The Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Bureau of Substance Abuse Services supports IHR to coordinate access to shelter and housing programs for homeless families in need of substance abuse treatment. The Director of Family Residential Treatment Access and the Bilingual Access Coordinator respond to calls from homeless families, state agency staff seeking to place client families, and coordinate the referral process so that families can access shelter and treatment, for eight Family Residential Programs and three Sober Living Programs throughout Massachusetts.

IHR’s staff perform telephone screening for substance abuse history, current family situation, and program eligibility. Staff also work closely with the Department of Social Services (DSS) to facilitate reunification of families at the treatment programs when possible. Financial and homeless eligibility criteria are verified by the client's local office of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The Statewide Access Coordinators provide support to the client in determining what documentation is needed to verify homelessness, custody arrangements, or other relevant issues.

When the client has been determined eligible, an assessment is made of the client's need for treatment, and current openings within the statewide system are determined.  The Access Coordinators schedule interviews for clients at the programs which have an opening.
Clients are interviewed at the program. If accepted, the client moves in. If the client's child(ren) are in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, the Access Coordinators or program staff arrange for reunification of the child(ren) at the program within 30 days of the parent entering the program.

If the client is not accepted, Access Coordinators will either:

• Attempt to place client in another family treatment program if appropriate.
• Make referral to another type of treatment program.