April 5, 2024: Issue 7
Offering hope and help to those impacted by opioid misuse in
Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.
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"Sowing the Seeds of Recovery" ~ Greenfield Recorder (3/26/24) |
"The benefits of gardening are widely known, but there’s one aspect readers may not have considered: gardening can offer a path to sobriety, especially when undertaken with friends. Some members of the Greenfield based Recover Project are spending time at the town’s Pleasant Street Community Garden through a club called The Garden Path; it’s easy for participants to head around the corner from the Recover Project headquarters at the corner of Federal and Osgood Streets to the garden plots located behind the John Zon Community Center. There, some of the tools that help lead to healing include seed packets, shovels, watering cans and rakes.
Garden Path members recently welcomed this columnist on two occasions: at their second annual Recovery Cafe — an event that celebrates The Garden Path project — and later to a meeting of the club. Staff members are named in full, while other folks provided first names only or asked that their names be withheld.
It’s important to clarify, however, that there are no heavy dividing lines between staff and other participants at the Recover Project...
Claire McGale, who’s been the Recover Project peer leadership and development coordinator for three years, is no stranger to the recovery process. An energetic, good humored young woman, Mc-Gale carries herself with a remarkable combination of intensity and calm. She speaks knowledgeably about the challenges and gifts of healing, and sees the clinical model as having “both advantages and drawbacks.” McGale, who experienced various modalities in her own road to healing, said,
“The Recover Project provides alternatives to the clinical model. The peer-led approach works well because the best people to support someone recovering from addiction are those who’ve already been through it.”
The Recover Project — part of the Western Mass Training Consortium — receives funding from the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), which is under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health.
A recent Garden Path meeting was attended by a dozen members who excitedly planned their plant sale scheduled for one month from today, on Friday, April 26. The fundraiser will be held both indoors and outdoors at the Recover Project, 68 Federal Street in Greenfield, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the meeting, members shared how their recovery processes have been aided by gardening together; some also recalled gardening experiences from earlier in their lives. Dylan, a tall man in his early 30s, said, “Gardening gets us to slow down, reflect, and focus on grounding ourselves, literally. ” Dylan evoked the Recover Project motto: “Participate. Grow. Recover.”
Another Garden Path member, Skada, said that, “for me, gardening has been a lifelong journey. My first memory of cultivating something is when I started a pea plant as a kid, and nurtured it like a pet.” Skada went on to garden professionally, and also brought gardening activities to children as an employee at The Girls’ Club in Greenfield.
After a serious rock-climbing accident in 1995, Skada reconnected with gardening as part of her recovery. “Gardening helped me recover from the accident and from alcohol addiction, both. It’s a process that unfolds. A seed doesn’t flower overnight — it takes more than that to heal.”
Mike Hannigan, who’s been featured in this column as the president of Greenfield Community College’s Permaculture Club, recently became the Recover Project’s Garden Path coordinator. While fairly new to the project, Hannigan has extensive experience in food service, agriculture, gleaning projects, and other community endeavors that aim to make nutritious food accessible. In addition to being enrolled at GCC, he’s a student trustee and has volunteered with Stone Soup Cafe, the local meals program that emphasizes mutual respect, personal healing, and community building.
At the Garden Path meeting, Mike Hannigan commented that — in addition to tending their community garden plot — club members might also turn their attention to the Recover Project’s inhouse plants. “Let’s use some of our meeting time to see to it that all of our plants are in good condition,” he said. “These are living beings,” he said. “Let’s care for them properly.”
Garden Path member Dylan summed up his own reasons for participating: “Gardening teaches patience as we grow plants while also growing ourselves.” He said that everyone is invited to the April 26 plant sale, where locals will have a chance to meet Garden Path members and to purchase plants, just a few days after Earth Day.”
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"You're Not Just a Face in the Crowd" ~Greenfield Recorder (4/1/2024) |
"Seeking to address a lack of resources for women battling with substance abuse and mental health disorders, Gardner-based GAAMHA has opened a new facility in Athol called Sunrise Ridge.
The 32-bed residential treatment facility at 648 Pleasant St., which opened in late February, is for women diagnosed with cooccurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, according to GAAMHA Vice President Shawn Hayden. He added that four of the beds will be set aside for women who are pregnant or up to one year postpartum seeking recovery services, which he said was a first for the nonprofit.
“They have a hard time accessing treatment because of their complex situation with the pregnancy,” Hayden said. Women who complete the program will have access to GAAMHA's Supportive Housing program with sites in Gardner, Athol and Greenfield.
There is a strong need for this kind of facility, said Hayden, adding that resources for women dealing with these problems are often limited. At this time, there are four patients at Sunrise Ridge, but more are expected in the near future.
“It’s always been that way,” Hayden said. “It used to be worse, frankly. Now, there are more women’s beds than there were before, but they’re still pretty disparate.” Liz Beach, program director at Sunrise Ridge, said many of the patients come in with trauma or mental health issues or are experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse. Beach came to Sunrise Ridge with more than 30 years of experience in the field, working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, parole departments and as a substance abuse coordinator.
“We’re gonna work with you to look at the issues that you’ve been self-medicating,” Beach said.
Each day at Sunrise Ridge is carefully scheduled, with a morning check-in, chores, group discussions and meeting with counselors. Facility staff also take care of scheduling appointments with doctors as needed.
Hayden said there is criteria to meet for those who wish to come to Sunrise Ridge, including having been diagnosed with a substance abuse and mental health disorder, having been in an inpatient psychiatric program for 90 days or having tried to access emergency support services twice in the last 90 days. Hayden said another criteria that most fit is they have tried traditional addiction treatment programs without success.
One element that Hayden cited of the Athol facility is the staff on hand, which include clinicians, nurse practitioners and recovery specialists. Treatment plans can range from 90 days to a full year.
“So really, we’re looking at a lot of one-on-one attention to people, which is a huge difference,” he said. “You’re not just a face in the crowd.”
In addition to treatment programs, Hayden said the staff at Sunrise Ridge will help with other related matters, such as coordinating with the Department of Children and Families, making sure patients are up to date on their taxes and helping to build a budget for when they leave.
Michelle Dunn, who oversees all operations at Sunrise Ridge, said that the North Quabbin area has been historically underserved for these matters, which she added is a common problem for rural communities.
Beach added that those in the program experience a sense of camaraderie, such as when they talk about what their counselor told them.
“There is that bonding, they’re going to meetings together, you can see the little lights go on,” Beach said. “So it is a bonding experience, because most come in with no support system.”
Jill, a patient at Sunrise Ridge, said she had been at the facility for two weeks and was battling an addiction to crack cocaine. Prior to coming to Sunrise Ridge she had been at Washburn House in Worcester. Before that,
Jill said she left Massachusetts to go to Camden, New Jersey.
“I didn’t want anyone to find me,” she said.
At Sunrise Ridge, Jill is learning anger management and coping skills, as she puts it, “a lot of tools in the tool kit.” After her treatment ends, she hopes to get a place of her own and continue her treatment.
“It’s really good,” she said of Sunrise Ridge. “I love it here.”
For more information on programs at GAAMHA, visit gaamha.org. "
Staff File Photo/Paul Franz)
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UPCOMING OTF COMMITTEE & WORKGROUP MEETINGS | |
Hybrid: Treatment & Recovery Committee
April 5, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Greenfield Community College,
One College Drive, Room C201
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Education & Prevention Committee
April 9, 2024
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: CAM Workgroup
April 9, 2024
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Methadone Workgroup
April 11, 2024
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Housing & Workforce Development Committee
April 12, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force
April 22, 2024
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Harm Reduction Workgroup
May 1, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Zoom details here.
Virtual: Healthcare Solutions Committee
May 10, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 Noon
Zoom details here.
Hybrid: Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Workgroup
May 13, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Franklin County Reentry Center
106 Main Street, Greenfield
Zoom details here.
Hybrid: Public Safety & Justice Committee
June 3, 2024
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Franklin County Reentry Center
106 Main Street, Greenfield
Zoom details here.
Consult our website or Facebook Page for updates. Please email us with any questions!
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FEATURED EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | |
CAREMASS.ORG
Need help utilizing the Opioid Legal Settlement funds?
Help is here!
This website is devoted to you, those addressing the opioid crisis in your communities. Whether you need to file your Expenditure Form or Request Help in how best to use your settlement funding to address the opioid crisis in your community, we are here to help. The State of Massachusetts has contracted with JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. to support all municipalities in implementing, enhancing, or expanding a range of non-clinical evidence-based opioid abatement strategies and community collaborations. Request Help to request assistance.
We are here to provide equitable, participatory, and tailored support to ensure the success of your initiatives. Sign up for our mailing list to receive future updates from our program. Please visit the Office of the Attorney General’s Opioid Settlement FAQ page about the statewide opioid settlements. There you will find answers to common questions, including how best to use abatement funding.
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Have you had or thought about having an abortion in the last 10 years?
Privately share your experience by clicking the link below before May 1st and receive a $15 gift card! The survey is available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English!
Take Tides' Community Access Survey!
Tides for Reproductive Freedom is a 501c3 who can help pay for the cost of your abortion plus the transportation to and from your appointment! www.tidesforchange.org
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CONNECT: Post-Opioid Overdose Outreach Services | |
Updated Emergency Resources for
Unhoused Individuals
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Time Sensitive Announcements | |
Wednesday Nurturing Father's Program- Through June 20 | |
April 1 - June 22 Free English Class for Immigrants and Refugees | |
April 2 - April 16 "You Think" Series - Every Tuesday | |
April 5 Flag Raising Ceremony in Recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month | |
April 5 I See You: Stories From Wetlands and Woods | |
April 5 YA Art Journaling Series! | |
April 5-6 Indoor Mini Golf | |
April 6 Stone Soup Cafe Menu | |
April 6 Family Storytime with Megan Madison | |
April 6 Rabies Vaccine Clinic | |
April 6 - May 25 *Saturdays* Postpartum Therapeutic Support Group | |
April 8 The Great North American Solar Eclipse Collaboration | |
April 8 Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at Arms Library | |
April 8 PVRSD Solar Eclipse Viewing Event | |
April 8 & April 22 Keeping Kids Safe | |
April 9 Healthy Relationships Workshop | |
April 9 The Healing Power of Collage | |
April 10 Village of Flowers | |
April 10 Leather 101: How to Make Your Own Key Chain! | |
April 10 & April 24 2-Part Vision Board Program | |
April 11 Youth Mental Health Series | |
April 12 Economic Forecast | |
April 12 Rec The Night -Laser Tag & Hide N Seek | |
April 13 River Rat Parade | |
2024 River Rat Parade riverratparade@gmail.com
The parade kicks off immediately following the Big Cheese 5K Race (Approximately 9:35am)
Saturday April 13,2024
8:15-10:00am
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April 13 River Rat Block Party | |
April 15 A Passion For The Planet | |
April 15-19 Montague Public Libraries
April School Vacation Week Programs
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April 16 Musical Story Time with Julie Stepanek | |
April 16 Nature Odyssey East: Nature Photography
with John Green
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April 16-18 Porter Family Farm April Vacation 2024 | |
April 17 Overdose Prevention & Narcan Training
Register Here
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April 17 Queen Elizabeth II - "Her Majesty" | |
April 18 NELCWIT The Power to Persevere 2024 | |
April 18 The Reptile Nook's World of Lizards at New Salem Public Library | |
April 18 Family Center Pajama Party | |
April 18 Graphic Novel Book Club | |
April 20 Exploring Vernal Pools | |
April 20 Emergency Bike Road Repair 101 | |
April 21 Ready to Get Growing? | |
April 22 Beyond The Brain: Soul Exhaustion and Soul Care | |
April 23 First Time Homebuyers Event | |
April 23 Quabbin Reservoir & Watershed Protection at New Salem Public Library | |
April 24 Meet The Employer Panel | |
April 25 Consent & Boundary Setting | |
April 25 How Things Move In Nature: Snails! | |
April 26 Dress for Success | |
April 26 Homeschool Hangout -4th Friday of every Month | |
April 27 Wild Flower Walks | |
April 27 Author Micha Archer with her newest book:
What's New, Daniel?
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April 27 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day | |
April 27 The Fabulous Hilltown Draw Around | |
April 27 2024 Visions of Community, Western MA Edition | |
April 28 Spring Awakening: Reiki, Yoga, Music | |
April 29 & 30 All-Abilities Social - Rock Painting | |
April 30 Movement Based Empowerment Workshop | |
April 30 Parenting Journey II
Twelve Week Series on Tuedays
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May 4 Cornhole Tournament | |
May 11 - June 22 Saturday Morning Buddy Baseball | |
May 18 Heart of Leyden Running Fest | |
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MONTHLY/WORKSHOP CALENDERS AND WEEKLY STANDING MEETINGS/EVENTS | |
Improving Housing to Improve Health News | |
Re-Entry Foundational Manufacturing Program | |
April Community Action Family Center Calendar | |
April Franklin County Reentry Center Calendar | |
April Programs - Great Falls Discovery Center | |
April Montague Public Library Programs | |
April Events at the Sunderland Public Library | |
April Union 28 Community Network for Children Program Calendar | |
July - August at Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre | |
Spring & Summer Pothole Pictures | |
2024 Seeds of Solidarity Calendar of Events | |
SNAP Application Assistance | |
Always Open! Community Labyrinth in Greenfield | |
RECOVER Project Groups At a Glance | |
Weekdays All Recovery Meeting at
The RECOVER Project
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Monday/Wednesday/Friday
The Community Closet at The Franklin County Reentry Center
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Monday - Friday
Movement Group with North Quabbin Recovery Center Peer Leaders
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Mondays North Quabbin Patch Parents' Council | |
Mondays Breaking Barriers at the Franklin County
Reentry Center
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Mondays Art Guild Meetings | |
Mondays Advanced Manufacturing Info Sessions | |
Monday Drug Court Alumni Group - North Quabbin | |
Second Mondays of the Month - North Quabbin B.R.A.V.E. Task Force Meetings | |
Mondays Alternatives to Suicide Group | |
2nd Mondays
Greenfield Healing Clinic
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2nd and 4th Mondays
Parenting Together at the Brick House
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Third Monday Alphabet & Allies | |
Third Monday Parenting With Pride | |
Mondays and Wednesdays
Restless, Irritable, and Discontent: Your Brain in Recovery
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Tuesdays Peer-Led Grief and Loss Circle | |
First Tuesday - Dads' Group at Valuing Our Children | |
Tuesday Tea Time & Community Resource Drop-In | |
Tuesdays North Quabbin Recovery Center Coffee Hour | |
Tuesdays Greenfield Suicide Loss Group | |
First Tuesday - P.A.R.T. Task Force | |
Tuesdays Drop-In Knitting & Sewing Sessions | |
2nd Tuesdays New Member Orientation at the RECOVER Project | |
Tuesday & Thursdays Weekly Reentry Groups | |
Tuesday Men's Anger Management Group
Wednesday Women's Anger Management Group
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Wednesdays - Wendell Library Playgroup with Sylvia | |
Wednesdays - Playgroup at the Leverett Library with Gillian | |
Wednesdays - Housing Navigator Sessions at the Franklin County Reentry Center | |
Wednesdays HEROES Study Hub at GCC | |
Wednesdays Men's Support Group:
Keep Moving Forward
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Third Wednesday of the Month | |
Last Wednesday of the Month Office Hours With An Atto | |
First & Third Thursdays Parent Support Group | |
Thursdays Recovery Support Group Meetings at the Franklin County Reentry Center | |
Thursdays Coffee Hour at the Brick House | |
Thursdays Beyond Trauma Group in Spanish | |
Second Thursdays Every Month, Peer Grief Support | |
Fridays FreeWrite of Franklin County | |
First Friday of Every Month: Open Mic at the RP | |
Every First & Third Friday - Grandparents & Kinship Support Group | |
Every Second Friday Chosen Family Night | |
Every Third Friday: Karaoke at The RECOVER Project | |
Last Friday of the Month: Gardening in Recovery | |
Homeshare Program with LifePath | |
Act Now to Stay Covered with MassHealth | |
DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Opportunity at
Montague Catholic Social Ministries
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CHCFC OBAT Same Day & Tele-Health Appointment Information | |
Free Meals and Essentials
Saints James and Andrews Parish Hall
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Come Cook with Franklin County
Community Meals Program
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CONNECTIONS -
A Residential Program of Behavioral Health Network
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Orange Food Pantry Seeking Non-Food Donations | |
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)
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Family Self-Sufficiency Program Available | |
Eviction Self-Help Booklets Available in Multiple Languages | |
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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.
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Update! Greenfield CSC New Hybrid Operations Change |
The Greenfield Court Service Center is located at 43 Hope St., 1st Floor, Greenfield, MA.
They offer in-person services on Tuesdays & Thursdays, ONLY, from 8:30 am-1 pm, and 2 pm-4 pm. Remote services (email, phone, Zoom) are available on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.
For an intake, contact the Virtual Court Service Center, Mon. thru Fri. 9 am-12 pm by telephone: 1-646-828-7666, press #, #, then enter meeting ID: 161 526 1140 or by video: www.zoomgov.com/j/1615261140.
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COMMUNITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES | |
Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region www.opioidtaskforce.org
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