Presenters:
Bret Frazier, MBA, and Mack Park, MSW
Planning a yearly budget for a Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) can feel overwhelming – especially when needs are growing, resources are limited, and funding sources can be unpredictable. This interactive Zoom discussion was designed to help CRC professionals strengthen their budgeting process, think strategically about sustainability, and learn from one another’s approaches.
During the ARHE Staff Chat “Yearly Budgeting for a CRC: An Interactive Discussion,” presenters Bret Frazier and Mack Park invited participants to rethink budgeting as more than a list of numbers. Instead, they framed it as a planning tool, a storytelling device, and a critical part of advocating for sustainable recovery support on campus. Designed as an interactive conversation rather than a one-way presentation, the session helped participants demystify budgeting, identify hidden costs, and strengthen the stories they tell about their programs when advocating for sustainable funding.
The conversation focused on helping CRP leaders understand the full picture of their budgets – including the costs that often get overlooked, like training, evaluation tools, and emergency student support. Participants reflected on how different funding streams (institutional dollars, student fees, grants, philanthropy, partnerships) shape what’s possible – and why relying on a mix of funding sources is often key to long-term sustainability.
A major theme throughout the session was narrative. Leadership and funders don’t just fund line items – they fund outcomes, risk reduction, and impact. Being able to clearly explain why a budget looks the way it does, and how it supports student success, can make all the difference when advocating for continued or expanded investment.
The session also grounded budgeting conversations in ARHE standards and accessibility, reinforcing that recovery supports should remain accessible to students while still being adequately resourced. “If students are not being charged for other mental health related services or peer support services for various other lived experiences, then student in or seeking recovery should not be charged for similar resources.” Participants left with practical tools, templates, and research-informed resources they can use to strengthen their own budgets.
Missed the session or want more support? ARHE continues to offer technical assistance and training (TTA), and resources to help campuses build sustainable, student-centered recovery programs through the Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS). Book a TTA meeting with us to talk more about building a budget!
This session was not recorded, but you can download the presentation slides here.
Resources developed by ARHE:
- CRP annual budget template: This budget template has pre-filled data to be used as an example. Make a copy or download a copy and input the numbers that make the most sense for your institution. The sheet is set up with pre-filled calculations to calculate the annual cost based on unit cost, quantity, and fixed or variable types (variable amounts multiply the quantity by the number of students input at the top). Attach the funding source to include projected funds and conditional expense items based on receiving anticipated amounts.
- Budget Reconciliation Tracker: This spreadsheet is an example of a budget reconciliation tracker. You can customize the categories based on your personal budget, but using a reconciliation tracker allows you to input real expenses as they occur, allocate them to a budget line item, and in real time, calculate the remaining funds in a budget category.
- Accreditation Value / Justification Toolkit: Use this preliminary toolkit to advocate for the value of accreditation. Note: there are two tabs in the Google Document – the first one gives an overview of SRCRA, and the second one to advocate for the value of accreditation.
- Conference Justification Toolkit: Use this toolkit to advocate to include in your budget the ARHE annual conference.
External Links and Resources:
- OpEd: Inclusive Peer Support Groups Are Expanding at US Colleges, but Stable Funding is Needed By Jillian McKoy
- OpEd: College Shouldn’t Be a Relapse Risk: Why Collegiate Recovery Programs Deserve Sustainable Funding By Noel Vest
- Article: Characterizing Collegiate Recovery Programs in the United States and Canada: A Survey of Program Directors (Vest et al., 2025)
- Advocacy Toolkit: Cost Effectiveness Toolkit for Collegiate Recovery Programs (Castedo de Martell, 2022, 2024)
- White Paper: A Cost-Effective Investment for West Virginia
- Article: CFRI Braided Funding Streams Article (SAMHSA, 2024)
Staff Chats will continue for the 2025-2026 academic year on the last Tuesday of every month at 12pm ET / 11am CT / 10am MT / 9am PT.