NCADD-NJ is the Voucher Manager for the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council (M-W TLC) as part of their Rocky Mountain Tribal Access to Recovery project. 

NCADD-NJ manages more than $1.2 million in client treatment and recovery support funding annually on behalf of the M-W TLC.  As part of this responsibility, NCADD-NJ staff approve and issue vouchers via a Web-based electronic voucher management and payment system developed by the agency.  

The ATR grant is funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The grant is intended 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. 

In order to achieve the goals of the project, vouchers are issued to eligible clients and their family members to obtain needed treatment and/or recovery support services.  NCADD-NJ issues and tracks these vouchers as part of its subcontract responsibilities.  We also provide a wide variety of data reports, as well as training and technical support services to tribal partners and treatment providers in Montana and Wyoming.

The Tribal Leaders Council represents ten Native American tribes located in Montana and Wyoming, including the Northern Cheyenne, Blackfeet Tribe, and the Crow Nation.  Each of the ten tribal partners, along with five urban Indian programs, receive a portion of the ATR grant’s treatment funding.  The tribal partners select the providers who will provide the client services.

Drug and alcohol addiction is serious problem among the Native American population.  Of the 70,000 American Indian/Alaska Natives in Montana and Wyoming, it is estimated that more than 11,000 age 15 years and older needed substance abuse treatment and recovery support services in 2006.

Reflecting the goal to offer faith-based services, the Rocky Mountain Tribal ATR services include non-traditional services such as sweat lodges, talking circles, and other spiritual support.  In addition to clinical services, recovery support services such as support groups, child care, and transportation assistance are also provided.  As of April 28, 2010 more than 2,200 clients received treatment and other assistance totaling $2.9 million.  The project has demonstrated that its services are having a positive impact on clients in recovery.  In comparing intake data to six-month follow-up data, the clients' abstinence rates increased by nearly 28%.

For more information, contact Project Manager Maryann Diaz at 689-0599, or visit the ATR website: www.tribalrecovery.com.