Enabling communities – The importance of communities and social networks for recovery
By Jean Pierre Wilken and Dagmar Narusson
Working with communities is essential for recovery-oriented care, particularly in supporting both functional and social recovery—key aspects of personal recovery. Social recovery focuses on rebuilding meaningful relationships across various life domains, with communities—whether geographic, cultural, or interest-based—playing a central role. Communities provide belonging, support, and access to resources, and their quality depends on bonding (internal connections), bridging (external opportunities), and linking (access to institutional support). The CARe model integrates community work by fostering connections to supportive networks and inclusive environments, or “social niches,” where individuals feel safe, valued, and empowered. Activities like bridge building, reconnecting with social networks, and creating welcoming spaces are central. Peer support is also vital, offering shared experiences that promote hope and empowerment. Community development enhances well-being by strengthening various forms of capital—social, economic, ecological—and relies on engagement, trust, and a shared sense of efficacy. These values align with the CARe model’s core actions: connecting, understanding, ensuring, and strengthening.
The importance of communities and social networks for recovery Download