What is Plymouth County Outreach?
Plymouth County Outreach is a collaboration of the 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, as well as Bridgewater State University Police Department, engaging in a partnership with dozens of non-law enforcement partners in healthcare, treatment, recovery, local coalitions, faith-based community, 4 of the county’s 5 hospitals in order to help those suffering from Substance Use Disorders, by introducing them to different points of access to treatment, while offering caring, compassionate support for those suffering, but also support to their family members.
PCO has grown orgranicaly over the past couple years, building upon its partnerships and relationships both within law enforcement and with its hospital, healthcare, treatment, and recovery partners.
In Plymouth County, all 27 Police Departments (plus BSU Police), have signed a MOU that commits each department to:
- Enter all overdoses in PCO’s innovative, real-time Overdose Critical Incident Management System
- Commit officers to be trained and participate as PCO Database Designees
- Commit officers to be trained and participate in Overdose Follow Up Visits along with Recovery Coaches, Clinicians, and/or Social Workers
What is EB Hope?
The East Bridgewater Police Department is a “spoke in the wheel” with EB HOPE, a non-profit, 501(c)3 registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. EB HOPE was created in 2011 by Executive Director and East Bridgewater resident Susan Silva, after meeting with Police Chief John E. Cowan to discuss ways in which key stakeholders within the community could help those suffering from substance abuse, and specifically to help in the fight against the Opioid Epidemic.
Since then, EB HOPE has grown to include many members of the community, including from various town departments and the general public, as well as many partner organizations and groups within the substance abuse treatment and recovery industry.
The East Bridgewater Police Department has continued to support the mission of EB HOPE in helping those suffering from substance use disorders and help support family members and loved ones of those suffering.
In November of 2015 EB HOPE created the Outreach Substance Abuse Drop-In Center, which is hosted on the first and third Thursdays of each month at the EB Community Covenant Church, #400 Pleasant Street. The Drop-In Center was created to help persons who are suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs), as well as to assist the family members, friends and loved ones of SUDs persons. More information on EB HOPE and its Drop-In Center can be found on its website, EB HOPE
