The Recovery Toolbox: A Harm Reduction Curriculum for Occupational Therapy Groups in a Shelter Setting

The Recovery Toolbox is a curriculum of occupational therapy (OT) groups designed to support individuals experiencing homelessness achieve functional recovery goals. Given that substance use can cause and prolong homelessness, it follows that people without housing are less likely to connect to services that support their recovery goals. The purpose of this article is to describe the curriculum and its application in a shelter setting. Harm reduction principles guide the curriculum as well as the Bridging the Transition from Homeless to Housed framework. A preliminary assessment demonstrated clients improved significantly in their perceived ability to increase their own drug safety.