Three-Year, $13.9 Million Federal Grant to Assist with Offender Re-entry Efforts

‘Access to Recovery’ Program Expands Client Choice in Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery Support Services

(Columbus, OH - Oct. 11, 2007) – Ohio adults in the criminal justice system will soon have more options when it comes to accessing alcohol and drug treatment and recovery support services thanks to a three-year, $13.9 million “Access to Recovery” (ATR) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Ohio’s ATR program, named “Choice for Recovery”, aids in state-supported community re-entry efforts. Adults involved in the criminal justice system will have expanded access and choice to resources needed to conquer addiction. Under Ohio’s “Choice for Recovery” initiative, approximately 6,200 adults will receive assessments that will provide them with a greater range of choice in selecting needed services.

“Access and choice are the right steps in a successful recovery journey,” said Angela L. Cornelius, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS). “Ohio’s Choice for Recovery initiative brings a message of hope to Ohioans who struggle with addiction. Increasing access to services is a primary goal of the Strickland Administration. It will not only reduce commitments to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, but it will also help these individuals become re-engaged in life and become productive members of Ohio’s communities.”

The state is expected to receive around $4.6 million for each of the next three years to fund programs in Cuyahoga, Stark and Summit counties. The selection of these three counties allows the state to target areas that receive the highest number of returning offenders. This will also minimize administrative costs and improve its ability to track client outcomes.

The ATR approach to treatment and recovery support services is unique in that it incorporates new faith-based and community-based options. In light of the devastating impact of methamphetamine use in Ohio communities, this initiative will have a specific focus on enhancing the field’s expertise in this area.

As part of its application, ODADAS was required to delineate a process for screening and determining appropriate services for the individual client. Clients will be assessed, given a voucher for services based on individual need, and be provided with a list of appropriate service providers (including faith-based and community-based organizations) from which to choose. A web-based voucher payment system is being developed to monitor the operations and effectiveness of the Choice for Recovery program.

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In addition to Ohio, SAMHSA has funded ATR projects in 17 other states, five tribal organizations, and the District of Columbia. The Access to Recovery (ATR) Program is part of a Presidential initiative to provide client choice among substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support service providers, expand access to a comprehensive array of clinical treatment and recovery support options (including faith-based programmatic options), and increase substance abuse treatment capacity.

For detailed information on the ATR grant program, visit: http://www.atr.samhsa.gov/. For more on what Ohio is doing to help address alcohol and other drug addiction, visit the ODADAS website at: www.ada.ohio.gov.

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Contact: Amanda Conn Starner, ODADAS chief of communications at (614) 644-8456, or Eric Wandersleben, ODADAS communications manager at (614) 728-5090.