The first Massachusetts Sober Home certification took place on January 20, 2016 at A New Beginning, a Sober Home located in Dorchester. Pictured left to right: John McGahan, President/CEO, Gavin Foundation, Cheryl Kennedy-Perez, Director of Housing and Homeless Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Paul Pazniokas, Sober Homes Inspector, Recovery Homes Collaborative of Massachusetts, Diane Cadiz, A New Beginning, Fred Way, Treasurer, National Alliance for Recovery Residences, Robert Monahan, President, Recovery Homes Collaborative of Massachusetts, Richard Winant, President, Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing
Massachusetts Department of Public Health has initiated a voluntary certification process for Sober Homes. Also known as Recovery Homes, Sober Homes are places for individuals to live to support their early stages of sobriety after residential substance abuse treatment. A New Beginning, a Sober Home located in Dorchester was the first to be inspected on January 20, 2016.
The Department of Public Health has contracted with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences to provide training to two organizations that will administer the certification process; the Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing (MASH) and the Recovery Homes Collaborative (RHC). MASH and RHC will use standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences. Certification for Sober Homes is voluntary, but state-funded treatment facilities will be required to refer only to certified facilities.
