Access to Recovery (ATR) Provides Recovery Supports
for People with Substance Use Disorders
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Hearing from those we serve... |
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It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? You can't keep it if you don't give it away...
But not to ATR participant, Raymond. He credits his recovery, his family of support, even his luck to giving “it” away. Raymond is always extending a helping hand to someone else who is down on his luck or offering a bit of support to someone struggling. Recently he has even shared his thoughts about eventually becoming a certified Recovery Coach to help people at their lowest. He truly wants to give back.
This value system has always been Raymond’s mindset. But he also credits his experience with the ATR program, the class where he learned valuable computer skills, the ATR Coordinator who used humor to connect with him while taking him shopping on many occasions, and more recently his experience with Sober Home assistance as another reason he’s able to help others. His care and relationship with his two sons encouraged him to make necessary changes in his life, and ATR has been there to support his journey all along.
One thing that stands out in every conversation with Raymond is his ability to see the best in people. It’s how he structures his world. If you talk with him long enough, you’ll hear details about where he’s at today due to ATR, like how ATR’s Sober Home service has connected him to his current residence and that ATR's rental assistance has allowed him to concentrate on catching up on other bills, but more likely he’ll turn the conversation to the success of others instead and demonstrate the idea of "regifting" in a very real world sense.
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Raymond reminded us of this quote from Audrey Hepburn:
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” After all, this is precisely what ATR stands for, and as long as we keep giving others the opportunity to grow, we grow ourselves.
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Part of what helps Raymond continue to grow in his recovery is his ATR Housing Recovery Coach, Ryan – himself an ATR graduate, and now an ATR Partner through Gavin Foundation, working with those receiving sober home rental assistance. Through support, education and financial assistance, ATR provided a steady steppingstone on Ryan's path to sobriety, one that he hopes to provide for with those he works with in ATR as well. Bringing his own experiences, struggles and successes helps to connect Ryan with not only ATR participants, but his community, his friends and his family. ATR is so fortunate to be able to contribute to the successes of people like Raymond and Ryan.
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And as for Raymond – Ryan notes that it’s a two-way street and true to form, Raymond checks in on him regularly too! |
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ATR's Sober Home services provide wrap-around support to ATR participants experiencing housing instability by addressing BOTH their housing and recovery needs. ATR pays the sober home rent and assigns a peer recovery coach to work alongside the participant for the duration of their stay in the sober home. Click here to learn more about this unique offering.
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We continue to add to our family of ATR Career Building services providers |
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We're pleased to introduce one of our newest ATR providers, the
Currently running HVAC&R and Computer Technology courses, BFIT has seen a great amount of participant interest. These two new job training programs offer professional certifications in high demand occupational areas and job placement efforts are proving successful at getting ATR participants employment in high quality jobs.
Stay tuned for more information - a new Auto Tech program will soon be another option for training for a highly skilled - high demand - good quality occupation.
For more information on BFIT's ATR job training programs, click here.
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BFIT staff have been impressed by the high quality of ATR participants and their motivation, reliability, and hard work. See some staff quotes below. |
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“Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) is excited for its mutually beneficial training partnership with Access to Recovery (ATR). We share a similar mission of providing training for careers in high-demand fields for individuals facing barriers to employment. We appreciate the support of the ATR coordinators to ensure these individuals succeed in the BFIT training programs. We have found the ATR participants engaging members of the BFIT’s student population including individuals in our HVAC&R and Computer Technology programs. We are looking forward to adding new training programs later in 2021.”
Kristen Hurley,
Director of Strategic Partnerships at BFIT
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“The first cohort of HVAC&R students from Access to Recovery started in September. These students have been dedicated and completely engaged with their training. As the students prepare to graduate from their program in December, I am beyond impressed with how well the participants have learned the subject matter including passing the required industry certification exams. Over two-thirds of the students have attendance of 96% or higher. As the department chair with many industry contacts, I would recommend these students for a career in the HVAC&R industry.”
John Terasconi,
HVAC&R Chair
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Want to know more about our other job training options and when they are scheduled? |
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ATR's job training providers are continually starting new class sessions. Since COVID, many of the training programs are offered fully online, but there are a few programs that are offered in-person or in a hybrid format. For a listing of upcoming job training programs offered through ATR, click below. If interested in attending a job training program, ATR participants should contact their ATR Coordinator. |
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Visit our website (and check back frequently) to learn more!
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Employment Resources For You... |
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JobGet: An Innovative Resource for Job Seekers
No resume? No problem! JobGet is a free, mobile app, which prompts job seekers to create a profile in three easy steps. The profile’s three components are work experience, education, and a summary about oneself. This simple profile replaces the resume, and cover letters are not required. Applicants are then just one click away from jobs of interest. They can also filter for location and job type.
JobGet was created about 3 years ago and now has 10,000+ employers and placed 100,000+ job candidates in 2020. The app keeps track of all jobs that have been processed by applicants. JobGet sends speedy reply messages, often within 2 hours. Applicants can chat back as soon as they hear and request a virtual or live interview.
Nate Root, Employment Specialist at Project Place (one of ATR's many job training options), maintains that “it is a great platform. The overall functionality of JobGet is very user friendly and is much more helpful than Indeed because of the ease of connecting job seekers to employers. Also, JobGet does not overwhelm applicants with multiple options and does better at targeting. They do not spam them with seemingly endless emails.”
The JobGet function on “Extra Income” may be a helpful tool for some applicants. They can complete a survey and gain access to part-time jobs and receive other information. Of course, technology skills vary widely; some may adapt seamlessly to the app, and others may need help initially with the download and profile set up.
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LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON ATR'S EXPANSION INTO THE CITY OF LOWELL IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER!
Interested in past issues of our newsletter?
(And feel free to share our newsletter with others!)
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ATR offers real solutions. Thousands of people in Massachusetts can now access desperately needed recovery support services to help them recover from addiction.
www.ma-atr.org | (855) 491-4567
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Federal government
funding agency
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State government
funding agency
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