June 5, 2018
The EB HOPE Drop-In Center provides resources and access to treatment and recovery for those suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs). The Drop-In Center was created through local non-profit, EB HOPE, with the goal to provide a welcoming, regional safe haven where those struggling with SUDs, as well as the family members and loved ones of those struggling, could learn about the resources and treatment options available to them. EB HOPE’s Drop-In first opened its doors at the East Bridgewater Community Covenant Church, #400 Pleasant Street in East Bridgewater in November 2015.
The Drop-In Center was created to fill a void for those struggling with Opioids, but it is open to anyone struggling with any substance. In the past two and a half years, nearly 600 individuals struggling with SUDs and/or Family Members or loved ones have walked through the Drop-In Center church doors. Several hundred additional guests have come through them as well.
The Drop-In Center provides:
- A licensed clinician on site to assess SUDs and make referrals to treatment
- Narcan and Narcan training are available on site
- Hidden in Plain Site
- Numerous Treatment And Support Services
- Free meal of the night
- Peer to Peer mentoring from a person in recovery
- Stigma and judgement free support center
- Family and loved one support, Learn to Cope on-site
In August of 2016, a sister Drop-In Center opened in Plymouth, spearheaded by Plymouth’s Project Outreach. Over the past year, the two groups (EB HOPE and Project Outreach) have now merged into one, non-profit organization, called PCO HOPE.
Separately, but in collaboration with the Drop-In Centers, all 27 Plymouth County Police Departments (28 including Bridgewater State University PD) work daily together to assist those struggling and suffering overdoses. Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) is unlike any other collaboration of its type and scale. All 28 PCO police departments share overdose information in real time on a daily basis in order to support its post-overdose home follow up visits initiative.
Plain clothes polices officers, teamed up with Recovery Coaches and/or clinicians or social workers visit the homes of recent overdose survivors, bringing the resources and treatment options available to their front doors. The goal is to continue to offer support and pathways to treatment for those struggling, while also offering support and resources to family members and loved ones. Key partners for this growing regional collaboration, PCO, include Scituate’s South Shore Peer Recovery Center and Brockton’s Champion Plan, who the Outreach teams make frequent referrals to treatment.
The PCO Outreach Teams provide information packets, including referring both the SUDs and Family Members and loved ones to the Drop-In Centers in East Bridgewater, Plymouth, and a newly opened location in Wareham. Other Drop-In Centers modeled after EB HOPE’s have been created in Mashpee, Holbrook, Taunton and Marlborough.
What makes the Drop-In Centers so special is that they are manned by volunteers who simply want to help, as well as all of the region’s major treatment and recovery organizations who have tables setup at the Drop-In Center locations. There is a free, meal of the night, regularly made by the Chef/Catering team at Teen Challenge of Brockton, local restaurants to the Drop-In Centers, or donated by caring individuals.
As the Drop-In Center model has grown, other features have been added, including Guest Speakers, Gratitude Meetings, and Family Member/Loved Ones willing to share their experiences in dealing with Substance Use Disorders in their lives.
This coming Thursday June 7, 2018 @ 6:30pm we invite you to come out and participate in the Gratitude Meeting where you will hear Kris speak on her Recovery and the Costello’s speak as a Family at our East Bridgewater Location ~ 400 Pleasant Street.
June 26, 2018 @ 6:30 Dan Kelly who is the Peer Coordinator for the Plymouth Recovery Center will be speaking at the Plymouth Drop In that will be guest hosted at the Plymouth Recovery Center located at 71 Obrey Street, Plymouth, MA
Through the efforts of East Bridgewater’s State Senators, Walter Timilty and Michael Brady, for the second consecutive year, East Bridgewater is slated in the state budget to receive $25,000.00 in state funding, overseen by the Department of Public Health, to support the monthly Drop-In Center operation.