About Advocates, Inc.

	The History of Advocates	Recent Accomplishments

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Advocates began in 1975, with a group of volunteers providing patient rehabilitation services on the grounds of Westborough State Hospital. In 1979, the Advocates were awarded a contract from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to transition six adults with mental illness into the community, and to provide them with quality care and services in a group home setting.

By 1982, Advocates operated three group homes and four cooperative apartments serving 36 adults with mental illness. This same year Advocates was awarded the Natick Village contract by the Department of Mental Retardation for 20 adults with physical disabilities and developmental disabilities.

In 1983, Advocates began operating 6 more cooperative apartments and a group home serving an additional 32 adults with mental illness.

In 1986, Advocates was awarded the Psychiatric Emergency Services and respite for the greater Marlboro area.

In 1987, Advocates added the Psychiatric Emergency Services and respite for the greater Framingham area.

In 1988, Advocates was awarded a contract by the Department of Mental Retardation to provide family respite services for the greater Boston and MetroWest area.

In 1991, Advocates began managing an established community clinic offering family stabilization counseling, drug and alcohol counseling services and school based youth intervention programs.

In 1999, Advocates merged with Alternative Home, Inc. of Waltham, adding 7 residential sites, totaling 74 beds.

In 2001, Advocates merged with Metrowest Human Services formerly operated by SMARC.

Advocates now offers a comprehensive network of services including residential programs serving over 400 people with disabilities annually; a psychiatric emergency team which responds to 30,000 requests for emergency assistance each year; and outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling for nearly 1500 residents of the Greater MetroWest Area.

Advocates is among the 20 largest Massachusetts human service organizations and is a leading provider of intensive home-based intervention for children and families; outpatient mental health and substance abuse services; community education; job training and support; housing and benefits; advocacy services and community justice programs. Advocates provides residential, vocational, respite and psychiatric emergency services in more than one hundred sites in Eastern Massachusetts.

Advocates' philosophy is based on common values and principles that guide the delivery of all of the services we provide. We believe that all individuals have the right to pursue their personal goals and to contribute to the community. We believe they are entitled to receive accessible services; to live in decent and affordable housing; to be treated with dignity and respect; and to live in inclusive and diverse communities. The employees of Advocates and the recipients of the services we provide work together with the community to ensure that these universal rights are promoted and protected.

Increased client participation and opportunities for client voice to be present in all aspects of the agency; increased client participation in human rights committee meetings by 500%. Received a grant for a client-managed Community Garden Project in Maynard

Enhanced and expanded Deaf Services; hired a new clinical director and expanded Outreach services

Introduced Waltham Outreach Services in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Division

Expanded DBT (dialectical behavioral treatment) Project

Improved dual diagnosis services ; offered 4 substance abuse trainings during the year, staff at programs received addiction training, sent 4 clinicians to 2-day Harvard Medical School training on addiction

Received renewal grant from the Boston Foundation for homeless prevention ;
handled 89 cases dealing with issues such as: avoiding evictions and foreclosures, and by providing assistance with security deposits

Increased minority participation in Advocacy and Benefits Services

The Advocacy Program found housing for 37 individuals and assisted a total of 109 individuals with housing search services

Became an approved Adult Foster Care (AFC) agency in November, 2005

The Advocacy Program established a coordination effort with the Framingham Parole Board in order to provide pre-release and/or upon release services

Established Integrated Nursing Services across Residential and Day Supports

Developed integrated Day and Residential Supports for individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Renewed the Person-centered Planning Project with a grant from the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation

Developed a Driver Alcohol Education (DAE) Program

A BHAP (Behavioral Health Assessment Program) was developed with the Worcester Superior Court Probation Department

Awarded the Massashusetts Parole Board contract for Substance Abuse

Increased access to mental health treatment for elders in the community through a collaboration with Baypath Elder Services

Developed Rapid Access Program (RAP) to increase access to outpatient services

Awarded $3,585,000 in grant funding

Awarded Ayer Drug Court Program contract to provide substance abuse treatment and screenings in lieu of incarceration for substance abusing offenders

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