According to Gregg Swanson, who spent over 20 years helping individuals and teams achieve mental strength and resilience, resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a skill that can be learned, cultivated, and mastered. This is important because research shows that resilience is associated with a reduction in illicit drug use and, moreover, individuals with high resilience are less affected by childhood abuse in terms of its effect on later hazardous alcohol use. 

The Science of Resilience

Resilience involves a complex interplay of genetic, psychological, and social factors. For example, research shows that resilient individuals often have different brain activity patterns compared to those who are less resilient. Studies have indicated that the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making and emotional regulation, plays a key role in resilience. Individuals with a more active prefrontal cortex tend to handle stress more effectively. Conversely, in people with lower resilience, the amygdala, which processes emotions, particularly fear and anxiety, may be more reactive to stressors. Lastly, the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory, can be damaged by chronic stress, which damages it, impairs its function, and reduces resilience. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine also play roles in regulating mood and stress responses. 

Like neurobiology, physiological responses to stress are also closely tied to resilience. The body's stress response system, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, plays a significant role. This system regulates the release of stress hormones like cortisol. In resilient individuals, the HPA axis response is typically more balanced and returns to normal more quickly after a stressor. Higher Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which indicates greater flexibility in the heart's rhythm, is associated with better emotional regulation and resilience.

Resilience Honors What You’ve Overcome

Connections with others bring meaning to life and remind you that you’re never truly alone. In fact, building resilience is beautifully represented in Kintsugi, a Japanese art that repairs broken pottery with gold, rendering a new piece that is more exquisite than before the break. It literally means to join with gold. (https://www.vaneetha.com/journal/kintsugi-beauty-in-the-broken)

According to Katherine and Jay Wolf in “Suffer Strong, How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything”: 

“The story of kintsugi—this style of pottery—may be the most perfect embodiment of all our trauma-shattered lives... Instead of throwing away the broken beloved pottery, we’ll fix it in a way that doesn’t pretend it hasn’t been broken but honors the breaking—and more so, the surviving—by highlighting those repaired seams with gold lacquer. Now the object is functional once again and dignified, not discarded. It’s stronger and even more valuable because of its reinforced, golden scars.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

See what's happening at OTF this month.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Explore OTF's COVID-19 Resource Guide.

MASSACHUSETTS SUBSTANCE USE HELPLINE

Hope is here. Get help.

413Cares

Resources for Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region. Click here.

NQCC'S Newsletter

Resources and upcoming events in the North Quabbin Region.

Click here.

CONNECTIONS #90

Find local resources in this issue.

NEED NARCAN?

Click here to email for Narcan.

Emergency Services Resources for Unhoused Individuals

Click here.

The PACES CONNECTION

Click here for resources

Grayken Center for Addiction Training & Technical Assistance

Click here to view and/or register for trainings.

GCC Community Engagement and Workshop Events

Click here to view and/or register for trainings.

Rural SUD Info Center

Click here for resources.

UPCOMING OTF COMMITTEE & WORKGROUP MEETINGS

FEATURED EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST FRIDAY TURNERS FALLS JUNE 6

5-8:30pm. Free!

A mini-block party on Third Street in celebration of the one-year anniversary of Dream House Restaurant and Waterway Arts! Shops open late, live music, sales, special and pop-up events throughout downtown Turners Falls. More details as they arrive…

WATERWAY ARTS, 102 Avenue A

Closing Reception:

Art=Work: Exploring the Ways We Value Handmade Art.

Gumball Takeover hosted by Sadie's Bikes.

DREAM HOUSE RESTAURANT, 37 Third Street

Party drinks on the deck and small plates. Expect a surprise or two.

BRICK HOUSE, 24 Third St., Family and teen activities.

MOHAWK FALAFEL

POP UP RESTAURANT UPPER BEND

SCHEDULE:

5pm: MONTAGUE WHEAT PASTE MURALS. Installation Opening! Meet the artists. Comments by RiverCulture Director at the Colle site, Avenue A and Third Street.

THE ROCKING PUPPIES

5:45pm: A formidable father-and-daughter punk duo hailing from Western Massachusetts. With Nik on drums. Their only goal is to have fun and rock your face off.

MICHI WIANCKO

6:30pm: Original works for electro-acoustic violin, incorporating effects pedals and looping techniques. Michi is a composer, violinist, and the director of Antenna Cloud Farm, a culturally expansive music festival, artists retreat, creative institute, and community partnership organization based in Gill, MA.

CLOUD BELLY

7:15pm: Melancholy Chamber-Pop, Perfect for Any Occasion.

First Friday Turners Falls is sponsored by RiverCulture and local business owners. This event is funded through the Turners Falls Cultural District Grant, a project of the Mass Cultural Council, a State Agency.

MONTHLY WORKSHOP CALENDRS AND WEEKLY STANDING MEETINGS/EVENTS

Franklin County Reentry Center

Always Open! Community Labyrinth in Greenfield

All Recovery Meeting at The RECOVER Project

Mondays Art Guild Meetings

Second Mondays - North Quabbin B.R.R.A.V.V.E. Task Force Meeting

Tuesdays Peer-Led Grief and Loss Circle

First Tuesday - Dads' Group

Tuesdays Drop-In Knitting & Sewing Sessions

Wednesdays HEROES Study Hub at GCC

First & Third Thursdays Parent Support Group

Thursdays Coffee Hour at the Brick House

Thursdays Beyond Trauma Group in Spanish

In February, FCRN partnered with The United Arc and the Offices of Representative Natalie Blais and Congressman Jim McGovern to host representatives from the Social Security Administration, the Department of Children and Families, and the Child Advocate for the Commonwealth Maria Mossaides for a discussion with grandparents raising grandchildren in Franklin County.

Below please find more information about programs covered at the event, as well as some key links and contact information for the representatives for state and federal agencies and legislative offices that were present.

Office of the Child Advocate: The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent executive branch agency with oversight and ombudsperson responsibilities, established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2008.

The best way to get in touch with the OCA is through the Complaint Line: https://www.mass.gov/guides/oca-complaint-line 

Maria Mossaides, Child Advocate

Department of Children and Families

Regional DCF team:

• Laurie Sullivan, (DCF Western Regional Director) laurie.sullivan@mass.gov 
• Paula Teixeira, (DCF Greenfield Area Office) paula.teixeira@mass.gov 

DCF’s Kinship Navigator : Kinship Navigator is a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that assists all kinship caregivers (grandparents and other relatives) with accessing services for themselves and the children they are raising.

Kinshipnavigator@mass.gov   1(844) 924-4KIN   Online referral: https://formstack.io/CF361 

Jennifer Kitchenham, Jennifer.S.Kitchenham@mass.gov 

Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: The purpose of this Commission is to be a resource to the Commonwealth on issues affecting grandparents raising grandchildren, and relatives, other than parents, raising kin.

On July 8, 2008, the Child Advocate bill was signed into law which included the establishment of the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. This legislation calls for a permanent commission on the status of grandparents raising grandchildren which consists of 15 individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to grandparents.

617-748-2454           massgrg@mass.gov         Colleen Pritoni, colleen.pritoni@mass.gov 

Family Resource Centers: Supported by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, a Family Resource Center is located in each of the 14 Massachusetts counties. There are currently 33 FRCs.

Here are some of the ways FRCs help families:

• Bring people together for friendship and mutual support
• Strengthen parenting skills
• Respond to family crises
• Link families to services and opportunities
• Help children develop social and emotional skills
• Observe and respond to early warning signs of child abuse and neglect
• Value and support parents

Community Action Family Center  90, Federal Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 (413) 475-1555

Jolanta Rumierz, jolanta.rumierz@mass.gov 

Social Security Administration - Boston Region Office 

• https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ 
• A full FAQ page is available here: https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/ 
• More information about scheduling an appointment with SSA can be found here: https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-02771.html 

SSA representatives in Boston office: 

• Kevin Reino (Senior Public Affairs Specialist) bos.rcd@ssa.gov
• Sabrina Feliciano (Public Affairs Specialist) Sabrina.Feliciano@ssa.gov 

Federation for Children with Special Needs

Caregiver to Caregiver Respite Network: https://fcsn.org/c2c/ 

Mary-Beth Landy, Senior Trainer & Family Engagement Manager,  mlandy@fcsn.org 

Below is the information for all of the legislative offices that were present: 

Senator Comerford’s office

• Senator Comerford (jo.comerford@masenate.gov) 
• Elena Cohen (elena.cohen@masenate.gov)
• Jessie Cooley (jessie.cooley@masenate.gov) 

Representative Blais’s office

• Representative Blais (natalie.blais@mahouse.gov) 
• Corinne Coryat (corinne.coryat@mahouse.gov)

Congressman McGovern’s office

• Koby Gardner-Levine (Koby.Gardner-Levine@mail.house.gov) 

Kinship Navigator Brochure

Foster Parent Flyer

Adoption Journeys Brochure

UMASS Brochure - Family Resources Center

Kid's Net Brochure

Mental Health Advocacy Program - FAQs

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resources

Free English Classes

Free Meals and Essentials at Saints James and Andrews Parish Hall

Come Cook with Franklin County Community Meals Program

Family Self-Sufficiency Program Available

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program

Eviction Self-Help Booklets Available in Multiple Languages

Update! Greenfield CSC New Hybrid Operations Change

Beginning Tuesday, 9.3.24, the Greenfield Court Service Center (CSC)services will be in-person and remote: Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-1pm; 2pm-4:30 pm, and Fridays, 8:30-1pm.

For ANY/ALL REMOTE REQUESTS, please contact the Virtual Court Service Center, M-F 9am -2pm, if you do not have an emergency. You can reach them for an intake, Monday-Friday, 9am to 2pm, by Zoom video or telephone as outlined below:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615261140 or Dial (646) 828-7666. Enter the Meeting ID number 1615261140 and then press # #. 

If you have an emergency, and still need remote services, have the court department reach out directly to Greenfield CSC office by email for assistance at greenfieldcsc@jud.state.ma.us.

Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region www.opioidtaskforce.org