Recovery is often viewed as a clinical process — a place you go, a program you enter, or a treatment you undergo. But for Daniel J. Regan, a national leader in addiction recovery, that mindset misses the point. Recovery, Regan insists, is not about buildings or institutions. It’s about people and the power of connection.
Through his pioneering Healing Us™ Model and the recently released guidebook, Healing Communities Through Connection, Regan is reshaping how communities think about and build recovery. With an astonishing 86% success rate sustained over 18 months, this model is fast becoming a gold standard for recovery organizations seeking lasting change rooted in empathy, authenticity, and collective healing.
Healing Us™: A Model Built by People, for People
Unlike traditional treatment paradigms that often rely heavily on clinical settings, certifications, or institutional frameworks, Regan’s model strips recovery down to its human core. It’s a blueprint for building Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) that thrive on peer support, mutual aid, and community leadership rather than licenses or red tape.
From housing initiatives and peer mentorship programs to workforce reintegration, Healing Us™ offers a practical, replicable pathway for communities to create safe, supportive environments where healing can flourish.
Regan, who leads the New Jersey Coalition of Treatment Providers and helms multiple recovery centers including HealingUS Centers and Relevance Recovery in New Jersey, explains:
“Recovery is not a place, it is a people. And healing is not a service, it is a movement.”
This ethos places people at the center of recovery — their stories, struggles, and strengths — rather than viewing them as passive recipients of care.
From Kitchen Table to National Movement
The roots of the Healing Us Model are deeply personal. Co-founder Lynn Regan, Daniel’s mother, recalls the early days:
“When we started this, it was just a few of us at our kitchen table, trying to save my son’s life and the lives of others like him. We didn’t have a roadmap, so we built one out of love, grit, and community.”
Today, that grassroots effort has blossomed into a national movement recognized by mental health professionals, policymakers, and advocates for recovery innovation. The book Healing Communities Through Connection puts this hard-won roadmap into the hands of leaders ready to build their own thriving recovery communities — without the barriers of traditional clinical systems.
Real People, Real Impact
The success of the Healing Us Model is best told through the voices of those who have lived it. One member, J.G., shared how their experience in the program transformed not just their life but their sense of self:
“CFC is different than any other program I’ve ever been in, and I’ve been in many. Here, I sit in my authentic self — every other room had guidelines and judgment, but in this space I feel heard, respected, and validated. Respect in my authenticity is something I’ve never experienced in my life.”
This emphasis on authenticity and respect is what sets Healing Us™ apart and fuels its high success rates. It’s a recovery that embraces every part of a person’s story and humanity, helping them not just survive but thrive.
A Blueprint for Community Transformation
For community leaders, policymakers, and advocates, Healing Communities Through Connection is more than a guidebook — it’s a comprehensive framework to launch and sustain recovery-driven programs that focus on people over programs.
Whether developing peer support networks, creating housing options for those in recovery, or building workforce initiatives, the Healing Us Model offers actionable strategies backed by real-world results. It’s proof that lasting change happens when communities choose compassion, connection, and empowerment over stigma and isolation.
Join the Healing Movement
As the opioid crisis and mental health challenges continue to impact communities nationwide, models like Healing Us™ offer hope and direction. Recovery doesn’t have to be confined to clinical walls or limited by bureaucratic hurdles. It can be a vibrant, community-led movement that transforms lives and neighborhoods alike.
Healing Communities Through Connection is now available for leaders and advocates eager to make a difference. For anyone ready to build a better future through recovery, this book provides the tools, vision, and evidence that healing truly begins with connection.
Explore more health and wellness innovations shaping New Jersey’s communities and discover how local leaders are making a difference by visiting Explore New Jersey’s Health & Wellness section.
