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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

ATR is NOT an emergency service. If you are in a crisis or responding to an overdose, please call 9-1-1.

The process of enrolling in ATR can take up to 30 days, if not longer, if you are not already enrolled in a treatment program that is authorized to make ATR referrals. If you need help with basic needs or emergency housing services, please contact Massachusetts 211 (dial 2-1-1) to see what is available in your area. For additional community resources in our service areas, click here.

ATR is not a self-referral program. Everyone who wishes to participate in ATR must first be connected to a professional from an authorized referring agency, typically a treatment provider or other recovery program, who intends to work with the individual for at least six months. Only authorized referring agencies can refer individuals.

If you are connected to a treatment provider, ask if they are authorized to refer to ATR. Please understand that the referral agency decides who will be referred to ATR and when it is appropriate.

If you are not already connected to the recovery community, you can reach out to the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050 to see what programs would best support your recovery goals.

For more details on our referral process, click here.

ATR offers a variety of recovery support services to participants: access to basic needs, career services including job readiness courses and job training, recovery coaching, housing support through Rapid Rehousing, and more to support each individual’s specific needs.

ATR is not a clinical treatment program. Our team works alongside a participant’s treatment provider to provide wraparound support and bolster their success in recovery.

These are a few common misconceptions about the ATR program. We would like to clarify each of them.

    1. Each ATR participant is given a $500 fund to use toward basic needs items – clothes, transportation, ID cards, phones, hygiene needs, etc. ATR participants work with their assigned ATR Care Coordinator to determine what the best use of these funds will be.

These basic needs funds are managed electronically by our ATR Care Coordinators. Cash is not given to ATR participants, but instead payments are made directly or via check on behalf of the participant.

    1. Shopping is one way an ATR participant can use some of their $500 fund, but not something every ATR participant chooses. If an ATR participant needs clean clothes, new clothes for a job interview, items for their children, etc. a designated shopper will go with them to shop for these items.
    2. If an ATR participant chooses to go through our Paths to Empowerment job readiness program or a job training program, they will receive a work-study benefit that pays per hour of training that participant attended. The goal is to pay ATR participants so that they have some financial stability to focus on their training as well as practice money management before entering the workforce.

Our online referral form is password protected and only authorized referring agencies have the password to submit their referrals. Referrals will ONLY be accepted through this online form, so please do not fax, mail, email, or submit a referral through any other method, as those referrals will not be reviewed.

If your agency is an authorized referring agency, please keep in mind that there is a designated point person assigned to streamline all ATR referrals. If you are unsure who that contact is, please contact the ATR office in your area.

If you are unsure if your agency is authorized to refer, feel free to reach out and ask. While we keep a close partnership with our authorized referring agencies, there are a few reasons your agency may not be authorized at this time:

    1. Your agency has not been approved by ATR.
    2. Your agency is geographically outside the scope of our existing service areas.
    3. We may not have the capacity to add your agency at this time.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept every referral from every recovery support program. While your agency may be doing incredible work for individuals in recovery, we do not have the capacity to add new referring agencies at this time.

ATR service areas are determined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS) and we can only provide ATR services in those geographic areas.

In ATR, early recovery means an individual has entered recovery within the last 2 months to 2 years. We understand recovery is not a linear process, but the ATR program is not designed for those in long-term recovery (5-10 years).

Our goal is to provide every support we can to set ATR participants up for success in their recovery, but reoccurrences (i.e. relapses) happen and we continue to show up for participants, regardless. Our ATR Care Coordinators can work with participants and refer them to treatment or other support services.

Once enrolled in the ATR program, an ATR participant’s 6-month enrollment period begins and we are unable to “pause” it for any reason. Participants can re-engage with their ATR Care Coordinator when released, and if still actively enrolled in ATR. If a participant’s enrollment period ends while incarcerated, they will need to wait until they are eligible once again to re-enroll.

Yes, if an individual is re-referred by one of ATR’s authorized referral agencies. However, an individual is only able to enroll in the ATR program once per grant term. A grant term is typically two years. Please contact your local ATR Coordination office to confirm eligibility for re-enrollment.

Each ATR participant is assigned an ATR Care Coordinator. ATR Care Coordinators meet with participants to set recovery goals based on an individual’s needs. A recovery goal could be anything from connecting to the recovery community, enhancing physical or emotional health, or re-entering the workforce and becoming financially independent. ATR is participant-driven, meaning that ATR participants get to choose how they utilize the support services ATR offers. ATR participants define what recovery looks like for them and our job is to support them along the way.

Based on the recovery goals that have been set and how those have been prioritized, an ATR Care Coordinator supports each ATR participant by connecting them with services and community resources that align with their goals. This is a flexible process, because an individual’s goals and priorities may change throughout their time in the ATR program. ATR Care Coordinators check in with each participant on a regular basis to continually assess needs and available services.

While the ATR Sober Home Service has been discontinued, ATR Coordinators will continue to assess housing needs and refer participants to the SOR Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Program when appropriate. The SOR RRH Program is a BSAS funded program in which eligible individuals may receive housing support such as:

    • First month, last month, and security deposit for rental units
    • Rental subsidies (up to 12 months)
    • Rental and utility arrears (up to 12 months)
    • Utility assistance
    • Moving and furniture costs

Some ATR participants choose to use some of their basic needs fund for baby or children’s items, such as diapers, pack n’ play, clothing, or school items. If there is something a participant needs to support their family, their ATR Care Coordinator can help them to review available services or connect them to community resources.

No.

While ATR had a history of solely serving the re-entry population, we have grown and changed our programming to better accommodate the shifting needs of our community.

ATR follows the Federal Law, 42 CFR Part 2 Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records. Visit our Participant Confidentiality page for more information.

Please Contact Us and we’d be happy to address your question directly.