Code of Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT

Generally

She Recovers Foundation (“SRF”) is strongly committed to pursuing its mission with the highest standards of ethical responsibility. This commitment to ethical conduct permeates how SRF’s directors, officers, employees, consultants and volunteers (including Chapter volunteers) (collectively “SRF Representatives”) interact with each other and the public. SRF’s success and ability to achieve its mission depend on the ethical conduct of all SRF Representatives; therefore, part of each SRF Representative’s responsibility is to ensure that they and others act in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Transparency, accountability and responsiveness to bona fide internal and external concerns about the conduct of SRF Representatives are paramount. Retaliation against those making good faith reports of their concerns about director, officer, employee, consultant or volunteer conduct is strictly prohibited.

Our Values

Commitment to Mission

SRF is committed to its mission to inspire hope, reduce stigma and empower women in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders, mental health and other related issues to heal themselves, and help other women to do the same. All SRF programs, activities and efforts should support this mission.

Integrity

SRF acts with uncompromising honesty, integrity, and openness. Public trust and confidence in SRF’s stewardship of resources is critical to the achievement of our mission. SRF manages, expends and accounts for all funds responsibly and in accordance with the law.

Accessibility

SRF believes we are all recovering from something and that ALL women must be supported to find their individual pathways and patchworks of recovery. We create and hold spaces to serve women from all walks of life.

Diversity

SRF recognizes that diversity is a strength and all women and non-binary individuals who identify with women’s communities are welcomed and respected in our movement. We honor, celebrate, and make space for difference in our healing communities.

Collaboration

SRF works collaboratively with individuals, organizations, and institutions whose missions align with SRF. Collaboration maximizes impact and enhances outcomes for individuals who engage with our organization.

Trauma-Responsiveness

SRF is committed to being trauma-responsive. We examine every aspect of our language, programming, environments, and values to ensure trauma-sensitivity, trust, and inclusion.

Impact-Focused

SRF believes that success is measured by outcomes. We strive to deliver results that benefit our constituents and society at large.

Standards of Conduct

SRF expects each SRF Representative to abide by all published SRF ethical and conduct-related policies, as well as help enforce them by disclosing potential violations.

SRF Representatives may, during their SRF related activities, receive or have access to SRF confidential and proprietary information, including but not limited to SRF strategies, business operations, organizational structure, finances, plans for upcoming events, and current or proposed transactions (“Confidential Information”). Each SRF Representative shall hold all Confidential Information in complete confidence and shall not disclose Confidential Information to third parties, nor use such information for any purpose other than SRF related activities. In addition, SRF Representatives shall not share personally identifying information about any SRF constituent without their permission.

SRF encourages anyone with concerns to report possible violations of its policies. SRF’s management and Board of Directors are dedicated to maintaining an ethical environment, with the understanding that they have the duty to take action when behavior does not meet the SRF’s standards. SRF will utilize its discretion to select an appropriate remedial course of action in the event of inappropriate behavior, including immediate termination of director, officer, employee, consultant or volunteer status. The following list illustrates possible violations of the SRF’s policies that may result in a disciplinary action (although this list is not intended to be comprehensive):

Dishonesty, including but not limited to, theft, fraud, misappropriation, or fraudulent signature.
Falsifying documents or records, including, but not limited to, financial and accounting books and records, time records, employment applications, benefits documentation, and/or expense reports.
Misappropriation of SRF’s assets, including intellectual property or use of Foundation resources or property for personal or third-party gain.
Engaging in criminal conduct or engaging in any outside business, professional or other activities that would adversely affect SRF or its reputation.
Engaging in any discriminatory, coercive, intimidating, violent, threatening, bullying, harassing or abusive physical or verbal behavior towards any employee, consultant, volunteer or constituent.
Engaging in any behavior that might create a situation which could endanger life, safety, health or well-being of the public or SRF employees, consultants or volunteers.

Chapter Responsibilities

SRF depends in large part on the work of its volunteers and local Chapters to carry out its mission. Chapters are responsible for compliance with SRF policies, including this Code of Conduct, in the performance of their activities. Chapters and their volunteers should report any violations of these policies to SRF Headquarters as discussed below.

Procedure for Reporting Concerns

SRF is committed to investigating potential violations of this Code of Conduct and taking appropriate remedial measures as warranted by the specific facts and circumstances.

If any director, officer, employee, consultant, volunteer or member of the public suspects a violation of SRF’s Code of Conduct, she can report it here. Concerns may be submitted anonymously if the user chooses not to include personal information. SRF takes all expressions of concern seriously, whether anonymous or otherwise; however, SRF asks that all reports of potential violations of the Code of Conduct contain sufficient details to permit SRF to thoroughly investigate the allegations. SRF strictly prohibits retaliation against those reporting concerns (unless the person reporting the concern is involved in the unethical behavior.)

Upon receipt of a concern submitted through the website or otherwise, the SRF CEO or Chair of the Board of Directors shall appoint an individual or committee to promptly investigate the concern and take appropriate action. SRF reserves the right to determine what action, if any, is appropriate in any particular situation.

Shelly Dimitrijevic

Shelly Dimitrijevic’s professional and philanthropic activities have always focused on improving the lives of others. She began her nursing career at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis and went on to become a LifeFlight nurse specializing in neonatal, pediatric, and cardiovascular intensive care.

Shelly has been involved with numerous charities focusing on children and education including the Charlee and the Chocolate Factory gala, The Venus Orbit, Design For A Cure, Jackson Memorial, and Impact Oasis. In 2010 she founded the Lotus program, a program that focused on educating parents on the nutritional needs of children and basic child development. Shelly also served on the Frost Science Museum gala committee for 7 years before Co-Chairing the event in 2015.

After a diagnosis of Celiac disease and subsequently receiving Certification as a Nutritional Consultant, Shelly recognized that topically applied products have an effect on her Celiac Disease and overall health. She turned her focus to developing skincare that was free of toxic and hormone-disrupting ingredients.

Since she lost her only sibling in 2012 Shelly has been determined to find a way to contribute to the recovery community in a way that can make a great impact and ensure that others have the resources necessary when they are struggling.

Shelly's substantial contributions to SHE RECOVERS of both time and resources have been instrumental and deeply appreciated.

Kirsten Newquist

As a result of being introduced to SHE RECOVERS through retreats and meet-ups, Kirsten will be starting her yoga teacher training in the fall. These retreats also led her to become more deeply involved with SHE RECOVERS in a volunteer capacity. Kirsten was instrumental in setting up some of the Foundation's grassroots groups and currently volunteers her time helping SHE RECOVERS Foundation to design and implement the Volunteer Chapter Network. Kirsten and her husband recently moved from Southern California to Roswell, Georgia to be closer to Kirsten's sister and two young nieces. When she isn't spending time being an aunt, you can find Kirsten hanging out with their rescue Labrador or exploring their new state.

Mary Beth O'Connor

Mary Beth is a founding member of SHE RECOVERS Support for Legal Professionals and is active at the local level with SHE RECOVERS in the Bay Area. Mary Beth has been living a sober life in recovery for over 26 years. She also has a history of trauma and abuse, from which she’s worked hard to recover as well. 6 years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm in Silicon Valley, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014 Mary Beth was appointed an Administrative Law Judge. She recently retired, so she could devote her time to completing her writing and being more active in the recovery community.

She regularly speaks on behalf of LifeRing and develops relationships with organizations supportive of the multiple pathways approach. In August 2020, Mary Beth had an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, I Beat Addiction without God, where she described building a personal recovery plan by combining ideas from LifeRing, Women for Sobriety, and Narcotics Anonymous. In November 2020 she had an op-ed published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, I was a federal judge, and I support Safehouse. Here’s why. She is currently working on a full-length memoir.

Taryn Strong

Taryn Strong is a founder of SHE RECOVERS® Foundation as well as a trauma-informed yoga instructor, recovery coach, aromatherapist, and herbalist (and daughter to Mama Dawn). Taryn has developed a unique yoga retreat program and led over 40 yoga for recovery retreats since 2012. She is also the host of the SHE RECOVERS Podcast and most recently created and taught the inaugural trauma-informed SHE RECOVERS Yoga Teacher Training Program. Operating from a trauma-informed lens and a firm believer in anti-oppressive practices, Taryn brings an empathic and invitational approach to healing - empowering women to find and follow individualized pathways and patchworks of recovery.

Taryn's courageous vulnerability and passion for recovering out-loud has made her an influential voice in the global recovery movement - smashing the stigma often associated with substance use and mental health issues. Taryn creates and lives with her beloved and two dogs within the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples (Saltspring Island).

Susan Carter

Susan is an architect of hope and healing with over 30 years of experience in providing executive-level leadership to heart-centered teams in the non-profit realm. Since joining SHE RECOVERS® Foundation as Executive Director in April 2020, Susan continues to weave her experience with her passion to help other women receive what she has been so graciously given – long-term recovery from substance use disorder, body image issues, codependency, perfectionism, and moral injury.

Susan’s work in the treatment industry quickly revealed how stigma kept women struggling with mental health issues and addiction from seeking help, and the lack of resources available to them once they did. Having served as a founding employee of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for 20 years, playing an integral role in creating the global grassroots movement that changed the way breast cancer is talked about and treated, she felt called to utilize that experience to do the same for women struggling with mental health and substance use disorders.

Celebrating more than 27 years of continuous sobriety, Susan is a Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) in the state of New Mexico to provide resources and peer support to those in or seeking recovery. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her fur family of four, Alex, Chaco, Bodhi, and Gracie.

Dawn Nickel

Dawn Nickel, Founder of SHE RECOVERS® Foundation, is a thought leader in the women's recovery sphere as well as an accomplished leader, dedicated researcher, and visionary in the recovery moment. She holds a Ph.D. in health care policy with extensive experience in researching and writing about women experiencing substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and intimate partner violence. Dawn started her own journey of recovery from a substance use disorder and domestic violence in 1987. She is also in recovery from anxiety, grief, trauma, overworking, and cancer. Dawn's tell-it-like-it-is wisdom has created a ripple effect where you will often hear her quotes "the shit you did is just the shit you did - it's not who you are" and "recovering from all the things" resonating throughout many recovery realms.

Currently working on her first book, Dawn is living proof that in a world where all women in or seeking recovery are celebrated, supported, and deemed essential to healthy communities - anything is possible. She is fondly referred to as Mama Dawn in the SHE RECOVERS Community and to her daughters Taryn and Ashley. Dawn lives, works, and plays with her beloved grandchildren on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen speaking peoples on Vancouver Island.

Nika is just one of more than 325,000 women in the She Recovers Community.

“Alcohol is what brought me into recovery but for me, it didn't tell the full story. That is why I love SHE RECOVERS so much. We don't just talk about our demons and the drugs and the alcohol, we talk about the real issues that led us to using those things in the first place.”— Nika

When she was ready to deal with her past traumas and what drove her to drink, SHE RECOVERS was there. Sadly an estimated 34 million women are suffering from mental health/substance use disorders.

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