Council of Churches of Western Mass.

New Church

The Council of Churches of WesternMassachusetts is working with the State ofMassachusetts Department of PublicHealth Bureau of Substance AbuseServices, the Council of Churches is leadingthe faith based community to becomeproviders of faith based services to servethose individuals transitioning fromincarceration or those who have served inthe US Military and are working to createnew and healthy lives back in thecommunity.

MA-Access to Recovery (ATR) is afederally-funded 6 month program

designed to give people who have substanceuse problems wider access to communityservices that help them on the road ofrecovery. Through the Access to RecoveryProgram, people who are motivated tochange their alcohol and drug behavior,have the opportunity to work with ATRCoordinators to create recovery planswhich help them define the path, the goalsand the action steps they will take to achievea life that provides more stability, less crime,and a better quality of life in terms of theirmental, physical and spiritual health.

Along with the Council of Churches, manyhouses of worship provide services as part ofATR. They are part of the ATR ProviderNetwork. Bringing together the strength of

the relationships they already have in thecommunity and the wide and broad array ofservices that they have always offered, ATRallows individuals to get the support wherethey may be most comfortable. Church andthose with a spiritual foundation have muchto offer.

By being a part of ATR people can receivesupport from those churches involved withFaith, Recovery in Action through some ofthe following services:

Pastoral Counseling

Recovery Coaching

Spiritual Groups

Support Groups

Classes

In August 2012, 45 people from the faithbased community attended the RecoveryCoach Academy here in Springfield. Bycompleting this training, these Churches areallowed to be reimbursed for coachingservices through ATR.

Highlights: 2012 Fall Assembly

Four Chaplains were recognized by the Council of Churches during the Fall Assembly Meeting as having completedChaplaincy Training under the instructions of Dr. Joseph Kimatu, Chaplaincy President. They each received a certificateSigned by Dr. Kimatu and the President of the Council of Churches, Archbishiop Timothy Paul , as well as official badges

of appointment. From lt. to rt.: Minister Will Wright, Terry A. Reynolds, Dr. Joseph Kimatu & Judy J. Jones.(Not seen is Bishop Neal Anthony Boyd)

About The Council...