A New Level of Rigor: Belonging and Becoming

Recovery is not a single moment. It unfolds over months and years, shaped by the people and places around us. If we want to understand what makes recovery last, we have to study it the same way: over time.

That is the vision behind Belonging and Becoming, The Phoenix’s flagship longitudinal study.

How the study works

Rather than capturing a single snapshot, Belonging and Becoming follows the same participants over time, checking in at regular intervals to understand how connection, community, and wellbeing change as recovery progresses. The study is designed alongside participants, and findings are shared back with the communities that make them possible.

What it will allow us to do

Following people over time lets us look beyond short-term results to the outcomes that matter most: whether recovery is sustained, how belonging influences it, and which kinds of support make the biggest difference. As the study expands across The Phoenix and NewForm ecosystem, it will help guide stronger programs, smarter investment, and better-informed policy.

Why it matters for Together Transforms Tomorrow

Together Transforms Tomorrow is an ambitious campaign, and ambitious goals deserve rigorous evidence. Belonging and Becoming is how we will show — clearly and credibly — the impact of every investment in community-based recovery.

Learn more about the study at belongingandbecomingstudy.org.