1972 – A VISION FOR RECOVERY 

At a time when the effectiveness of alcohol dependency treatment was still debated, Steppingstone’s founders launched the Men’s Recovery Home in Fall River, Massachusetts. This pioneering residential program initially focused on helping men with alcohol problems but later expanded to serve all substance use disorders. It provided comprehensive services, including assessment, nutrition education, substance use and health education, and individual, group, and family counseling for up to one year. 

1974 – EXTENDING RECOVERY SUPPORT  

Building on the success of the Men’s Recovery Home, Steppingstone opened the William B. Webster Graduate Program, offering continued support in an independent living environment for men who had completed residential treatment. 

1985 – ADDRESSING WOMEN’S RECOVERY NEEDS 

Recognizing the need for gender-specific treatment, Steppingstone established the Fall River Women’s Therapeutic Community, a 28-bed residential facility providing the same high-quality services as the Men’s Recovery Home, tailored for women. 

1989 –SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR MOTHERS AND INFANTS 

 The Fall River Women’s Therapeutic Community expanded to include Pregnant and Postpartum Services, ensuring specialized care for pregnant women and their newborns. Services included coordination for methadone therapy, prenatal and pediatric care, and parenting skills education. 

1996 – ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS 

 After identifying a critical gap in housing services, Steppingstone developed the Next Step Home Program to provide permanent, supportive housing for 40 homeless individuals and families with chronic substance use disorders, mental health disorders, or other qualifying disabilities within Fall River. Clients received intensive case management, housing advocacy, and rental subsidies. 

1997 – OUTPATIENT SUPPORT   

 Alumni of Steppingstone programs seeking continued support led to the establishment of Steppingstone’s Outpatient Clinic, offering comprehensive outpatient substance use treatment in Fall River.  

1998 – MEETING EMERGENGING COMMUNITY NEEDS  

Steppingstone opened two additional programs to meet emerging community needs. The Transition House was launched to provide supportive housing and case management for 10 homeless men and women in the City of Fall River transitioning to independent living. 

Mirroring services offered at the Fall River Women’s Therapeutic Community, the New Bedford Women’s Therapeutic Community was launched, supporting women and their infants in achieving recovery and stability. The program provides 21 beds for women and women with infants with the support and services they need to break the cycle of chemical dependency and homelessness to become self-sufficient. 

2002 – GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN  

The New Bedford Women’s Graduate Program was developed to provide continued support for women completing the New Bedford Women’s Therapeutic Community. The program offers safe housing along with case management and support services to help women and women with infants to transition to independent living. 

2003 – EMERGECNY SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS  

To address rising homelessness, Steppingstone launched its First Step Inn, providing 12 units of emergency shelter along with meals and case management services to homeless individuals in Fall River. 

2004 – PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS  

Steppingstone expanded its housing services with Stone Residence, a Fall River based program offering 22 single-room occupancy units with supportive services for homeless men and women with substance use or mental health disorders. 

2006 – SPECIALIZED HOUSING AND GAMBLING TREATMENT  

Steppingstone has continuously provided essential services to support individuals facing various challenges. Over the years, the agency has implemented specialized programs to address critical issues, including HIV/AIDS support and gambling treatment. 

Steppingstone’s HIV/AIDS Residential Support Service Program provides housing, medical case management and support for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This program successfully operated for eight years. To address the problems associated with gambling, Steppingstone’s Outpatient Clinic launched a Gambling Treatment Program which operated for eighteen years.  

2009 – INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES  

The Outpatient Clinic expanded its scope to include mental health treatment, providing integrated care for individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. 

2012 – HOUSING FOR HOMELESS AND OFFENDER REENTRY SUPPORT 

Steppingstone has remained committed to addressing the unique needs of vulnerable populations by developing programs that provide stability, support, and pathways to recovery. Welcome Home was launched to provide 15 subsidized, supportive permanent housing apartments combined with case management services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS in New Bedford. Project ROAR (Re-Entering Offenders Achieving Recovery) was launched to offer offender reentry support services and treatment to men and women transitioning out of the Bristol County House of Corrections. This project operated successfully for thirteen years.  

2014 – HOUSING AND TREATMENT FOR THE HOMELESS  

Steppingstone launched Project FAIHR (Focused Achievements in Housing and Recovery) to provide housing, treatment, and support services for chronically homeless individuals and families in both Fall River and New Bedford. While initially FAIHR served individuals with chronic substance use disorders, the project now focuses its resources on serving individuals with moderate to serve mental health disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.  

2016 – ADVANCING HOUSING AND PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT  

Steppingstone continues to expand its efforts to support individuals facing homelessness and substance use disorders by providing housing and peer-driven recovery services. Steppingstone’s Home First program was developed to provide 12 scattered-site housing units for chronically homeless men with substance use disorders in Fall River. The Peer2Peer Recovery Support Center opened in Fall River, offering a safe and supportive space where individuals in recovery can learn from peers with lived experience. 

2017 –RECOVERY COACHING AND SHELTER EXPANSION 

Steppingstone continues to enhance its services by expanding recovery support and shelter resources to better serve the community. Recovery Coaching was introduced both in New Bedford and Fall River, offering one-on-one peer support to individuals in recovery. First Step Inn expanded into a state-of-the-art facility on Durfee Street in Fall River, offering comprehensive on-site services, including health checks, GED classes, financial literacy programs, meals, showers, and 50 beds (with 30 year-round beds). 

2018 – COORDINATED CARE FOR COMPLEX NEEDS 

Steppingstone has continually sought innovative partnerships and programs to improve care for vulnerable populations. Steppingstone partnered with the Coordinated Care Network (CCN) to work with managed care organizations, improving health outcomes for MassHealth members with complex behavioral health needs. The project successfully operated for five years. Steppingstone also began offering CSPECH, currently known as CSP-HI, programming to chronic homeless individuals, furthering its mission of stability and recovery. 

2019 – ADDRESSING OPIOD ADDICTION  

Project SOAR (Supporting Opioid Addiction Recovery) was launched in New Bedford to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) alongside other substance use, mental health and psychosocial therapies to individuals with substance use disorders, including opioid use and mental health disorders.   

2020 –EXPANSION OF RECOVERY COACHING AND REENTRY SUPPORT 

Steppingstone continues to expand its reach by integrating peer recovery support into critical community spaces and enhancing reentry services for justice-involved individuals. Project Recovery began operations in Fall River, expanding peer recovery coaching and support and embedding peer recovery coaches in hospital emergency rooms, fire stations and other venues. Steppingstone received its first U.S. Office of Justice Programs grant, launching the Bristol County Re-Entry Project, which provided treatment access and re-entry support to pre-trial detainees and post release individuals in Bristol County. This project was operated successfully until 2020. 

2021 – EXPANDING RECOVERY COACHING TO NEW BEDFORD  

Mirroring the primary services of Project Recovery, Steppingstone launched a new recovery coach project in New Bedford, MA. The Peer-2-Peer Recovery Coach Project increases access to effective peer recovery support services for priority populations by expanding recovery coaching and improving integration with existing providers. 

2022 – STRENGHTENING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HOMELESS SERVICES  

Steppingstone continues to strengthen its commitment to serving individuals in need by expanding support within the judicial system and enhancing services for the chronically homeless. Project NORTH, operating for two years, began offering Recovery Navigator Support in Fall River and New Bedford trial courts. This project was operated successfully until 2022. Steppingstone’s Treatment, Engagement, and Access (TEA) Program launched to serve the chronic street homeless, providing shelter, housing placement, and other essential support services. In 2022, Steppingstone started the Outpatient Clinic Expansion, funded by SAMHSA, and operates in the Fall River Outpatient Clinic. This grant made the clinic a MassHealth recognized Behavioral Health Urgent Care provider, providing a new pathway for under-resourced and high-risk individuals to receive rapid screening and assessment, crisis intervention, and treatment. This grant also added Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to our services. 

2024 – STRENGHTENING PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT  

In 2024, our agency continues to thrive, embodying the resilience and dedication that has defined us since 1971. This year, we have made significant renovations across our programs, including upgrading kitchens in various facilities and completely revitalizing our women’s programs to better serve our community. Our Get Steppin’ 5K for the Homeless has reached new heights, raising over $100,000 to support our First Step Inn. Additionally, we have relocated our P2P Recovery Coach Project, Project FAIHR, and Project SOAR to new buildings, ensuring it is better equipped to meet the needs of our consumers.  

2025 – THE PRESENT AND BEYOND 

CSP-JI (Community Support Program for Individuals with Justice Involvement) began in early 2025, as a specialized service designed to meet the health-related social needs of MassHealth members involved in the justice system who face barriers accessing, or consistently using, medical and behavioral health services. Steppingstone also began providing Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Transitional Goods to C3 members enrolled in the Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals (CSP-HI) who are eligible for MassHealth’s HRSN Supplemental Services. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting individuals’ transition toward stability by addressing essential social and environmental needs that influence overall health and well-being. 

Both our Fall River and New Bedford Outpatient Clinics continue to provide a diverse range of support groups, offering guidance on everything from grief management to parenting skills.  

Our Project FAIHR team recently launched the “Safe Grounds” initiative, creating a welcoming space each Sunday where individuals experiencing homelessness can share food, activities, and a sense of community. Meanwhile, our Peer2Peer Recovery Support Center continues to flourish, hosting engaging events throughout the year and culminating in its signature celebration— Recovery Day in September. For the past two years, the Center has proudly earned the coveted Massachusetts Peer Recovery Support Center Competition Trophy. As we look ahead, we remain deeply committed to strengthening and expanding our programs, continuing our enduring legacy of compassion, connection, and care.