Final Project
Final Project: Recovery Journal, Testimony Outline & Principles-to-Practice Plan
Bring the course together in three parts. Everything may be handwritten. You may write about your own journey in general terms or about a composite woman in recovery; both options are graded equally, and no one is required to disclose personal history. Do not include details of crimes, cases, victims, co-defendants, other residents, staff, or facility security, and do not describe drug use in detail.
Requirements
- Recovery Journal Excerpt: three journal entries (about a half page each) on three different Restoration Path stages, each with a KJV verse, an honest reflection, and a prayer
- Testimony Outline: before, turning point, the path, today, and hope, with at least two KJV verses and a note on how you followed the testimony guidelines (no glamorizing, others protected)
- Principles-to-Practice Plan: one practical action for each of the seven stages, a daily rhythm, three triggers with healthy responses, and a support list by role
- Safety Section within the plan: when to seek medical care (including withdrawal), respect for prescribed medication, overdose response with 911 and naloxone, the tolerance warning after release, and 988 and inside-facility contacts
- Local Resources: blanks for state and local resources to be completed with a case manager
- A one-paragraph closing reflection on 2 Corinthians 1:4
Timeline
- Modules 2–6: write journal entries as the stages are taught; choose three for the excerpt
- Module 7: draft the principles-to-practice plan
- Module 8: peer review the testimony outline, revise, and submit all three parts
Grading Rubrics
Grading Rubrics
Every rubric uses the same four levels. Your instructor will mark the level that best matches your work for each row and add a short comment.
Module Assignment Rubric
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | Every required part is done | Most required parts are done | About half the parts are done | Little of the assignment is done |
| Accuracy & Skill | Skills applied correctly with no significant errors | Minor errors that do not affect the result | Several errors that affect the result | Major errors throughout |
| Professional Quality | Neat, clear, and ready for an employer to see | Clear with small issues | Hard to follow in places | Unclear or disorganized |
| Effort & Growth | Went beyond the minimum or clearly improved | Solid, consistent effort | Minimal effort | Little evidence of effort |
Total possible: 16 points.
Reflection Journal Rubric
Journals are graded on effort and reflection, never on spelling, grammar, or the details of a personal story.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completion | Responds fully to every part of the prompt | Responds to most of the prompt | Responds to part of the prompt | Entry missing or one line |
| Connection to Lesson | Clearly applies the week's skill or idea | Mentions the lesson | Vague link to the lesson | No link to the lesson |
| Faith Reflection | Thoughtfully engages the Scripture or faith theme | Engages the faith theme | Brief mention of faith theme | Does not address the faith theme |
| Personal Application | Names a specific next step or change | Names a general next step | Next step is unclear | No next step |
Total possible: 16 points.
Participation Rubric
Scored at the end of each module. Average the eight scores for the Attendance & Participation grade.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance & Punctuality | Present and on time for the full session | Present; late or left early once | Missed part of the session more than once | Absent without make-up work |
| Preparation | Completed assignment and brought workbook every time | Usually prepared | Sometimes prepared | Rarely prepared |
| Engagement | Contributes thoughtfully and draws others in | Contributes regularly | Contributes when asked | Seldom contributes, even when invited |
| Respect & Covenant | Models the classroom covenant for others | Follows the covenant consistently | Needs occasional reminders | Needs frequent reminders |
Total possible: 16 points.
Final Project Rubric: Recovery Journal, Testimony Outline & Principles-to-Practice Plan
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery Journal Excerpt | Three thoughtful entries on different stages, each with accurate KJV verse, reflection, and prayer | Three entries with minor gaps | Fewer than three entries or thin reflection | Missing |
| Testimony Outline | All five parts; focuses on God's work; follows guidelines with no glamorizing and others protected | All parts with minor issues | Parts missing or focus mostly on the past | Missing, or includes case details or glamorizing |
| Principles-to-Practice Plan | Practical action for all seven stages; realistic daily rhythm; triggers and supports clearly planned | Most stages addressed; plan is reasonable | Several stages missing or vague | Missing |
| Safety & Referral | Accurate on withdrawal, medication, overdose, tolerance, 911, 988, and inside contacts; no medical advice | Mostly accurate with minor gaps | Important safety items missing | Missing or gives unsafe or medical advice |
| Scripture & Reflection | Verses accurate and in context; closing reflection on 2 Corinthians 1:4 is honest and specific | Verses relevant; reflection clear | Verses loosely connected; reflection brief | Missing |
Total possible: 20 points.
Quick Guide
The Restoration Path Quick Guide
Keep this guide with your important papers after release.
The Restoration Path
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Honest Awakening | Coming to ourselves and naming what is true (Luke 15:17) |
| 2. Hopeful Surrender | Trusting God instead of our own strength (Proverbs 3:5–6) |
| 3. Truthful Confession | Bringing what is hidden into the light (James 5:16) |
| 4. Freedom Through Forgiveness | Receiving God's forgiveness and extending it (Ephesians 4:32) |
| 5. Making Things Right | Repairing harm wisely where safe and allowed (Matthew 5:23–24) |
| 6. Daily Renewal | Renewing the mind one day at a time (Romans 12:2) |
| 7. Sharing the Comfort | Offering others the comfort we have received (2 Corinthians 1:4) |
When to Get Help Immediately
- ☐ Any talk of suicide or self-harm
- ☐ Any talk of harming someone else
- ☐ Abuse or someone in danger
- ☐ A possible overdose or any medical emergency
- ☐ Inside a facility: go to staff or the chaplain right away
- ☐ Outside: call 911 for emergencies; call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, U.S.)
- ☐ Never promise to keep it secret
Overdose Response
- ☐ Call 911
- ☐ Give naloxone if available
- ☐ Follow the dispatcher's instructions and stay with the person
- ☐ Remember: tolerance drops after time without use, so overdose risk is higher after release
- ☐ Never use alone; keep naloxone available
Medical Safety Facts
- ☐ Withdrawal from some substances can be medically dangerous; seek medical care before stopping
- ☐ Medication prescribed for addiction treatment is legitimate medical care, not a lack of faith
- ☐ Never start, stop, or change a medication without talking to your doctor
- ☐ Recovery leaders are not clinicians: they walk alongside and refer out
Calming Steps for a Hard Moment
- ☐ Breathe in slowly, then breathe out even more slowly; repeat
- ☐ Name five things you can see around you
- ☐ Pray a short, honest prayer
- ☐ Call or talk with a mentor or trusted person
- ☐ Leave the situation if you can; eat and rest
Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Trust
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Forgiveness | Between you and God; can be given without an apology |
| Reconciliation | Needs both people and real change; only when safe |
| Trust | Rebuilt slowly through consistent behavior over time |
Amends Safety
- ☐ Never contact a victim, witness, or anyone with restricted contact
- ☐ Check with your case manager, supervising officer, or attorney first
- ☐ Choose direct, indirect, or living amends wisely
- ☐ A good apology: names the wrong, no excuses, acknowledges impact, no demand for forgiveness, states what will change
Testimony Outline
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Before | Brief and general |
| Turning point | How God met you |
| The path | Stages you have walked |
| Today | Honest about the present |
| Hope | An invitation and a verse |
My Support and Local Resources
Church or recovery group: _______________________________
Mentor (by role): _______________________________
Medical care and pharmacy: _______________________________
Where I can get naloxone: _______________________________
Case manager: _______________________________
Other local resources (ask your case manager): _______________________________
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.— Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Final Exam
- 1.
Romans 5:8 teaches that Christ died for us:
- 2.
Which stage of The Restoration Path is grounded in Luke 15:17?
- 3.
The correct order of the first three stages is:
- 4.
Rage, people-pleasing, and chronic worry are examples of:
- 5.
Why should someone stopping alcohol or certain medications seek medical care?
- 6.
Medication prescribed for addiction treatment is:
- 7.
In a possible overdose outside a facility, you should first:
- 8.
Proverbs 3:5–6 grounds which stage?
- 9.
Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10) leads to:
- 10.
Which requires both people and real change?
- 11.
Zacchaeus restoring fourfold (Luke 19:8) is an example of:
- 12.
Before contacting anyone connected to her case, a woman should:
- 13.
Why is overdose risk higher just after release?
- 14.
A strong testimony:
- 15.
This certificate is a lay ministry credential, not a clinical license.
- 16.
Forgiving someone requires resuming contact and trusting her or him right away.
- 17.
A relapse means God has given up on a person.
- 18.
Calming steps for a trigger can include slow breathing, naming five things you can see, prayer, and calling a trusted person.
- 19.
A group member says she takes prescribed medication for addiction treatment and feels ashamed. How should a recovery leader respond?
- 20.
Name the seven stages of The Restoration Path in order with one Scripture reference each.