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Andrew Finch

Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Human and Organizational Development; Core Faculty, Human Development Counseling

An expert who specializes in recovery high schools, substance use disorders, teen addiction and school counseling.

Biography

Andrew Finch is program coordinator for the online M.Ed. in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling. His research interests include the role of schools as continuing care for substance use disorders, counseling and human development and the ecology of schools.

Media Appearances

  • Readin'. Writin’. Recovery: Faith-based high school new option for Lehigh Valley students battling addiction

    That’s typically why recovery high schools are successful, said Andy Finch, a professor at Vanderbilt University who has studied recovery high schools. Studies have shown that recovery high schools have a positive impact on students, and that can be attributed to the small class sizes and support systems. “You’ve created a culture of peers who are ... trying to change their alcohol and drug use, and trying to stop,” Finch said. “When a kid starts to struggle, people are aware of it.”

    July 30th, 2019

  • Ohio Opens School For Students With Addiction

    Research on these small schools is limited, but Vanderbilt professor Andrew Finch says outcomes have been encouraging. "The scientific findings have shown so far that you do see a positive effect of having a recovery high school even for a short period of time," Finch says. Finch is co-founder of the Association of Recovery Schools. In a 2017 peer-reviewed study, he and his research partner found that recovery schools have a variety of beneficial effects.

    July 29th, 2019

  • Fresh Times at Rehab High

    Because recovery schools are all run independently of one another, they vary greatly in almost every other way: size, structure, curriculum, funding sources. Schools range between five and 100 students. "It's not a one-size-fits-all approach," says leading researcher on recovery high schools Andy Finch, an associate professor at Vanderbilt University and co-founder of the ARS.

    May 14th, 2018