December 16, 2022: Issue 24
Offering hope and help to those impacted by opioid misuse in Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.
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.
LOOK4HELP
Resources for Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region. Click here.
NQCC'S COMMON THREAD NEWSLETTER
Resources and upcoming events in the North Quabbin Region. Click here.
CONNECTIONS #62
Find local resources in this issue.
Emergency Housing Resources
The PACES CONNECTION
Click here for resources.
"Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers."
— Kahlil Gibran
Help save lives – carry naloxone and learn how to use it: www.HealTogetherMA.org/FranklinNorthQuabbin
Good morning ~

This will be the last newsletter of 2022 from the Opioid Task Force. As we look to next year, it is also important to look back and reflect upon the incredible work that we were able to do, in concert with so many in our community.
Despite the steady presence of Covid, we had another extraordinary year of community engagement. You continue to show up to make sure we are doing everything we can to save lives. Your questions, insights, and thoughtful participation help us do a better job, for which we are grateful.

The numbers tell a story. For example, across our five working committees and their workgroups, we convened 87 different meetings that 1,509 people attended this year. This core work addressed an array of activities to help implement our prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery strategies, such as expanding access to methadone through federal and state regulatory reform, identifying locations for Naloxboxes, where life-saving Narcan can be easily obtained in a variety of settings, and supporting efforts to re-open residential treatment programs temporarily closed due to staffing challenges, just to name a few.

We continued to hold our popular topical calls or "Community Conversations", which originated when the Covid pandemic was initially declared in 2020. This year, we held 22 different education and training sessions that drew 1,127 participants to our Zoom tables covering an array of topics such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation, Chapter 35, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, services for unhoused individuals, CORI sealing, information about resources to help individuals keep their housing, and more.

In concert with Tapestry, 12 Overdose Prevention and Narcan Trainings were held reaching 172 participants from all walks of life and community settings.

Through the federal and state-funded CONNECT effort, our post-opioid overdose outreach and follow-up program, we distributed 928 kits of Narcan for free to law enforcement, fire departments, and other first responders, and made dozens of follow-up visits to those who had overdosed, among other achievements.

And that is not all.

This year alone, we were able to leverage our $300,000 state earmark to attract an additional $200,000 in a Congressional earmark, through Congressman Neal, to launch the ARISE Initiative, an effort to support those in recovery or a history of incarceration to return to the workforce.

We also launched the HEALing Communities Study in our rural region, which is bringing over $800,000 to help reduce the number of opioid-related fatalities by 40% by the end of the study period. In the last six months, there has been an intensive planning process, which has identified action steps to support the expansion of medications for opioid use disorder, the expansion of overdose education, and access to Narcan, as well as safer prescribing.

These resources are on top of the existing funded efforts to support CONNECT, which celebrated its first complete year in all communities by expanding its reach and capacity to serve members of our community impacted by opioid overdoses.

We simply could not do this work without the enduring support of the Opioid Task Force Founding Co-Chairs, Sheriff Christopher Donelan, Register John Merrigan, and NWDA David Sullivan. They continue to champion this life-saving work in big and small ways to spur us onward.

Our jet fuel this past year came from our annual state earmark, for which we are grateful to our talented legislative delegation - Senators Gobi, Hinds, and Comerford as well as Representatives Mark, Whipps, and Blais. They and their staff have worked in lockstep to ensure we have the core funding needed for our efforts.

Like other institutions, we have weathered staff transitions this year but we are excited that we have a new team in place - Tiarra Fisher, Karen Carmona, Cathi Emery, Elizabeth Delorme, and Randy Herk, all leading with big hearts, passion, and tremendous skills to help us do our work.

Finally, we are inspired by our Task Force members, especially those with lived experience, who have taught us so much. We continue to be inspired by your example and hope our actions do justice to your faith in us to act to save lives and prevent harm.

As we look to a new year, with fresh opportunities, we hope you will join us to strengthen and deepen our work.

Until then, wishing you and yours safety, peace, and mercy in this holiday season.

Warmly,
Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator
Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region
OTF Members in the News
"After reflecting on the early days of the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region, task force Co-Chair John Merrigan said there remains “a big gap” in the rural region’s ability to offer sober housing. "We need to ask the next administration … if (Gov.-elect Maura Healey) would come here and bring the staff, and help us to tackle this gap,” Merrigan explained. “We’ve come a long way.” Merrigan joined his fellow co-chair, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, and Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, to welcome town officials, nonprofit representatives and social service workers to the fifth annual Sober Housing Summit, held at Greenfield Community College on Friday.

The summit featured a panel consisting of GAAMHA Chief Operating Officer Shawn Hayden, Clinical & Support Options (CSO) Vice President of Housing and Homeless Services Bill Miller and Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing Executive Director Denise Menzdorf." (Photo: Courtesy of the Recorder)
"Despite the snowy weather, the Interfaith Council of Franklin County gathered about 20 residents on the Greenfield Common on Sunday, holding a memorial to honor those who have died over the past year.

The service was primarily dedicated to people who died while being unhoused and those who died without having a service, although others were remembered as well, including those who died from an opioid overdose.

The service has been held annually for about 15 years in Greenfield, according to Interfaith Council of Franklin County President Leslie Frasier. It originally took place in May, but was moved to December because many people experiencing homelessness die of the cold in the winter.

“This is a time to be known they are beloved to the world,” Frasier said. “We are here because we want to make sure the message goes out that these people are beloved.” (Photo: Courtesy of the Recorder)
Upcoming OTF Committee Meetings/Trainings
Virtual: Franklin County/North Quabbin Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force
December 19, 2022
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Building a Resilient Community Workgroup
December 21, 2022
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Harm Reduction Workgroup
January 4, 2023
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Treatment and Recovery Committee
January 6, 2023
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Zoom details here.

Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Committee
January 9, 2023
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Education & Prevention Committee
January 10, 2023
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Methadone Workgroup
January 12, 2023
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Building a Resilient Community Workgroup
January 18, 2023
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Zoom details here.

Virtual: HEALing Communities Study Committee
January 18, 2023
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom details here.

Virtual: Healthcare Solutions Committee
January 27, 2023
10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Zoom details here.

Consult our website or Facebook Page for updates. Please email us with any questions!
FEATURED EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONNECT: Post-Opioid Overdose Outreach Services
Franklin County/North Quabbin HEALing Communities Study Updates
The Franklin County/North Quabbin HEALing Communities Study is underway! The Action Plan has been submitted and is currently under review. Learn more about the next steps at our next meeting, scheduled on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, as we look toward implementing the strategies. Zoom details here!

Also, the workgroups have formed and are meeting regularly to help identify and implement strategies.

We continue to need your assistance to reduce the number of opioid-related fatalities in our rural region.

Your input is desired to help us:

  • Participate in a workgroup
  • Support our social media efforts

Want to get involved? Contact Tiarra Fisher, HEALing Communities Study Community Coordinator at tiarra@opioidtaskforce.org for more info!
Please support our HEALing Communities Study efforts on social media by following, liking, and sharing these pages with your networks so our communities have access to these resources and increase the reach of information shared on these pages! 



Boston Medical Center Grayken Center Advancing Addiction Treatment Trainings
The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center offers other ongoing and free trainings about addiction! Click here to see their latest offerings and how to register.
Time Sensitive Announcements
November 21 - December 21
Give the Gift of Living in the Season of Giving
Gear and Goods Drive for Unhoused Individuals in Franklin County and the North Quabbin
Try Transit Initiative Through December 31
Operation Resource Closet Project
Through December 31
December 16 Stone Soup Cafe
Culinary Institute Open House
December 16 The RECOVER Project Winter Celebration

December 16 Deadline for Requests for Proposals for Greenfield SCBG Funding
December 17 Stone Soup Café Menu
December 19 Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force Meeting
December 20 Community Action
Community Partner Survey Deadline
December 25 Free Christmas Dinner
December 31 New Year's Eve Dance
at The RECOVER Project
MONTHLY/WORKSHOP CALENDERS AND WEEKLY STANDING MEETINGS/EVENTS
Improving Housing to Improve Health News
December North Quabbin Recovery Center Calendar
December Brick Housing Teen Center Programming
December Turners Falls
Women's Resource Center Calendar
Always Open! Community Labyrinth in Greenfield
Weekdays All Recovery Meeting at
The RECOVER Project
Mondays Early Recovery Group
Mondays Advanced Manufacturing Info Sessions
Second Mondays of the Month - Free Wellness Clinics offered by the People's Medicine Project
Second Mondays of the Month - North Quabbin B.R.A.V.E. Task Force Meetings
Mondays Alternatives to Suicide Group
Mondays and Wednesdays
Restless, Irritable, and Discontent: Your Brain in Recovery
Tuesdays Greenfield Suicide Loss Group
Tuesdays Drop-In Knitting & Sewing Sessions
Wednesdays Youth Improv Series
Wednesdays HEROES Study Hub at GCC
Wednesdays Salasin Project:
Beyond Trauma, A Healing Journey
Wednesdays Men's Support Group:
Keep Moving Forward
Thursdays All Recovery Meeting -
Young People's Edition
First & Third Thursdays Parent Support Group
Thursdays Coffee Hour at the Brick House
Thursdays Beyond Trauma Group in Spanish
Second Thursdays Every Month, Peer Grief Support
Fridays - The Garden Committee Meetings
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Free English Classes
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Second Helpings - Free Indoor Community Meal Starts
May 2 at Saints James and Andrews Parish Hall
Second Helpings, a free weekly community meal co-sponsored by Deerfield Academy and Saints James and Andrew, is excited to open our doors for the first time in 2 years to welcome our neighbors to eat in the Parish Hall starting May 2.   

(Image credit: Pixabay Graphic Mama Team)


Schedule
  • Indoor meal in Parish Hall starts at 4:30 (Hall open 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm)
  • Take-away meals from parking lot windows begin at 5:00 pm

Notes
  • We encourage folks to wear masks indoors except when eating.  
  • There will be no more than 4 people per table, and the tables will be further apart than before.  
  • Drinks will be pre-served, and the serving line will move in one direction only.  
  • We will continue to do our best to provide multiple to-go meals to everyone, but at times we may need to limit the number per person. Thank you for your cooperation.
  • The meal is located at 8 Church St in Greenfield. 
  • To learn more about our two free community meals and essentials pantry, please visit our website: https://www.saintsjamesandandrew.org/meals-and-more.html
CONNECTIONS -
A Residential Program of Behavioral Health Network
Orange Food Pantry Seeking Non-Food Donations
The Franklin County Community Meals Program seeking non-food donations for its Orange Food Pantry

When people think of donating to our agency and food pantry, they often think of food- however, that's easier for us to obtain with local partnerships with farms and retailers. What we struggle to keep stocked are hygienic & household products, such as:

  • Adult pull-ups size Medium, Large, & XL
  • Menstrual products
  • Bath products- bath wash or bar soap, shampoo, conditioner
  • Deodorant
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Toothpaste (we have plenty of toothbrushes currently!)
  • Paper Towels
  • Toilet Paper
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Dish Soap
  • Household cleaners- Windex, multi-surface, floor cleaner, etc.

Dozen-sized egg cartons for repackaging the hundreds of eggs we receive weekly from retailers are also needed.

Please share this list amongst your networks! Donations can be dropped off at 324 Wells Street (the Franklin County Community Distribution Center) at our office, or if donating a large amount, drop-off can be coordinated via donate@fccmp.org. (Image credit: Pixabay)
Family Self-Sufficiency Program Available
Eviction Self-Help Booklets Available in Multiple Languages

MLRI has recently updated and translated some of our self-help booklets for unrepresented tenants facing eviction. While we still recommend tenants facing eviction seek legal help, we know resources are limited and many tenants have to represent themselves. We hope these booklets can be helpful to pro se tenants and their advocates.

You can see the full list of booklets below, or at MassLegalHelp. The booklets can help tenants prepare for court, outline their legal claims, and file court forms. There is also a booklet to help public housing tenants navigate the Grievance process.

Please reach out if you have any questions about the booklets and how they can be used.

What steps to take before going to court and what to bring to court.

An easy-to-use checklist that tells you what conditions violate the State Sanitary Code. You can also use the free self-help guided interview, MADE: Up To Code.

The Answer is a court form that tenants facing evictions can file with the court to outline your legal claims and tell the court your side of the story. You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services’ free self-help guided interview, MADE. 

How to ask the court to accept your Answer and Discovery forms late.  You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services’ free self-help guided interview, MADE.

A form with instructions for tenants facing eviction to get information to prepare for their trial.

A form with instructions for tenants in foreclosed properties to get information to prepare their case. 

A form you can file to transfer your eviction case from a District Court to a Housing Court.

How to get a new court date if you missed your court date.

If you lost your eviction trial and think you have a good case, you may appeal. This document tells you which Appeal form to use.

How to file an appeal from a case in Housing Court.

How to file an appeal from a case in District Court.

How to get time to stay in your home if you lost your case.

How to ask the court to pay for court costs. 

How to think through the terms you want in an agreement. Includes a worksheet and stipulation forms to use when you go to court. Read this booklet as webpages and watch the videos!

How to correct errors on your online court records. The Booklet includes the court form you can save to your computer, fill out, save again and print when ready.

A booklet for tenants in Mass. about the grievance process, including worksheets to help you prepare for a grievance hearing.
Quabbin Retreat Services Available
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS AT THE QUABBIN RETREAT ARE STILL OPERATING VIA TELE-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND OPENINGS ARE AVAILABLE.
 
WE OFFER:
  • STRUCTURED OUTPATIENT ADDICTION PROGRAM (SOAP)
  • INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM (IOP)
  • Three Hour Zoom-based group format from 9 am – 12:30 pm weekdays focusing on addiction recovery (10-day program)
  • INDIVIDUAL ADDICTION COUNSELING
  • SUBSTANCE USE EVALUATIONS
  • CARE COORDINATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO MAKE A REFERRAL, PLEASE CALL THE QUABBIN RETREAT AT
978-724-0010 or email Quabbin.retreat@heywood.org.
Update! Greenfield CSC New Hybrid Operations Change
To the left is an image of the Greenfield Court Service Center's New Hybrid Operations Fact Sheet updated on 2/24/22.

They will be providing in-person services on Tuesdays and Thursdays, only, from 8:30 am - 1 pm, and 2 pm - 4:30 pm. They are closed for lunch between
1 pm and 2 pm.

They will continue with their remote services on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but they will not have the same open Zoom number previously advertised.

People will reach them either by voicemail at 413-775-7483, or email, greenfieldcsc@jud.state.ma.us, or at the Court Service Center's Statewide triage center called the Universal Zoom Room, Mondays - Fridays, from 9 am-12 pm. The Universal Zoom Room number is at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615261140 or call 1-646-828-7666 meeting ID: 161 526 1140.
TODAY'S COMMUNITY VIDEO
Self-Care During the Holidays


During the holidays, it can be difficult to find the time to take care of ourselves. But there are plenty of ways to reduce stress and enjoy the season without sacrificing our health.

In this video, I'm sharing 5 tips for self care during the holidays. These tips will help you reduce stress, survive the holidays with minimal stress, and enjoy the season to the fullest!

Read the post here:
FRANKLIN COUNTY/NORTH QUABBIN RESOURCES
Free Training Opportunities
Join the 2022 - 2023 DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Team
Musica Franklin AmeriCorps Opportunity
COMMUNITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region www.opioidtaskforce.org