Access to Recovery

Access to Recovery

• Client Choice. The process of recovery is a personal one. Achieving recovery can take many pathways: physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. With a voucher, people in need of addiction treatment and recovery support will be able to choose the programs and providers that will help them most. 
• Outcome Oriented. Success will be measured by outcomes, principally abstinence from drugs and alcohol, and including attainment of employment or enrollment in school, no involvement with the criminal justice system, stable housing, social support, access to care, and retention in services. 
• Increased Capacity. ATR will expand the array of services available including medical detoxification, inpatient and outpatient treatment modalities, residential services, peer support, relapse prevention, case management, and other recovery support services.   

WIser Choice 

WIser Choice intends to improve outcomes of service delivery through:

• The enhancement and expansion of the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD) Central Intake System to improve initial engagement, access and treatment retention.
• The provision of recovery support services in addition to treatment, thus addressing needs that are directly related to substance abuse, thereby achieving better outcomes.
• Identification and development of a broader provider network (including a focused outreach to the faith-based community).
• Development of a comprehensive continuum of low/no cost natural supports in the community to help sustain recovery, including organizing faith congregations to provide such resources as mentors, employment opportunities, housing, child care and transportation.
• The fostering of genuine, free and independent choice by making available "Provider Profiles" that include "Provider Score Cards."
• Establishment of a data-driven, results-oriented management system to monitor and improve outcomes.
• Rewarding results by implementing an innovative system of provider incentives.
• The enhancement of its existing Management Information System so that the bulk of performance and financial indicators and measures will be reported on and maintained electronically. This will enhance accountability of both the provider and the system.

The State of Wisconsin selected Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD) to serve as the contracted project management agency for WIser Choice. BHD will develop and maintain all provider agreements with the WIser Choice treatment and recovery support services providers. BHD is integrating the Access to Recovery resources and requirements within its entire redesigned AODA services delivery system. As such, successful applicants will be delivering recovery support coordination services to clients from the overall BHD treatment population.

The recommendations set forth by the Redesign Project and the requirements of the Access to Recovery grant have impacted the delivery system design as well as the requirements put forth in these guidelines. As the concept and design for the new system mature, corresponding policies, procedures, expectations, goals and objectives will follow along.

Client Eligibility

Services can be provided to individuals who:

• Reside in Milwaukee County;
• Are at least 18 years of age (with the exception that pregnant females of any age are eligible);
• Meet diagnostic criteria (as specified by BHD) for a substance use disorder;
• Are screened and authorized for services by a BHD Central Intake Unit; and
• Are part of the target population:

1)     The General Population of Milwaukee County.

2)     Criminal Justice Population:

·      a) incarcerated individuals that are reentering the Milwaukee community from prison and

·      b) persons on probation or parole supervision who are facing revocation proceedings and imprisonment, and who can be safely supervised in the community while benefiting from AODA treatment and recovery support services as an alternative to revocation.

Families with children from both the general and criminal justice populations will be prioritized.

Additional Information  

Access to Recovery - Frequently Asked Questions

GPRA - Frequently Asked Questions

SARs and Invoicing / Payment - Frequently Asked Questions

Single Coordinated Care Plan - Frequently Asked Questions