Drug Treatment Advocacy Program

Advocacy Program

This program is offered to individuals who made the decision to enter a treatment program. Those living with HIV or at risk of contracting it are both eligible to participate. Central AHEC staff will help people locate available treatment programs at facilities throughout the state. Central AHEC provides transportation to and from detoxification centers.

If upon discharge people agree that they need after-care services, the Central AHEC Drug Treatment Advocate will continue to work with them. This program successfully places people in treatment programs while also providing other supportive services such as referrals to primary care, mental health services, support groups, and housing.

What is a Drug Treatment Advocate?

A drug treatment advocate is an individual who assist those that have made a conscious decision in their wellness to seek a treatment program for their substance use. The drug treatment advocate will then seek out a treatment facility across the state and transport the individual there and stay in touch with client to form a discharge plan.

Once a person is discharge from the drug treatment program the Drug Treatment Advocate will continue to work with that person on their treatment plan. Referrals will be done to the appropriate programs for services that the individuals may need at that time. They will be guided, coached and counseled until the client feels he will no longer need the drug treatment advocate's services and be discharged from the program.

Services are offered free of charge to all CT residents.

Drug Treatment Services

• Detoxification Program
• Inpatient Program placement
• Outpatient Program
• Transportation
• Case management
• Referrals for:
  • Recovery Groups
  • Employment Specialist
  • Medical Services
  • Entitlements
  • Coping Skills
  • Substance Abuse Counseling
  • HIV Testing
  • Support Groups
  • Mental Health Services
  • and more

Goals

Advocacy services are provided to injection drug users and those non-injection drug users at risk for HIV infection who are not in treatment, who have been referred to but not completed treatment, or who are at significant risk for recidivism to drug use while in treatment.

Client services shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Promote drug treatment to members of the target population and their significant others who are at risk for HIV and advocate for and refer clients to HIV psychosocial support programs and other HIV related health education and prevention clinical service programs.
2. Assess clients to identify and describe psycho-social behavioral and structural environmental barriers that may interfere with the referral process and shall assess the client's past and present HIV risk behavior.
3. Counsel clients and significant others concerning opportunities for treatment by conducting client assessments to provide information on treatment modalities, length of stay at programs, activities to expect, policies on family involvement, visits, and other treatment-related information.
4. Promote interest in HIV risk reduction methods (needle exchange, support groups, and drug treatment) as an HIV prevention method among the drug-using population.
5. Advocate for clients during all phases of drug treatment: provide transportation to treatment facilities as necessary; directly advocate for admission into treatment; act as a client advocate; collaborate with treatment programs in matters regarding discharge, and reentry into the community; advocate for halfway houses and relapse prevention programs or other treatment modalities that decrease the risk of returning to substance abuse.
6. Promote the use of Drug Treatment Advocate services by other HIV and related service providers and recommend such services to the clients enrolled in the contractors program, as appropriate.
7. Develop and implement culturally and linguistically sensitive interventions, designed to overcome barriers and enhance client HIV risk reduction.

For More Information

Central Area Health Education Center, Inc.
20-28 Sargeant Street 1st floor
Hartford, CT 06105

Phone: 860-920-5149
Fax: 860-920-5136
Cell phone: 860-690-4189

You may also contact Ricardo Cruz at rcruz@centralctahec.org.