Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Andrea N. Kopstein, PhD, MPH, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 5-1095, Rockville, MD 20857, 240-276-1575, andrea.kopstein@samhsa.hhs.gov

In his 2003 State-of-the-Union Address, President Bush resolved to help people seeking treatment for a substance abuse problem. He proposed a new consumer driven approach for obtaining treatment and sustaining recovery. An innovation in service delivery, ATR is founded on recognizing there are many pathways to recovery from addiction. By providing vouchers to people who want and need substance abuse treatment and recovery services, this grant program promotes individual choice. It further ensures the availability of a full range of service options (including Faith-based programs) and expands service capacity by increasing the number and types of providers. In August 2004, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) awarded grants to 14 States and one Tribal Organization. With this cohort, at least 125,000 persons will be served over the three-year life of the grants. The purpose of this funding is to expand consumer choice and access to effective substance abuse treatment and recovery support services.

In general, all States and the Tribal Organization are successfully accomplishing ATR grant objectives. Some grantees have significantly exceeded their individual goals of clients to be served; others excel at recruitment of non-traditional providers, including faith-based organizations. The ATR grantees are providing a broad range of innovative services and approaches to a variety of target populations. This presentation will discuss grantee progress and challenges ATR grantees have overcome with regard to making a paradigm switch.

Learning Objectives: