The Providence Center Awarded $1.2 million SAMHSA Grant
PROVIDENCE, RI (September 24, 2010)—The Providence Center was awarded a $1.2 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) for the establishment of
Recovery Net, a collaborative initiative between The Providence Center, Providence Community Health Centers, Blackstone Valley Health Care, RI Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts (RICAREs) and Brown University.
Recovery Net supports recovery services specifically designed to meet the needs of 250 ex-offenders in short-term recovery from mental health and substance use problems who are re-entering the greater Providence community from men’s minimum security at the RI Department of Corrections.
Recovery Net helps to sustain recovery for the re-entry population by increasing access to specialized services such as substance use and mental health treatment, primary care, housing, education, employment and legal services. The initiative brings system-wide results that include enhanced treatment, increased access to recovery, primary and support services and continued integration of recovery services in the community. Ex-offenders participating in Recovery Net benefit from reduced relapse, reduced recidivism, reduced mental health problems, and increased opportunities for housing and employment.
Recovery Net expands The Providence Center’s existing treatment program in men’s minimum security at the RI Department of Corrections, which provides evidence-based treatment for mental health and substance use issues, behavioral modification and a wide range of support groups to 1,020 men each year. The SAMHSA funding expands the program to include a nine-month post-release period for 250 ex-offenders that provides connections to primary care, recovery housing, employment and education services, legal services and mental health treatment. After nine months, participants transition out of treatment and continue to have access to additional recovery services and a peer-based support structure.
“We developed
Recovery Net to empower individuals re-entering the community from prison to make lasting changes in their lives,” said Dale K. Klatzker, Ph.D., president/CEO of The Providence Center. “
Recovery Net’s treatment and connections to services support these individuals in living a full and productive life in the community.”
SAMHSA funding also provides support for the Anchor Recovery Community Center, scheduled to open in mid-October. Located at 243-249 Main Street in Pawtucket, the
Anchor Recovery Community Center is the first recovery center in Rhode Island and is supported by The Providence Center. The
Anchor Recovery Community Center will be an integral part of sustaining recovery by providing a positive social community for individuals dedicated to achieving wellness and restoring their quality of life. Peer-to-peer supportive services, connections to resources, wellness activities, groups and educational services will be offered at the center. It will be open to all members of the recovery community, including friends, family and the broader Rhode Island community.
The announcement of the grant award follows the release of SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which revealed an increase in the overall rate of current illicit drug use in the U.S. between 2008 and 2009 among persons aged 12 and over from 8.0 percent to 8.7 percent. The survey also indicates that access to substance use treatment is a concern—23.5 million Americans aged 12 and older need treatment, but only 2.6 million receive services.
“The National Survey on Drug Use and Health tells us that people need specialized treatment, but don’t actually receive it,” said Klatzker. “It is our goal to make treatment more accessible through initiatives like
Recovery Net and to create a positive environment that supports people in recovery at Anchor Recovery Community Center.”
Brown University will perform evaluations to measure the rate of recidivism, rate of relapse, connectedness, and effects of recovery services and peer mentoring on maintaining recovery. The grant will fund approximately 62 percent of the costs associated with Recovery Net, with the remaining costs covered by other sources.
The Providence Center annually serves over 10,000 adults, children and adolescents experiencing mental illness, substance use and emotional problems. Since its establishment in 1969, The Providence Center has been part of Rhode Island’s exemplary behavioral health care system, offering a comprehensive array of treatment and rehabilitation services. For more information call 276-4020.