July 7, 2017
As part of an amendment to fund community substance abuse prevention coalitions across the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District, Senator Walter Timilty secured $25,000 for EB HOPE in the state budget that was just approved on Friday, July 7th. These funds will contribute to the prevention, awareness, and treatment efforts underway by the group to combat the deadly epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose. The funds will support EB HOPE’s ability to work with trained mental health professionals during its bi-monthly outreach drop-in center hours.
“Opioid addiction does not discriminate. There is not a community across our Commonwealth that has been spared from the chilling effects of this deadly trend,” said Senator Timilty. “By collaborating with devoted community partners, these coalitions are working to both develop and implement an evidence-based approach to this most lethal of afflictions plaguing our neighborhoods.”
More good news follows today’s announcement for EB HOPE. EB HOPE along with Plymouth’s Project Outreach have been at the forefront in proactively assisting those suffering from Substance Use Disorders in accessing treatment, while also supporting family members and loved ones of those suffering from SUDs. EB HOPE created the Drop-In Center model and opened its doors on November 1, 2015. East Bridgewater district State Representatives Geoff Diehl and Michelle Dubois, along with State Senator Timilty and Senator Michael Brady have all been supportive of EB HOPE and the Drop-In Center model.
In August of 2016, Plymouth Project Outreach, led by Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri and in partnership with among others, Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth, opened a sister Drop-In Center in Plymouth. Project Outreach had already been doing Outreach visits to overdose victims and at risk individuals since December of 2015.
Just last week, EB HOPE’s Executive Board and Plymouth Project Outreach members voted to merge their organizations into one non-profit coalition, which is now being named Plymouth County Outreach HOPE. PCO HOPE will now consist of a 17 member Executive Board, made up of members from EB HOPE and Plymouth’s Project Outreach. The goal of PCO HOPE is to continue to help SUDs victims and their families in accessing treatment, while also expanding their coalition work and partner in their communities, with local schools and all other partners.
EB HOPE founder, Susan Silva, now becomes the Director of the PCO HOPE Board, which is now made up of the following Executive Board Members; Susan Silva, Michael Botieri, Sarah Cloud, Scott Allen, Brian Coonan, Catherine Costello, John Cowan, Shannon Elliott, Eileen Goodick, Nancy Hill, Allen McCarthy, Donald Olson, Lisa Robinson, John Rogers, Shawn Salisbury, David Sheedy and Anne Marie Winchester.
PCO HOPE will partner and support the Plymouth County Outreach network, which consists of all 27 Plymouth County Police Departments, the Office of Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald and his department, and all of the PCO hospital, healthcare, treatment and recovery organization partners.
PCO HOPE will continue to operate the two Drop-In Center locations in Plymouth and East Bridgewater, while also supporting their neighboring Plymouth County Outreach towns and coalitions. The EB HOPE (now PCO HOPE at East Bridgewater) Drop-In Center is open the first and third Thursday of each month, located at the EB Community Covenant Church, #400 Pleasant Street, East Bridgewater. The Plymouth Drop In Center (now PCO HOPE at Plymouth) is located at the New Hope Chapel, #89 Court Street, Plymouth. Both Drop-In Centers are open from 5 pm to 9 pm for anyone regardless city/town residence, to assist those suffering from SUDs, as well as for anyone that needs, or is interested in seeking help and for themselves or others.
https://projectoutreachplymouth.com/