Connecticut State Laws, Policies and Funding
RH terminology used by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
“Sober Living Homes are alcohol- and drug-free residences where unrelated adults who are recovering from a substance use disorder voluntarily choose to live together in a supportive environment during their recovery. No formal substance use disorder treatment services are provided at Sober Living Homes. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently listing the Connecticut certified Sober Living Homes as required byPA 18-171. DMHAS does not monitor, certify, or oversee sober living homes.”
https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/Divisions/Behavioral-Health-Division/Certified-Sober-Living-Homes
Accreditation, Certification, and State Licensing Requirement: Certification is required to be listed on the state registry.
RH Law(s): PA No. 18-171 (2018) This act contains various provisions regarding the oversight of sober living homes to include definitions, certification, advertising and marketing, and disclosure requirements for prospective residents.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05149&which_year=2018
RH Legislation: None/unknown
Regulations: None/unknown
SABG Program: The “Planned Priority Areas” documents for your state’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) program and Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program do not specifically mention recovery housing as a priority, nor do they list recovery support services as an allowable activity. To learn more about specific recovery housing activities that are eligible for funding through these grant programs, please reach out to your state’s Single State Agency (SSA) that’s responsible for administering these funds by visiting https://portal.ct.gov/dmhas
SOR Program: Your state’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has previously funded recovery activities using State Opioid Response (SOR) funds. To learn more about specific recovery housing activities that are eligible for funding through this grant program, please reach out to your state’s Single State Agency (SSA) that’s responsible for administering these funds by visiting https://portal.ct.gov/dmhas
Medicaid Funding: Nothing in the state Medicaid plan suggests direct support for RH, however, certain covered activities could evolve to be provided in RH settings include peer support, case management, skill development, and counseling.
NARR Affiliate Status: Yes, Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR)
Housing Assistance Funding: https://www.chfa.org/
Directory/Registry:
Certified Sober Living Homes https://www.ctaddictionservices.com
CT Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTARR): http://ctrecoveryresidences.org/
Connecticut Funders
Foundation for Community Health
The Foundation for Community Health is a health conversion foundation that was formed in 2003 when for-profit Essent Healthcare, Inc. purchased non-profit Sharon Hospital. The Foundation is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
Regions: The Foundation serves the rural county of Litchfield, in Connecticut, as well as the rural county of Columbia and partially rural county of Dutchess, in New York.
Issues Supported: The Foundation for Community Health focuses on issues areas including dental care, family services, mental health care, out-patient health care, and residential care.
Grant Process and Application: The first step in the grant application process is to contact the Foundation directly. The next step is to submit a two-page letter of intent describing your organization and project objectives.
Grant-Making Per Year: In 2019, the Foundation provided grants in the amount of $2 million.
Recovery and Supportive Housing Grantee Example: The McCall Center for Behavioral Health, located in rural Litchfield County, provides a range of services for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. The Center offers several recovery housing options with services for education support, employment support, and relapse prevention.
Connecticut Opioid Settlement Funds
Total Settlement Funds in Connecticut
- $300 million
Fund Distribution
- 15% allocated to local governments
- 85% to the state
- Opioid Settlement Fund and Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee will oversee spending
Timeline
- Funds from three distributors will be paid over 18 years
- Funds from Johnson & Johnson will be paid over 9 years
- First payments expected in July 2022
Application Process
- Not established
Key Contacts
- Matthew Fitzsimmons, Special Counsel for Opioids, Matthew.Fitzsimmons@ct.gov
- Office of the Governor Ted Lamont, 860-566-4840, contact form
- Office of the Attorney General William Tong, 860-808-5318, Attorney.General@ct.gov
Key Links
- State of Connecticut Press Release
How About Your County?
To get a quick overview of the resources available in your county, including gaps that may need to be addressed, visit the Recovery Ecosystem Index Map developed through a partnership between the Fletcher Group Rural Center Of Excellence, the NORC Walsh Center at the University of Chicago, and East Tennessee State University.
Need More Info?
A year in the making by a staff of ten, the Fletcher Group’s 82-page Recovery Housing Landscape Report provides an in-depth overview of the most recent laws, policies, and funding affecting recovery housing. You’ll find sections devoted to state laws, SAMHSA funding, Medicaid, corrections, and housing assistance plus numerous links to valuable resources and official documents. To see the complete downloadable report, click the image to the left.
This web page is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $13.7 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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