🤝 Charter Membership: An Overview

Become a Chartered Operator with Vanderburgh Sober Living! Learn how our community supports recovery residence operators and sets the standard for sober living.

 

 

 

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💡 VSL Charters & Membership

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About our community

Welcome to the heart of Vanderburgh Sober Living (VSL). Our community of Chartered Operators represents a fusion of passion, dedication, and excellence in the field of sober living. Our members are how the mission of VSL becomes a reality. Here's who is involved:

The Vanderburgh Foundation

The Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Webster, Massachusetts and recognized as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation. The Foundation's primary mission is to ensure access to a supportive, affordable, and sustainable home for each person on a recovery journey— this is accomplished three ways:

1. We steward over membership organization for recovery housing operators
2. Our membership organization is Vanderburgh Sober Living (VSL)
3. We develop and enforce standards for the operation of recovery housing
4. Those meet VSL standards and join our community are Chartered Operators
5. We provide a platform and services to holistically support Chartered Operators

Vanderburgh Sober Living™

Vanderburgh Sober Living™ (VSL) is a membership organization for recovery residence operators. Members, known as Chartered Operators, join the VSL community and provide recovery housing to individuals in recovery from addiction (referred to as guests). VSL members commit to upholding high standards of care and support, ensuring that all Chartered Homes offer consistency to guests and meet the best practices in our field.

Chartered Operators

Chartered Operators join the community from a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience. You don't have to currently operate a home to become a Chartered Operator; most of our members join before they've opened their first home and work with us hand in hand to learn how to open their first home.

• Chartered Operators can be entities or individuals; for-profit or non-profit
• Chartered Operators are independent and retain control over their business operations while aligning with the broader mission and values of the VSL community.
• Chartered Operators run Chartered Homes, which are confirmed to meet VSL standards
• Chartered Homes are affiliated with Vanderburgh Sober Living

This is how our community is organized:

 

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How to become a Chartered Operator

Charter Candidates

Charter Candidates see the value in becoming a member of our community. Candidates join us from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds, from recovery professionals, to retirees, to mission-focused entrepreneurs. Charter candidates are evaluated by our community to ensure they are properly informed and committed to operating exceptional recovery housing.

The first step in becoming a Chartered Operator is to submit a Consultation Request Form. After you submit the form, a member of our community will reach out to share more about becoming a Chartered Operator, opening and operating a sober living home, and what to expect as a member of our community— and as an operator of recovery housing, in general. We will walk you through each step of the process as we work together to ensure that you are informed and supported as a future member of the VSL community.

The Charter Agreement

The Charter Agreement provides a framework for the relationship between Chartered Operators, the VSL community, and The Vanderburgh Foundation. This document grants a Charter to the Chartered Operator and outlines the conditions for maintaining a Charter. Read more about the VSL Charter Agreement in the section below.

Chartered Homes

After you're granted a Charter, each new (or existing) recovery residence must be evaluated to ensure it meets VSL's community standards before it becomes a Chartered Home. This will involve an onboarding and inspection process, and an opportunity for our community to provide advice and support. Chartered Homes are inspected annually to ensure continued compliance.

 

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💜 Membership Benefits

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VSL membership benefits are provided to all Chartered Operators at no cost. 

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Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself

The strength of our community lies in its collective commitment to high-quality sober living. Every VSL Chartered Operator understands the responsibility of supporting individuals on their recovery journey. Through mutual support and encouragement, our community uplifts each member, ensuring that every VSL Operator and VSL Chartered Home stands as a beacon of hope and quality for its guests.

Build your unique identity, supported by VSL's national reputation

As a member of VSL, you can leverage our national brand to enhance your personal identity and presence. Our community works with Operators to establish their own brand and identity for sober living, supported by the national reach and reputation of the VSL community. Beyond this, we offer a suite of powerful marketing tools, including:

• www.vanderburghhouse.com: A personalized page for each Operator and home will carry the flag of your story and your mission, optimized for search engine visibility.
• www.soberhousedirectory.com: Chartered Operators are highlighted as "supporters" in the only national sober living directory, a website created by The Vanderburgh Foundation, with over 40,000 monthly views. It’s a potent tool for community outreach and driving traffic.
• Google Business Profile: Each Chartered Home receives a professionally managed listing, a crucial SEO tool averaging 2,500 monthly views, enhancing visibility and ensuring potential guests recognize the commitment to quality from their Google search page.
• Facebook: Chartered Operators can opt in for a custom Facebook page for each of their homes, professionally designed and managed, ensuring optimal search presence and alignment with streamlined social media marketing practices.

Join a community actively redefining excellence in our field

As a member of the VSL community, you are seen as a leader in the field of recovery housing with an understanding that all VSL homes adhere to strict quality, safety, and recovery standards. We work together to ensure our community sets the standard for recovery housing.

• VSL is the only national chartering organization for Level II recovery residences in the US.
• Our members operate homes from Maine to the Carolinas, and as far west as Illinois.
• Our members sit on multiple governing boards, including MASH, RICARES, NCARR.
• VSL standards are used across the United States to guide and inform what truly exceptional recovery housing can look like— standards developed by Operators, for Operators, all in the service of our guests and the mission that unites us all.

 

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Software and operational support platform

Our software suite is purpose-built for optimizing sober living home operations, empowering Chartered Operators with comprehensive and intuitive tools to streamline tasks and enhance guest support. The cloud-based system ensures accessibility, user-friendly interfaces, and efficient day-to-day management, elevating every aspect of service delivery.

• Accounting Suite: We provide comprehensive accounting software tailored to the specific financial concerns of recovery residence operations.
• Guest Management System: We've developed a platform that streamlines the management of guest details, files, requests, feedback, and other crucial information.
• Payment Processing: We provide a system for accepting payments online, from credit cards to bank drafts— improving collections and reducing the administrative hassle.

The Vanderburgh Sober Living™ System

We provide our Chartered Operators with the only comprehensive toolkit of business resources tailored for the sober living sector, ensuring seamless operations and quality support for their homes. This system has been developed by our team of dedicated professionals over the years since our founding in 2016.

• Knowledge Base: A collection of best practices articles and invaluable insights.
• Template Library: Vetted forms and files, ready for adaptation to meet your needs.
• Certification Packets: Comprehensive sets of forms and templates for NARR-Affiliate Certification— simply modify to your details and you're ready for agency submission.
• Sober House Financial Calculator: This helpful tool can be used to analyze new potential sober living homes from a financial perspective, ensuring we make sound decisions.
• Continuous Updates: We work with our members to refine and improve our systems, ensuring our Chartered Operators always have access to the best tools in our field.

 

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Unlock exclusive real estate opportunities

Chartered Operators access an exclusive real estate investor network aligned with our mission. These investors understand the sober living field and will work with VSL Operators to search for, purchase, renovate, and provide fully-furnished homes on long-term leases.

• Exclusive Real Estate Network: Enjoy direct connections to our network of impact real estate investors, specially curated for sober living home properties.
• Investor Trust: Connect with real estate investors who are eager to work with Chartered Operators— given their trust in the strength of our community.
• Enhanced ROI: Due to our mission-driven partnerships, operators often find opportunities that present a more cost-effective return on investment, maximizing profitability and impact.

Access to trusted third-party relationships

Chartered operators access products and services at significant discounts. Membership unlocks valuable resources to elevate the quality and efficiency of their sober living homes, ensuring optimal care for every guest.

• Drug screens: Through our established relationships, operators can access drug screening supplies at significant discounts.
• Marketing materials: Access to premium marketing resources designed for you and your homes, allowing Chartered Operators to promote their homes with top-quality materials.
• Deep Discounts: Operators benefit from other products and services at significantly reduced rates, ensuring affordability without compromising quality.

Access to VSL's support services (fees apply)

VSL offers exclusive services to Chartered Operators to enhance efficiency, reduce risks, and improve profitability in managing sober living homes. These optional tools are designed to provide additional support to Chartered Operators to help them optimize their operations.

• Intake Services | $29 per bed, per month (negotiable for 80+ beds)

Guests are the heart of every exceptional sober living home. VSL's tailored intake services provide Chartered Operators with all-day intake coverage, ensuring that calls are answered, applicants are properly informed, and new guest screenings are completed effectively. This service is performed by members of VSL's Intake Team.

• Concierge Support | 4.9% of gross revenue

VSL's Concierge Support is tailored for Operators who seek the highest level of support that we can offer, designed to enhance every aspect of your business, from strategic planning to guest support, ensuring your home is not just functional but exemplary in its operations. Whether you are laying the foundations of a new sober living home or elevating an existing one, our Concierge Support provides the comprehensive assistance you need to do well and do more of it.

Learn more: 🛎️ VSL Program Support Services

 

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📄 The Charter Agreement

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The cornerstone of the VSL community is the Charter Agreement. This document guides all VSL Chartered Operators, providing a framework for the relationship between independent operators, the VSL community, and Vanderburgh Foundation. This document grants a Charter to the Chartered Operator and sets forth the terms and conditions for maintaining Chartered status.

The specific agreements involved

The "Charter Agreement" is comprised of several binding agreements:

1. Grant of Charter and Membership Agreement: This agreement formalizes membership in the VSL community, granting a Charter to a Chartered Operator to operate sober living homes under established standards.

2. Standards Addendum: This addendum outlines specific standards, guidelines, and responsibilities that members are required to maintain as part of their Charter with VSL. It ensures uniformity in operations across all chartered homes, enhancing the quality and reputation of the services provided.

3. Personal Undertaking and Guarantee: This is a commitment by the member’s controlling owners to guarantee the performance and compliance of the member with the terms of the charter agreement.

4. Confidentiality and Disclosure: This part of the agreement binds the member to keep operational methods, guest information, and other sensitive data confidential, restricting their disclosure or unauthorized use.

5. Document Confirming Beneficial Ownership: This document requires members to verify and disclose the ownership and control structure of their entity to ensure transparency and compliance with regulatory standards.

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Charter Agreement Terms and Conditions

The parties to a Charter Agreement

The Charter Agreement is made between Vanderburgh Foundation, Inc., as the organizing body behind Vanderburgh Sober Living™ (VSL), and the Chartered Operator who has been granted a Charter and is joining the community by executing a Charter Agreement.

Basic terms and conditions

Grant of Charter: This agreement grants a Charter to the Chartered Operator. This establishes the Chartered Operator as a member of the VSL community— even if they do not have a home. This gives the member access to all of the Foundation's resources and support services.

• Each individual home must be separately evaluated and found to meet Charter standards, which will allow that home to be a Chartered Home.
• Every current and future home operated by every member must meet Charter Standards, ensuring consistency and quality across all homes within the VSL network.

Membership Benefits: Upon being granted a Charter, members become integral parts of the VSL community, gaining access to a range of resources and support services provided by the Foundation. This includes training, operational support, and other resources discussed in the agreement and in this Knowledge Base article.

Term of Agreement: The initial term of the Charter Agreement is ten years, but it automatically renews for subsequent five-year terms, provided that the member has generally met VSL's standards and expectations.

Transferability: The rights and obligations under the charter are not transferable by the member without explicit written consent from VSL, ensuring that the charter remains with the approved operator unless otherwise agreed.

Legal Obligations: This agreement constitutes a legally binding contract between Vanderburgh and the member, enforcing compliance with its terms and conditions through legal or contractual remedies.

Charter Standards

Operational Standards: Every member must adhere to VSL's standards and ensure their homes meet Charter standards, focusing on safety, effectiveness, and support. Consistency is key, with all homes maintaining high quality to uphold the community's reputation. Please refer to the links below to access the full set of VSL standards:

• 📋 Chartered Operator Standards
• 📋 Chartered Home Standards
• 📋 Facility Standards
• 📋 Establishing a New Chartered Home

Confidentiality: Confidential Information includes sensitive data and knowledge crucial to the operations and competitive advantage of the VSL community. This includes, but is not limited to, proprietary operational methods, guest information, business strategies, and other data that is not publicly available. Operators in the VSL network must maintain strict confidentiality standards by securing information, limiting disclosure to a need-to-know basis, and complying with Vanderburgh's policies. Signing confidentiality agreements legally binds operators to safeguard sensitive information.

Prohibitions on Competition: Operators must adhere to a non-competition agreement to protect VSL's and the Foundation's charitable mission. This includes refraining from starting similar ventures, hiring VSL employees, or using confidential information against VSL or its competitors.

Advisory Council: The Advisory Council, comprised of VSL community members, reviews and recommends modifications to operational standards to ensure relevance and effectiveness in sober living care. Their non-legally binding recommendations significantly influence network practices, maintaining high care standards and community integrity. Vanderburgh Foundation reserves the right to modify standards based on council recommendations, providing members with notice and guidance for compliance, ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of VSL operations.

Resolving disputes

In the event of disputes arising under the terms of the Charter Agreement between an operator and VSL, a structured dispute resolution process is in place to ensure fair and efficient resolution.

Mediation: Initially, parties are encouraged to resolve their disagreements through mediation. This involves a neutral third party who helps both sides come to a mutually agreeable solution.

Arbitration: If mediation fails or is deemed inappropriate, the dispute will be escalated to arbitration. Arbitration involves a more formal process where a neutral arbitrator hears arguments from both sides and makes a binding decision. This is generally faster and less costly than court proceedings.

Termination for Cause: The VSL community may terminate the agreement if a member fails to comply with terms and conditions including failing to correct repeated standards violations, failing to cooperate with certification agencies, and other concerning activities. In most cases, the operator is provided with an opportunity to correct violations.

Automatic Termination: The agreement can be automatically terminated if the Chartered Operator files for bankruptcy, engages in criminal activity, or creates an unsafe environment inside a home.

 

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➕ Additional Resources

 

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Forms & Templates