This research is being led by Emergency Department doctors from Baystate Medical Center.
Initial funding was provided by Baystate Medical Center, and ongoing funding is via an R34 from NIDA (National Institute of Drug Addiction) - link
For more information or to sign on to help, please reach out to Abigail.
Community Organizations Represented On The Steering Committee
In addition to former patients and people with lived experience (PWLE) of opioid use disorder and use of MOUD, our Steering Committee is composed of members from the following organizations. Committee members bring the resources and perspectives of their organization to the project.
Behavioral Health Network (BHN)
BHN serves those with life challenges due to mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Across all programs, BHN offers support, guidance and tools that help individuals make positive changes and live fulfilling lives. BHN began as the Child Guidance Clinic in 1938 and has grown into the largest behavioral health service provider in Western Massachusetts.
Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM)
The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts builds measurably healthier and more equitable communities through community engagement, collaborative partnerships, research and evaluation, and policy advocacy. They develop grant applications, workplans, timelines as well as planning processes. The PHIWM can be a thought partner to help strategically plan project activities and strategies that will lead to your desired outcomes. They review and analyze existing policy and procedures and draft recommendations for action.
Founded in 1977 to advocate and provide for equal services in the Hispanic community, Gándara Center delivers quality bilingual behavioral health, substance use and preventative services for a diverse clientele of nearly 15,000 children, adults and families each year in 100 locations across Massachusetts. The Mission of the Gándara Center is to promote the well-being of Hispanics, African-Americans and other culturally diverse populations through innovative, culturally competent behavioral health, prevention and educational services.
Whose Corner Is It Anyway (WCIIA)
Whose Corner Is It Anyway is a Western MA mutual aid, harm reduction, political education, and organizing group led by stimulant and opioid using low-income, survival, or street-based sex workers. All members are current or former low income sex workers. All members either use/have used stimulants and/or opioids, are/have been homeless, or work/have worked outside. They have created regular community organizing meetings. The ultimate focus of the project is on the needs and goals of low-income, street-based, and/or survival sex workers who use the so-called "hard drugs"--stimulants and opioids--and/or experience housing insecurity.
USU started from the need of citizens to have control over their own bodies and to make their own decisions involving their safety and drug treatment. “Our dedicated leadership team works hard to fight for drug user rights and challenges the harmful War on Drugs that destroys both lives and communities. We recognize that with compassion, support, and harm reduction strategies, people can make the best decisions for themselves and live their best lives.” They offer services to communities nationwide.
New North Citizens’ Council (NNCC)
New North Citizens Council’s mission is to provide advocacy, public & human services to preserve and support families resulting in the improvement of quality of life, with an emphasis on the multicultural community. NNCC is governed by a Board of Directors, which is elected by neighborhood residents on an annual basis. Over 700 people voted for representatives on the Board of Directors, reflecting the demographics of the North End of Springfield, which includes Hispanic, African American and Caucasian (non-Hispanic) persons. They serve Springfield Massachusetts and adjacent communities within Hampden County.
Harm Reduction Hedgehogs (HRH413)
Located in Western MA, Harm Reduction Hedgehogs was founded by Jess Tilley and Albie Park. Between the two of them, they have over 40-years experience in Harm Reduction. HRH413 is developing a peer led street outreach model and plans to serve both urban and rural communities. Their focus is to reach people who use drugs who cannot or will not use traditional brick and mortar syringe access sites. They offer best practice training and consultation on a broad range of topics including naloxone.
Founded over 45 years ago, Tapestry has grown over the last four decades to be a leading expert in critical public health issues that impact the Massachusetts community. They provide services to almost 20,000 Western Massachusetts residents each year. Today, their services include sexual and reproductive healthcare, food access and family nutrition, and harm reduction. Tapestry’s core and fundamental value is that compassionate and dignified healthcare is a human right. They focus on the injustice that underlies health disparities, and the people who face immense barriers to care based on their unique circumstances — income, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, where they live, history of trauma, and several other factors.
“Better Life Partners is on a mission to help any underserved individual achieve a healthier life filled with belonging, love, and purpose.” To achieve this, they partner with local community organizations and offer substance use disorder treatment across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Their substance use disorder treatment in Massachusetts includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) like Suboxone. Their MAT/MOUD services are paired with supportive group therapy led by licensed professionals who understand that recovery is a journey.
As part of Baystate Behavioral Health – the Griswold Center has been providing outpatient mental health and addiction recovery services for over 25 years. They care for the long-term needs of psychiatric patients and provide services for all ages – from young children through the end of life. The Griswold Center also has providers who specialize in substance use disorders. The team offers individual and group therapy, early recovery groups, individual counseling for adolescents, and the Operating Under the Influence Second Offender Program in partnership with the court. They provide medication for opioid use disorder including buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (Vivitrol).