As we enter the summer, our team at ATR is reflecting on the work we have done, the partnerships we have forged, and the impact we have made for individuals in recovery over the years. Back in April, we recognized Second Chance Month: a month to highlight the opportunities for government entities and organizations to foster meaningful second chances for people returning to the community from incarceration. This idea of “second chances” prompted our team to discuss our Special Projects and reflect on the populations we serve through them.
Read more below.
Three years ago, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced a new initiative to support a specific population of individuals reentering the community from incarceration who were also in SUD recovery through a culturally specific approach. At ATR, we saw this opportunity as a chance to reach a population that has been underrepresented in the history of our traditional services. ATR Program Manager, Michaella Jones, shared, “Black and Brown folks, especially those that have a history of incarceration have [not always been] given resources, not [been] built up…As ATR, a lot of our population of folks that we serve reflects the Massachusetts treatment system, which is mainly white men. It reflects the history of how substance use has been treated in our state.” This Special Project, Recovery Based Reentry Services for Black and Latino Men, is what ATR Care Coordinator, James Harrison, refers to as, “a seat at the table.”
Michaella and James echo each other in this sentiment, both reflecting on the history of the 1970’s “War on Drugs” campaign which disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities throughout the nation. While the prison and justice systems are broken, on this side of the wall ATR is doing something to repair and restore. James shared that through this project, individuals are, “immediately given consideration. [They] are somebody important and the agencies that we work with are more intentional about their outreach and their cultural responsiveness.”
Another Special Project, the ATR Plus (ATR+) Initiative, has been a means to re-structure the pathway to employment for individuals with SUD who are reentering the community from incarceration. ATR+ participants receive the same individualized support that they can expect from ATR, but the ATR+ model focuses on closing the digital literacy gap, providing formerly incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to build fundamental job readiness skills needed to thrive in the workforce. “We learned through many years of doing ATR and serving returning citizens who have prior incarceration experience that some standard ATR services were not doing enough. In particular, when it came to digital literacy,” said Brita Loftus, ATR Project Director.
With both our Recovery Based Reentry Services for Black and Latino Men and ATR+ programs, we recognize that our impact would have nowhere to land without our incredible partners. Brita shares that after collecting experience and learnings the last two years, these projects have allowed ATR to build, “more intentional collaboration with our partners.”
New Bedford
Gavin Foundation – ATR Care Coordinators, Jenny and Cindy
Bristol County Re-Entry Services
“Our team has worked with both Jenny and Cindy to help obtain clothing, IDs, and RMV fees for our participants requiring additional support.” – Kelly Sherman, Program Director
Springfield/Holyoke
Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) – ATR Care Coordinators, Cordero, Liz, and Rosa
Baystate BRIDGE Program
“The Institute for Health and Recovery’s seamless referral process and accessibility greatly enhance our ability to support the reentry population in their recovery journey.” – Deborah Rodriguez, Program Manager
All Inclusive Support Services (AISS)
“The Massachusetts Access to Recovery Program has been an invaluable partner to the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office for over a decade now. Through ATR, our clients are able to access a wide range of crucial supports that have a tremendous impact on their lives and recovery journeys. ATR’s offerings have truly become a lifeline for so many of the individuals we serve. We are incredibly grateful for this longstanding partnership and the invaluable role ATR plays in empowering our AISS participants to achieve stability, independence, and lasting sobriety.” – Margaret O’Connell, AISS Supervisor
These partnerships only scratch the surface of the work being done to support the reentry population. “Now, we get to work with agencies that reentry is their jam; that’s what they do! They are connected in their communities, they are [a] wealth of resources and knowledge, and [in partnership with them] we can better support our participants,” Michaella said.
Both ATR Special Projects began with goals to serve as many individuals as possible and eliminate barriers for the reentry population. But Brita, James, and Michaella all shared the perspective that, in pivoting these projects forward, we gained a “second chance” at engaging the reentry population. We found opportunities to learn more about what this population truly needs, identify the best ways to bridge the gaps in the process, and refocus on the individual receiving each service.
“The huge impact of these special projects is that it’s been an evolution,” Brita said. As a program having served the recovery community for 12 years, we are still learning ways to best deliver our services, work with diverse populations such as the reentry population, make our services flexible, and create a pathway for anyone who walks through our doors. Michaella shared that through these experiences, together as a team, we can, “have some more lasting change. I hope that we have more diverse folks that we’re serving.”
So, where does ATR go from here? How do we close a conversation that is still ongoing? How do we measure success while our work is in motion?
James told a story about one of his participants, *David, who was unable to work due to his overwhelming anxiety. “He got back from incarceration and our system was not set up for him to succeed,” James said. David was being nudged into ATR Career Services that were not going to benefit his life or wellbeing, so James had to be creative to provide him with the support he needed. “Long story short,” James said, “He has an apartment. I hear from him at least once every six months.” Today, David has custody of his daughter again and is slowly reintegrating into the world of work, serving as a mentor to teenagers a few days a week. In a moment of reflection, James said, “The greatest success I can say is hope.”