Washington, DC – Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward J. Markey, Congressman Bill Keating (MA-9) and Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-4) today announced that Steppingstone Incorporated, a substance abuse treatment center in Fall River, will receive $400,000 in federal grants.  The funding will support Project Reentering Offenders Achieving Recovery (ROAR), a collaborative effort between Steppingstone Inc. and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office to provide treatment and training for male offenders with a history of substance abuse.

“ROAR is a great program, and it plays a key role helping offenders recover from substance abuse and reenter the community,” said Senator Warren. “This federal grant will help Steppingstone continue its important work serving families in Southeastern Massachusetts.”

“Steppingstone Incorporated is a beacon of help and hope in Fall River and throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, and this funding will help ensure those in need will continue to receive treatment and critical support services,” said Senator Markey. “The prescription drug and heroin crisis is hitting Massachusetts especially hard, and we need to ensure effective treatment like the programs at Steppingstone is available wherever and whenever it is needed.”  

“Both incarceration and addiction come with a heavy stigma,” said Congressman Keating.  “As a former District Attorney, I know how crippling that stigma can be to people who are trying to change their lives for the better.  Programs like ROAR provide a strong foundation to support a positive and healthy transition into our communities, as well as the necessary tools to maintain their recovery.  These funds will help many in Fall River and the surrounding area.”

“Too often, failure to treat drug addiction and mental health in prison and throughout re-entry leads to a tragic cycle of recidivism and continued substance abuse,” said Congressman Kennedy. “Through compassionate care and strong support systems, Project ROAR provides a new pathway and brighter future for the most at-risk inmates upon their release. I congratulate Steppingstone Inc. and the Sheriff’s Office on earning this award and look forward to continuing to support their efforts in the future.”

The grant was provided by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). For more information about CSAT, please click here.

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