Recovery Advocacy Plan

Now that we have reviewed ways to effectively advocate for recovery, lets go back to the Action Plan you created in Lesson 1. Recovery Advocacy 101: Individual Advocacy Plan. The original questions you went through are provided as a resource below. We recommend reviewing these questions again to identify any new actions, resources or ideas you would like to add on or changes to the original.

Create an Action Plan

What specific actions can you take to move your advocacy forward (e.g., writing op-eds, organizing rallies, participating in town hall meetings)?

How will you collaborate with others, such as other advocates or Recovery Community Organizations, to amplify your efforts?

What steps can you take immediately to start building your advocacy network (e.g., hosting a recovery-focused social media campaign, speaking at local events)?

What are some simple, immediate actions you can take, like sharing a recovery story, starting a petition, or creating a community action group?

What types of resources will you need to execute your plan (e.g., training, social media tools, financial support)?

Having made changes to your original plan, it’s essential to adapt your timeline and evaluation strategies to reflect these updates. Reassessing your goals, milestones, and responsibilities ensures that your advocacy efforts remain focused and effective. By incorporating adjustments into your planning and tracking processes, you can better align your actions with your revised objectives and maintain momentum.

Establish a Revised Timeline and Evaluate Progress

Start by setting new target dates for your updated goals and breaking them into actionable steps. Assign clear responsibilities to team members, update deadlines, and establish regular check-ins to track progress and address obstacles. Use this time to reevaluate long-term strategies, such as relationship-building and community engagement, to sustain momentum even after immediate goals are met.

To measure progress with the updated plan, identify relevant metrics like policy shifts, public engagement, or expanded recovery resources. Adapt your tracking methods to focus on these new priorities, using tools like social media analytics, stakeholder feedback, and surveys. Stay flexible in addressing unexpected challenges, and celebrate milestones—no matter how small—to keep your team motivated and focused on the larger mission.