SPRINGFIELD — The battle to mitigate damage done to communities by the opioid epidemic is fought by hundreds of organizations across the state. Two such organizations in Springfield recently received state funding to aid them in their work.
The Black Behavioral Health Network received $50,000, while Choice Recovery Coaching is the recipient of $222,500. This funding was a part of $3.75 million that was distributed to 18 grassroots organizations that work to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by overdose deaths. The funding is part of the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, a new state partnership between the Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and RIZE, a public-private organization with a focus on eradicating opioid overdoses. Mosaic focuses its grants on supporting historically underserved communities that have high rates of opioid-related deaths. The program is the result of a commitment by the commonwealth to dedicate $5 million annually over the next 18 years.
“Too many Massachusetts families have been devastated by the impacts of substance use disorder,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “These awards underscore our commitment to equitable access to necessary resources for prevention, recovery, and treatment programs in communities disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic.”
At Choice Recovery Coaching, Executive Director Paul Alves said, “We support people seeking recovery. We are an independent recovery agency. We provide coaching at no cost.”
Recovery coaching is a non-clinical model of peer support for people in recovery from addiction and substance use. Alves said it focuses on “what recovery means to them” and helps people identify their “recovery capital” or assets in their life that can help them maintain recovery. He said that can be external, such as a bus pass, a job or therapy. It can also be internal, such as a drive to succeed or a valuing of their self-worth.
“Peer services are low-cost and people who’ve been in your shoes can better make a connection than a medical professional,” Alves said.
The grant funding will allow Choice Recovery Coaching to create workshops and educate the public on what recovery coaching is and how they can get involved and support friends and family.
Alves estimated that one-third of the 803 people that were trained by the organization last year are working in the field. He broke it down, “If a third of them have a full case load of 20 people a month, and a third see, one time, 40 people a week times 52 weeks and the other third see four or five people a week — that’s how many people we’ve helped, indirectly.”
Alves said the organization is “very grateful” to RIZE and the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.
“The opioid epidemic has taken so much from our area, with families being torn apart and our resources stretched thin. I am grateful for the organizations doing meaningful work on the frontlines of this issue and providing necessary supports in our area, and for the Healey-Driscoll administration prioritizing underserved populations that have seen an increased rate of overdose deaths, like Springfield has,” said Gomez. “We can’t be complacent against this issue — we must continue to push back against its stigmatization and help affected individuals on their path to recovery. These funds are crucial in this fight.”
Each organization will receive funding over a three-year period to focus on prevention, harm-reduction, connections to care, recovery support, trauma, grief and family support. Two additional rounds of funding will be released before June 30, 2025. The grant recipients are chosen using input from those with lived experience and expertise related to the overdose crisis.
“Opioid settlement funding has created a rare opportunity to provide the people and the communities most impacted by the overdose crisis with the resources to support locally led prevention, treatment, intervention, recovery and harm reduction services,” said Deirdre Calvert, director of DPH’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. “Mosaic will be the bridge that connects our statewide overdose prevention strategy to local efforts.”
Reminder Publishing reached out to the Black Behavoiral Health Network for comment, but did not hear back in time for press.
