University of California at Santa Barbara

About the Program

GAUCHOS FOR RECOVERY

Gauchos for Recovery, the Collegiate Recovery Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was founded in 2012. We are a part of the Alcohol & Drug Program which is under the auspices of UCSB Student Health Service. We have a small, dedicated recovery lounge with both staff and student spaces.  We do not currently have dedicated housing on campus but we have partnered with The Haven, who operates a residential recovery community and is available to UCSB students as well as students of Santa Barbara City College. We have one Program Coordinator for Gauchos for Recovery, and two part-time recovery peer interns who are undergraduate or graduate students. Gauchos for Recovery is serving 15-45 students. UCSB’s main programming for recovering students includes one open 12-step meeting weekly, peer counseling, monthly student organizational meetings, fellowship events, and referrals for academic advising, disabled student services accommodations, and referral to other campus and off-campus resources. The Alcohol & Drug Program also provides professional counseling and recovery support. There are no requirements for membership in GFR. Students in any stage or type of recovery are welcome at our meetings, including those who are new to recovery or simply considering recovery. We encourage GFR members to hold leadership positions within the student organization in order to support other students and actively participate in the continued development of our program. Recovery peer interns are required to have one year of continuous sobriety and active involvement in a recovery program.