Milestones in the History of SSTAR

1977 SSTAR opens

1982 Agency becomes licensed mental health center and develops Women's Center funded by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, to address needs of survivors of domestic violence.

1984 Agency purchases facility it had been renting from the City of Fall River and funds major renovations with successful capital campaign.

1986 SSTAR opens ambulatory building to provide outpatient services.

1992 SSTAR opens federally qualified Health Care Center. 

• SSTAR incorporates in Rhode Island.

1993 SSTAR wins bid from state of Rhode Island to serve pregnant and addicted women and children and establishes SSTARBirth in its Cranston facility.

1995 Enlarged Health Care Center provides room for HIV and case management services.

• SSTAR receives license from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to address the needs of multi-addicted patients and becomes the first detoxification unit in Massachusetts to treat pregnant addicted women.
• SSTAR becomes first drug treatment program in Massachusetts to offer counseling and testing for HIV through Project AWARE.
• The Family Health Care Center provides a wide range of primary health care services for HIV-positive patients in Fall River.

1996 SSTAR purchases new facility in North Kingstown, RI.

2002 SSTAR continues to grow, building a new addition to its Family Health Care Center.

SSTAR has over twenty programs and services at its Fall River location.  These include the four inpatient programs: Detox, Clinical Support Services (CSS), Dual Diagnosis Acute Residential Treatment (DDART), and the Secure Unit.  Although most people think of SSTAR in terms of addiction treatment, and that is a primary component of our mission, we also have a medical clinic (the Family HealthCare Center at SSTAR) and programs for domestic violence through our Women's Center, a mental health clinic with psychiatrists as well as licensed counselors, and a range of services for people affected by and living with HIV/AIDS.

Through our affiliate, SSTAR of Rhode Island, we operate the public detox network for the State of Rhode Island.  We have a 12-bed detox for women in Providence, as well as a 30-bed detox at SSTAR of RI headquarters in North Kingstown.  In Cranston, SSTARBirth is a residence for recovering mothers and their children.

Administrative offices for both corporation are located in Fall River.  Accounting, payroll and patient accounts are located in our Ambulatory building, as are the Executive Offices, Human Resources and Computer Services.  You may view our organization chart for further information about SSTAR and its programs and services.