View in browser

We often treat our street intersections as meeting points, a place to meet a friend before continuing together to a shared destination. We hope to meet you at The Corner with the same goal in mind: to collaborate, walk together, and work together to better support individuals in recovery.

When the road is dark, we rely on the streetlamps and lights above us to help guide the way. The work we do for those in recovery comes with challenges, but when we hear from ATR participants, they light us up. Our ATR participants are resilient; their courage guides us and inspires us.

“You either help or you hurt.” For his actions, words, and even thoughts, this is the motto that guides Paul through his recovery. The oldest of four brothers from Nebraska, Paul M. originally joined ATR for the support services, but after going through a recurrence (i.e. relapse), he sought treatment once more. Treatment led him to re-entering ATR, but this time would be different.

Upon meeting Paul, you quickly recognize his natural curiosity. From his interest in history and learning about ancient historical sites, poetry and songwriting, playing bass in the band he formed with his brother (singer, guitarist) and recovery coach (singer, drummer), to woodworking, and refurbishing antique finds. Paul has an appetite for knowledge and wants to learn all that he can while he has the opportunity. He previously worked in construction, but now, he says he wants to work his mind.

Paul entered ATR and began working with his ATR Coordinator, Chynere Scott-Dottin, who oversees the ATR+ special project to help ATR participants increase their digital literacy prior to job readiness or job training programs. “I think she’s awesome, she’s committed,” he said of Chynere when speaking about those in his support system. Paul took the Intro to Computers Course through Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute for Technology (Franklin Cummings Tech) where he quickly grasped the material. So quickly, in fact, that he began helping his classmates through some of the coursework! He then set off to the ATR Paths to Empowerment (P2E) course through MassHire which he described as, “wicked awesome.” Paul remarked that P2E took him by surprise, as he was not sure what to expect, but “…it was like what the name says it is – empowerment.” He said P2E made him feel like more of a human being as he explored his strengths to decide where to turn next for the future.

While Paul’s curiosity about the world extends as far as other civilizations in the solar system, he also remains curious about himself, his dreams, and his goals. When asked about the strengths he discovered about himself in P2E, he said, “I’m a fixer, I can fix things…I’m a problem solver, I’m a leader, I have charisma.” He is open to what the future holds saying that the dream right now is to find a career that will allow him to do what he loves. Paul continues to learn about the world, himself, aspires to go to school, and help others. He said, “I just know that there’s something greater for me.” We look forward to continuing to support Paul in his recovery as he learns all that he is capable of accomplishing.

When we have exciting updates about the ATR program, you can find them here. Consider this your one-stop shop for ATR announcements.

Working Recovery: 2023 Webinar

Thursday, September 28 | 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (EST)

In celebration of National Recovery Month and National Workforce Development Month, we are excited to welcome you back to our Working Recovery series. This year, we have a panel of guests including a national expert, an employer, a job trainer, and an individual in recovery entering the workforce to speak on the importance of digital skill building.

Read about our panelists below and register here.

Kristen Hurley

In 2019, Kristen joined the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Franklin Cummings Tech) as the college’s first Director of Business Development. She was promoted to Chief Strategy Officer in 2021. Both of these newly developed roles at Franklin Cummings Tech allow her to focus on three of her passions: helping to implement strategic plans and business strategic growth opportunities, developing new partnership revenue opportunities, and making a difference in the lives of opportunity youth and underemployed/unemployed individuals. 

Tyrone

ATR Participant

We are excited to welcome Tyrone to the panel! Fresh from completing the Intro to Computers Course at Franklin Cummings Tech, Tyrone will provide an important look into how individuals in recovery can apply newly developed digital skills to their journey for success.

Kyle Smith

Director of Human Resources for Kent Displays, Kyle is a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience in the field, distinguished by his unwavering commitment to nurturing talent, promoting employee well-being, and driving organizational success. Kyle has continuously evolved his expertise to create harmonious workplaces where individuals can thrive. His current pursuit of a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling exemplifies his dedication to facilitating holistic growth and personal fulfillment.

Caroline Treschitta

As Policy Analyst for National Skills Coalition (NSC), Caroline collaborates with federal and state policy staff and network organizers to support the advancement of NSC’s skills platform with Congress and the administration. As part of the government affairs team, Caroline provides in-depth policy analysis of new and proposed federal policies to the network, including partners across the country and national organizations/coalition partners.

To learn more about each of our panelists, click here to visit our website.

Beep beep! ATR has a lot of moving parts and our team oversees the traffic of incoming participants, ready to begin their recovery path. With that, we know there are thousands across the nation who are starting their recovery journeys, too. This Traffic Report is where our communities intersect across the state of Massachusetts and across the country.

Behind The Scenes: ATR Personal Shopping

When participants first enter the ATR program, many have come from residential treatment centers, other recovery agencies, or are re-entering the community from incarceration. ATR Coordinators, like Rosa Cruz and James Harrison, collaborate with participants to create a shopping list and budget their funds before a shopping trip. One shopping trip with an ATR participant takes time and planning, and we want to show you one way ATR helps participants meet their basic needs.

Read more about the ATR personal shopping experience below.

When participants first enter the ATR program, many have come from residential treatment centers, other recovery agencies, or are re-entering the community from incarceration. There are many community-based supports available to help individuals in recovery with their basic needs, but there are also gaps along the way. Some participants come to ATR with clothes from a donation bin, shoes they borrowed from a roommate, or without the necessary hygiene products to care for themselves.

One of the first conversations ATR participants have with their ATR Coordinator focuses on meeting their most basic needs. We provide each ATR participant with a basic needs fund because we know that support for an individual in recovery has many layers. The basic needs fund helps our participants remove obstacles in the way along their recovery journey. While they are also connected to other providers and support networks that are able to meet some basic needs, this fund provides our participants with the opportunity to make decisions for themselves, empowering them to design their own future. With the help of their ATR Coordinator, participants are able to use these funds in a way that will best support their recovery and meet their basic needs, which allows them to then focus on bigger goals, such as career pathways.

ATR Coordinators, like Rosa Cruz, typically coordinate weekly shopping trips with participants, but before showing up to a store, Coordinators and participants work together to create a shopping list and budget their funds. Rosa has seen participants purchase new clothes, shoes, cell phones, headphones, necessities for the home, items for their children, and hygiene products. She has helped participants use their funds to pay off overdue bills, get a state ID, and secure transportation passes. Anything that is an immediate need, Rosa helps participants make those decisions ahead of time. If participants change their mind or think of an additional need, “I let them know they get a whole week to think; if they come up with something that they need, they can always call me.”

ATR participants use their funds to support various needs, but some use it as an opportunity to care for themselves again. Substance use can often affect an individual’s self-worth and self-esteem. ATR participant, Melanie, previously worked in nursing, always caring for others, and tending to their needs, but had not had the chance to care for herself. Over the summer, she used her funds on a new fan for her home, bus passes, paid off a bit of her rent, and got some new pajamas and products to treat herself. Similarly, Rosa has worked with participants who have requested hair dye or makeup so they can feel more like themselves again, investing a bit of their fund in their self-care.

ATR Participant, Anthony, shops for new clothes.

ATR Coordinator, James Harrison, works directly with participants who are re-entering the community from incarceration and starting anew. ATR participant, Anthony, said, “I was in a very rough place. When I finally started to get better, my stuff was stolen…I ended up connected with ‘Brotha James’ and he told me that I could get some clothes and a few other items. We worked on a budget that worked for me, and here I am. Thank you, ATR.” A shopping trip with ATR is the opportunity for a fresh start.

Second chances like these happen every day, and they sometimes begin at a superstore checkout lane, pictured here.

We are excited to not only share the progress of the ATR program, but also share this space with partnering organizations that are making an impact on individuals in recovery and spotlight their work. In The Rotary, we will host discussions with other organizations as well as discuss important topics that are affecting our community and our participants. In a rotary, you may find yourself in the midst of chaos and confusion, but The Rotary is where we come together to help one another move in the right direction.

Ever since the pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that we are living in a digital world. In fact, the National Skills Coalition (NSC), in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, recently released research indicating that digital skills are a requirement for 92% of jobs. The fact that only 66% of workers are equipped with the digital skills they need, however, indicates a striking disparity, one compounded by structural inequity. On both state and federal levels, efforts are being made to ensure this digital gap is bridged.  

Emily Kratz, B.A.

Emily is an intern within Advocates for Human Potential’s Access to Recovery program. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology with a double concentration in English and criminal justice from SUNY’s University at Albany and is currently pursuing a PsyD in clinical psychology at Antioch University, expected 2028. 

There are always training opportunities, webinars, and events to look forward to. Check in here to put your next destination on the calendar!

Register for Working Recovery

Featuring voices from every level of workforce development, our panelists include a national expert, an employer, a job trainer, and an individual in recovery entering the workforce. This panel’s expertise and lived experience will help you better understand the importance of supporting the recovery community in digital skill development.

Recovery Works

Recovery Works: Our Skilled Young Adults Are Well Prepared for Your Workforce

October 25, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), this symposium will focus on how young adults (ages 18-30) in recovery are an excellent source of skilled and motivated talent for today's workforce. Learn more about recruiting and retaining individuals in recovery, explore creating a "recovery-ready workplace" that supports everyone to be productive and effective, and tap into MRC's dedicated pool of young adults in recovery to meet your hiring needs.

Looking for Training Opportunities?

Careers of Substance

An initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS)

Careers of Substance is a central resource for anyone involved in preventing, intervening in, treating, and supporting recovery from addiction in Massachusetts. Click below to view the Careers of Substance training calendar, share these valuable training opportunities with your team, or subscribe to the newsletter.

AdCare Educational Institute

BeHERE Initiative



Community Health Training Institute