minnesota statute requires that RCOs "have a mission statement and conduct corresponding activities indicating that the organization's primary purpose is to support recovery from substance use disorder."
What is your organization's mission statement
Are the majority of the programs and services you offer focused on recovery from substance use disorders?*

YesNoNot Sure
Do you provide other programs or services that are not primarily focused on substance use disorders, such as mental health services, gambling addiction services, or direct housing supportive services?*

YesNoNot Sure

Is there anything else you would like us to know about your organization as part of your self-assessment?
Please verify that you are human*
Thank you!

This is the end of the self-assessment. A copy of your answers will be sent to the Contact Email Address upon submission.

After you submit your self-assessment, MARCO staff will contact you to set up a time to discuss it with you. Please check your SPAM folder for messages. If you do not hear from us within 10 days, please contact certification@marcomn.org. Thank you!
Should be Empty:

Rows	Yes	No	Not Sure
Is your organization organized and operated as a nonprofit corporation?
Has your organization been determined by the IRS to be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity?
Has the organization filed Articles of Incorporation that reflect its mission and purpose with the State of Minnesota?
Does your organization's bylaws require more than 50% of the members of its board of directors self-identify as people in personal recovery from substance use disorders?
Do you have a Board Conflict of Interest Policy?
Do all Board members complete and sign annual Conflict of Interest disclosure forms?
Are any of your board members affiliated with businesses that benefit financially from your organization's services, or vice versa? (Examples might be treatment centers, recovery residences, etc.)
Do you have any financial relationships or partnership agreements that might compromise your organization's independence and decision-making autonomy?

Rows	Not at this time	Working on it	Yes, but needs work	Strong
We recruit board members, staff, and volunteers representative of the communities we serve.
We provide opportunities for community members to volunteer for our organization.
We provide opportunities for community members to help plan and deliver our public programs, events, and activities.
We offer public events that promote broad community engagement in recovery topics or activities (such as Recovery Month events, recovery panel discussions, recovery film screenings, etc.)
We offer educational opportunities for the community to develop its knowledge or skills in recovery-related topics, such as overdose prevention, peer recovery specialist training, family recovery support, etc.
We conduct outreach activities (tabling, street outreach, etc.) to engage the communities we serve.
We partner with other community-based organizations to provide recovery support services.

Rows	Not at this time	Working on it	Yes, but needs work	Strong
We convene town hall meetings, listening sessions, or other public events to include community members in our priority setting.
We collect feedback from community members through program surveys, focus groups, or other evaluation tools.
We have a Peer Advisory Council or other Community-Based Committees that review our programs and strategies.
We recruit recovery community members to be volunteers for our organization.
Community volunteers participate in our organization’s operations in a variety of ways, such as administrative support, delivery of peer services, or capacity building.
We share our organization’s goals, priorities, and activities on public platforms, such as social media or newsletters.
We regularly revise or add programs and services based on the input of the community.

Rows	Not at this time	Working on it	Yes, but needs work	Strong
We offer 1:1 Peer Recovery Support Services provided by Certified Peer Recovery Specialists.
We offer peer recovery coaching provided by staff/volunteers trained as Peer Recovery Specialists but not certified.
We provide recovery resource navigation to connect people with a variety of recovery support services in our community.
We have a Telephone Recovery Support program (people sign up to get a recovery check-in from a trained recovery coach on a regular basis).
We have a public phone number and/or email for anyone seeking support or resources to contact us.
We have staff/volunteers assigned to answer phone calls or emails from people seeking support or resources.
We provide all recovery meetings and/or a variety of group meetings that support multiple pathways of recovery.
We offer overdose prevention training to the general public.
We offer recovery-supportive social activities to help community members connect and develop recovery-oriented social networks.
We advocate on behalf of individuals affected by substance use disorders. For example, in court settings, child protective services, etc.
We offer life skills development programs designed for people affected by substance use disorders.
We have internships or volunteer programs that enable community members to strengthen their skills in a recovery-supportive environment.
We provide educational opportunities for people to develop peer recovery coaching skills.

Rows	Not at this time	Working on it	Yes, but needs work	Strong
We have a written policy that affirms our commitment to all pathways of recovery.
We do not exclude people from our programs or services because of their chosen recovery pathway.
Offer services reflect diverse recovery pathways of recovery.
We refer individuals to alternative supports if the we cannot meet their needs.
We train our staff and volunteers on inclusive recovery approaches and harm reduction strategies.
We use language that is inclusive of all pathways of recovery in our digital and print communications.
We use language that specifically welcomes and supports people practicing harm reduction.
Our staff/volunteers have lived experiences that represent many different pathways of recovery.

Rows	Yes	No	Not Sure
Does your organization provide any clinical programs or services? (For example, treatment, counseling, assessment, diagnosis, therapy, medication management, or other services that require specialized knowledge, training, and licensing in the assessment and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.)
Are the majority of the programs and services you provide non-clinical?

Rows	Ready to submit	In development	Not sure
Organization's Articles of Incorporation
Organization's Bylaws
IRS Form 1023 Narrative Statement
Organization's IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter (or a fully executed Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement and IRS 501(c)3) Determination Letter for the Fiscal Sponsor
Board Conflict of Interest Policy
Current Roster of the Board of Directors and an attestation that more than 50% self-identify as people in personal recovery from SUD
Board Meeting Minutes for the previous 12-month period
Board-approved financial statements, including most recent Revenue and Expense (Profit and Loss) Statement, Balance Sheet, and YTD Budget Statement
IRS Form 990 annual tax return.
Independent audit (if your annual revenue exceeds $750,000)
Resumes for staff leadership positions, including the Executive Director
Description of all programs and services offered by your RCO and an estimate on percentage of activities that are primarily focused on substance use disorders.
Annual reports or the equivalent describing program outcomes and community impact.
Samples of recovery-centered language, such as brochures, website content, and social media posts.
Board-approved policy that affirms your commitment to allowing for and supporting all pathways of recovery.
Written job descriptions for all staff or volunteer roles that provide peer recovery support services
Your organization's employee and volunteer code of ethics, along with details regarding where the document is publicly available.
Your organization's public grievance policy and procedures, along with details regarding where the policy is publicly available.
Your organization's written non-discrimination policy
Written procedures for referring a Service Recipient to another RCO
Documentation of your community engagement efforts.
Documentation of the participatory processes used by your organization (such as listening sessions, town halls, etc.)
Examples of surveys or feedback forms used by your organization.
An equity and inclusion plan or a summary of your culturally responsive practices.
Training materials for volunteers and staff.
Hyperlinks to any public presence your organization has online, including but not limited to website and social media platforms.
Samples of job postings, if you have paid CPRS staff
Documentation of the orientation your Peer Recovery Specialists receive on the role of the Ombudsman's office
Copies of the notices you provide to participants about advocacy resources, if their grievances are not addressed