spotlights

REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ADDICTION COUNCIL MEETING SURVEY

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services is asking everyone to take a few minutes to complete a brief scheduling survey to help us plan our upcoming meetings. Our goal is to encourage broad participation and ensure that anyone who wants to attend has the opportunity to do so. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete, and your responses will help us identify meeting times that work best for the group.

Questions? Please contact Angela Rossi at angela.rossi@capecod.gov.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For more than 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.

CAPE COD HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Cape Cod Healthcare is conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment to learn about the health of people living in Barnstable County. As part of the assessment project, this Community Health Survey is being given to people who live in Barnstable County to identify if people's healthcare needs are currently being met. Information collected through this survey will also be helpful to evaluate which programs or services may be needed in the future. Needs that emerge in this data collection will direct where CCHC will invest Community Benefits dollars over the next three years. This survey is anonymous and should take about 15 minutes to complete. We ask that you complete this survey by Thursday, June 12, 2025.

harm reduction

FEASIBILITY OF PAYING PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS CASH TO DISTRIBUTE NALOXONE WITHIN THEIR NETWORKS

Abstract: Immediate access to naloxone is needed to prevent fatal opioid-related overdoses in the presence of fentanyl analogs saturating the opioid supply. Peer models engage impacted populations who are not accessing naloxone through standard venues, yet compensating peers who utilize syringe service programs with cash stipends to distribute naloxone within networks of people who use drugs is not well described.

prevention

OPIOID-OVERDOSE REDUCTION CONTINUUM OF CAPE APPROACH (ORCCA) PRACTICE GUIDE

This guide includes (1) a menu of evidence-based practices spanning the continuum of care to reduce opioid overdose deaths and (2) real-word tips for implementing the evidence-based strategies. The guide was developed for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Technology Transfer Centers (TTC) program.

Contents

• Tips for Data-Driven Strategy Selection
• Evidence-based strategies to
• Increase Opioid Overdose Prevention Education and Naloxone Distribution
• Enhance the Delivery of MOUD
• Improve Prescription Opioid Safety
• Case Examples of Communities Implementing Strategies

recovery

MILLENNIALS IN RECOVERY: HOW GENERATIONAL FACTORS CAN UNLOCK BETTER CARE

While addiction does not discriminate, each generation does face unique challenges in recovery. Millennials are no different. Born between 1981 and 1996, millennials in recovery can experience challenges like delayed recognition and diagnosis, limited capacity due to caring for children and parents, and other issues more acutely than other patients in recovery.

Friday, May 23, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Join Dr. Harithsa Asuri, one of BrightView's Senior Medical Directors, for this free event as he explores these unique challenges.

Attendees will learn:

• Key news and events shaping millennials as they grew up
• Alcohol and drug usage trends across generations
• Which issues impact millennials more acutely and why
• How understanding these differences can help you meet your patients where they are and improve your support of all patients

Attending this FREE event is worth one continuing education credit (CEC) from the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). Please check with your state board to confirm CEC eligibility.

For more information about this event, please contact info@brightviewhealth.com.

COMMUNITY DRIVEN APPROACH: PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH, BY YOUTH

Youth and young adults continue to have growing rates of mental health challenges. Globally, 1 in 7 adolescents (ages 10–19) experience serious emotional disturbance and/or serious mental illness. The need for tailored, effective support is vital. When programs are designed to meet youth’s needs, they must be at the center of creating those supports. Uplifting youth leaders, prioritizing youth voices, and learning from them about what they and their peers need is crucial.

Join us for this 90-minute session on Monday, May 12th at 1:00 PM EST where you will:

• Hear from youth about successful initiatives they have been involved in to address positive mental health promotion and/or addressing & providing support for those living with mental health conditions.
• Learn how centering youth voices is most impactful when creating programs designed for them.
• Understand how you could use ideas from today’s session to tailor frameworks or programming to meet the needs of youth in your community through youth-led initiatives.
• Live closed captioning and ASL interpreters will be available for this webinar.

***Post materials will be emailed to you within a few days after the webinar. This will include the recording link, PowerPoint slides and a certificate of attendance as we do not offer CEU credits.

upcoming community events

SHARING KINDNESS SUICIDE AWARENESS WALK

The signature fundraiser for Sharing Kindness, the Suicide Awareness Walk is an annual three-mile walk in May that brings together community members to remember those who have died by suicide, support survivors of suicide loss, and raise awareness of the stigmatized issues of brain health and suicide. It is an annual day of healing, telling our stories and forming connections with others through shared experiences. Our primary goal has been to raise awareness of suicide. Why? Because the stigma that still surrounds suicide, grief and mental illness prevents many from getting the help they need, and we can only begin to reduce stigma through education and understanding. The walk raises funds for our nonprofit, allowing us to continue serving those affected by suicide and grief, providing programming on these tough subjects in our communities.

Saturday, May 17, Veterans Park Beach, 480 Ocean Street, Hyannis

Check-in: 8:30 AM | Join us for pre-walk activities!

Opening Ceremony followed by the walk: 10:00 AM

This walk truly is a remarkable event. All funds raised will support Sharing Kindness’ programs dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention, including peer grief support for those impacted by suicide. Please consider participating by creating a team a walkers passionate about mental health. Or, you may be interested in other ways to support this non-profit, such as becoming an event sponsor. There are several options available offering great benefits, which you can learn about here.

funding opportunities

MOSAIC FAMILY RESILIENCE GRANT APPLICATION

RIZE announced a new grant opportunity to support children and families impacted by the opioid overdose crisis from Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership (Mosaic), a unique public-private collaboration funded by the MA Department of Public Health and powered by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE). Through the Family Resilience Grant program, RIZE will distribute $7.5 million over three years to community-based organizations that are building comprehensive support systems for families across Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth reported over 2,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023, leaving behind countless children, parents, grandparents and extended family members in crisis. Families affected by substance use often face housing instability, fragmented care and child welfare involvement, all of which can cause long-term harm to children and caregivers.

By funding programs rooted in a family-centered approach, RIZE seeks to support holistic, scalable models that demonstrate the power of targeted, community-led solutions. Funded projects may include support for grandparents raising grandchildren, services for parents in recovery, trauma-informed care for children, emergency housing for families in crisis, and assistance navigating complex health and legal systems.

Applications are due June 17, 2025. The grant period will begin in November.

TOWN OF MASHPEE: OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDING APPLICATION—NOW OPEN!

On July 21, 2021 Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced a $26 billion settlement agreement with opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which will provide more than $500 million to the Commonwealth and its cities and towns for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery across Massachusetts. This settlement holds accountable several corporations that contributed to the overprescription of opioids in Massachusetts and brings needed relief to people struggling with substance use disorder. The settlement agreement includes pharmaceutical distributers Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen as well as Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and marketed opioids. The settlement also requires significant industry changes that are designed to prevent this from happening again. The AG’s Office supports the settlement and has been laying the groundwork for its implementation in Massachusetts.” 

Data Reporting Requirements 

Two reports will be due: the mid-year report will be due on December 1, 2025.  The year end report will be due on May 1, 2026. 

The mid-year report

This summary should include: Details of the projects or services provided to date as it relates to your original Application for Funding; the number of Mashpee residents served and the ages of those served and the continuing plans to sustain the programs or services. 

A year-end report

This should include the services provided throughout the year, the number of Mashpee residents served and a complete budget narrative of the monies expended.  

Note: Please make sure your agency name is on each page submitted.  

TOWN OF FALMOUTH OPENS 2025 OPIOID GRANT APPLICATIONS TO DELIVER SUBSTANCE USE RELATED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

The Town of Falmouth opened their 2025 Opioid Grants on April 1st. This will be the second year that Falmouth invites local nonprofit agencies, or partnerships, and other interested parties to apply for the Town’s opioid settlement funds to deliver programs and services that mitigate the impact of the Opioid Crisis.

Organizations and collaborative partnerships selected for funding will enter into a contract with the Town of Falmouth to deliver the programs and services outlined in their application. The contractual start date is expected to be September 1, 2025.

Applications are due on Friday, May 30th, 2025, by 4:00 PM in the Human Services Office: 744 Main Street, Falmouth, MA 02540 or, via email at opioidabatement@falmouthma.gov.

food resources

BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL 2025 FARMERS MARKET CALENDAR

Nutrition educators have assisted in coordination of Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod with the mission of connecting people and businesses on the Cape with locally grown farm and sea products. Through Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod, resources are created to assist individuals and families in purchasing, cooking, and storing fresh foods. Below are collections of cooking videos, recipes, cookbooks, and other resources to help families and communities better understand Cape Cod’s local food system and access to fresh, local food.

FOOD ACCESS CAPE COD

Be sure to download our Cape & Islands Food Access Resource Guide! This publication is updated regularly by the Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and contains all the information you need for food accessibility.

network of care

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services’ Network of Care (NOC) SERVICE DIRECTORY website, is a robust local health and human services directory with resources for individuals, families, and agencies on Cape Cod with public health questions and concerns.

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