What Makes a Good Alumni Program? Turning “What Is” Into “What Could Be”

What makes a good alumni program? That question has been at the top of everyone’s mind since the All Rise conference in Kissimmee, Fla., last month. After seeing what the National Treatment Court Alumni Association is doing for alumni and participants across the country, we were inspired to begin building the Michigan Treatment Court Alumni Association (MTCAA).

The answer starts with understanding recovery capital. Recovery capital refers to the internal and external resources that individuals and communities draw upon to initiate and sustain recovery. This includes essential needs such as housing, food, treatment, and clothing. Community capital reflects how well a community supports its members with substance use disorders. Access to transportation, healthcare, recovery organizations, and child care—resources that help remove

barriers to stability and healing—are all examples of a community’s recovery capital.

Community capital also includes the often-invisible supports within our systems: recovery-positive cultures in courts and institutions, education that reduces stigma, and compassionate leadership. This might be the most important kind of community capital—because what good is a bus ride if someone doesn’t believe they’re worth the destination? Every interaction with court staff, service providers, and community members can either build hope or break it.

We’re not just here to serve participants and alumni—we’re here to give them opportunities to get involved. The “giving back” phase is widely recognized as a vital stage of recovery, regardless of the pathway—and for some, it is the pathway. That’s why opportunities to lead, serve, and contribute matter so much.

Alumni programs create space for exactly that.

Good alumni programs are built on two things: people and possibility. Strong alumni

leaders—those with lived experience and a passion for giving back—can shape spaces that feel empowering, inclusive, and real. Their leadership bridges the gap between 'what is' and 'what could be, ' because every idea shared by alumni and participants has the power to change a system, grow a group, or offer someone a second (or infinite) chance at connection.

And yes, funding helps too, because let’s be honest—who doesn’t love free pizza?

The truth is, every area of Michigan is in a different place when it comes to recovery capital. What’s available in one community may not be available in another. The beauty of alumni programs is that they can be shaped by the people they serve. They can meet courts and communities where they are.

That’s the spirit we brought to our first MTCAA planning session. Alumni from across Michigan joined us—both in person and online—to talk about how we can support alumni and alumni groups statewide. We’re just getting started, but the ideas are already flowing: more meetings, more support groups, more chances to stay involved.

If we want alumni programs that last, we need to invest in both people and potential. That means listening to ideas, building community capital, and staying focused—together—on what recovery support can look like.

If you’re interested in joining, or want to help shape the future of alumni support in Michigan, reach out to MTCAA at mtcaa.michigan@gmail.com. We’d love to have you join the conversation!