Salasin Project Receives Additional Funding from Western MA Women’s Fund #MeToo Grants

Salasin Project Receives Additional Funding from Western MA Women’s Fund #MeToo Grants

Official logo of the Salasin Project, a purple lotus with green circular lily pads.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Becky Lockwood, Salasin Project Director
Email: [email protected]

Salasin Project Receives Additional Funding from Western MA Women’s Fund #MeToo Grants

GREENFIELD, MA July 16, 2021 – The Salasin Project in Franklin County, a program of the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium, has received $10,000 from the Women’s Fund of Western MA to sustain the “Healthy Relationships After Trauma” program. This funding allows for unique support to women who are or have been incarcerated and have experienced trauma connected to gender-based violence.

On July 1st, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) announced $135,000 in grant awards to organizations working with women and girls that address safety and anti-violence; gender-based sexual violence; parity in leadership, representation, and power; and economic security.

Through the “Healthy Relationships After Trauma” program, Salasin Project facilitates weekly discussion and healing arts groups at the Women’s Unit of the Franklin County House of Correction and the Two Rivers Women’s Substance Abuse Treatment Program. Participants in the discussion groups describe the meetings as “a safe place to share ideas with one another.” They have also shared that the healing arts groups are “very helpful in reducing stress” and “slowing down” as well as “very calming.” One participant noted the groups help her manage her anxiety and depression. Other members state they look forward to attending every week. Salasin Advocates also offer individual assistance to women once they are released including support with finding and maintaining safe housing; safety planning; court advocacy; working with the Department of Children & Families to regain visitation or custody of children; and financial assistance.

During the last fiscal year, Salasin facilitated 60 group sessions at the Franklin County House of Correction with 229 contacts. 22 group sessions were facilitated at the Two Rivers Women’s Treatment Program for 65 contacts. Salasin Project Advocates met with formerly incarcerated women for support and advocacy a total of 234 times.

The Consortium, founded in 1975, is a learning organization committed to creating conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participationTo learn more, visit their website at http://wmtcinfo.org/.

Community agencies get trained to offer Strengthening Families Program

Community agencies get trained to offer Strengthening Families Program

By CHRIS LARABEE
Staff Writer, Greenfield Recorder
Published: 6/18/2021 2:38:32 PM

GREENFIELD — Local family-serving agencies and volunteers attended a three-day training session at The RECOVER Project last week to learn about the Strengthening Families Program.

The program, run over seven weeks, focuses on building family relationships through topics such as stress, communication and love. Parents and teens ages 10 to 14 participate together once a week in two-hour sessions where they participate in activities and discussions.

[…]

The Strengthening Families Program has been shown to be effective at reducing youth drug and alcohol use by strengthening family relationships, according to a press release from the Communities That Care Coalition.

The six trainees and additional volunteers that participated last week are now able to bring the program back to their agencies and provide its benefits to the community at large. Agencies might not implement the program right away, but Allen said The Brick House Community Resource Center in Turners Falls and The RECOVER Project in Greenfield are eager to add it to their summer services.

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New digs: Northampton Recovery Center settles in at former bakery

New digs: Northampton Recovery Center settles in at former bakery

Gina Outhuse, top center, of Westfield leads the first meeting of a six-week art group held in the large gathering space of the Northampton Recovery Center’s new home on Armory Street in Northampton on Friday, May 21, 2021.

STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING, Hampshire Gazette 5-22-21

NORTHAMPTON – On April 20, the Northampton Recovery Center (NRC) ushered in an exciting new era, opening a fully-renovated location at 25 Armory Street, in what used to be the La Fiorentina bakery in the heart of the city. This Friday, their first new program begins with the offering of a six-week art group. With nearly 3000 square feet, the new center is more than double the size of the former space at 2 Gleason Plaza, where it’s been located since May of 2018. The NRC began back in 2016, with the community gathering two afternoons a week in a meeting room generously donated by the historic Edwards Church on Main Street.

In late 2019, the NRC was delighted to learn it had been awarded one of eight additional Peer Recovery Support Center (RSC) contracts from the state’s Bureau of Substance and Addiction Services (BSAS). As one of 26 BSAS-funded RSCs, the NRC is supported under the umbrella of the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium (Consortium) along with the RECOVER Project in Greenfield, that became the first BSAS-funded RSC in the state nearly 20 years ago. At $400,000 a year for three years, this funding provides for the costs associated with running a peer supported recovery center. The NRC is now fully staffed, with three full-time and two part-time employees, including a Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Outreach and Community Engagement Coordinator, Peer Coordinator and Administrative Assistant.

To meet state regulations, the NRC is required to feature a large gathering space, a quiet room, a staff room and a full kitchen. Extensive renovations to this new space were funded in part by a generous $16,000 Beveridge Family Foundation Grant, with the remainder provided by the Consortium. The fully-upgraded kitchen is well equipped with a large stove, two ovens, two sinks, an island, and ample cooking supplies, and will function in some ways as the heart of the center, according to NRC Director Lynn Ferro. “Previous experience at our center has shown us that shared meals bring people together and creates community.” Down the road, Ferro said she expects the kitchen will be the locale for teaching NRC members basic cooking and baking skills, and for a cultural culinary exchange. Four staff or members have already earned Serv-Safe food handler certification, with one acting as “Food Manager” for the Center. In addition, the NRC now has a conference room, two accessible bathrooms with baby changing tables, storage lockers and computer terminals for member use, a sitting/reception area and a large community room. A sidewalk-facing alcove will be used to mount member-created art exhibits.

From its humble beginnings, operating on seed money from the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, donations from committed community members and United Way, the NRC now has the capacity to be open 50 hours a week, meeting a dire need for community-based recovery support. Wyatt Pease, a member and volunteer says “I find it most beneficial to just connect with people.  Anytime you need help, no matter what it is, someone is willing to listen or point you in the direction of someone who can help you.”

Available to anyone interested in recovery-friendly community, anticipated programming includes: trauma-informed yoga classes (with all brand-new supplies), cooking and art classes, as well as music events, movie nights, and job-readiness support. “The essential element of Recovery Centers is the people of course, but this new space holds so much promise for providing a welcoming place for all people at any stage, on any path of recovery,” said Ferro.  Recently, a visitor looked around and said “what a beautiful and dignified place to seek recovery”!

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Baystate Wing Hospital Awards $30,000 in Grants to Address Substance-use Disorders

Baystate Wing Hospital Awards $30,000 in Grants to Address Substance-use Disorders

PICTURED: Community volunteers preparing for a local flower fundraiser to support the WRRC

HealthCareNews.com 5/21/21

[…] Programs supported by the hospital’s grant investments include the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium ($22,000) and the Wilbraham Police Department ($8,000).

The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium funding will help provide an enhanced recovery-support network to the region and improve access to harm reduction and multiple pathways to recovery services. The consortium will use its unique Recovery Coaching program and community partnerships to support local efforts to reduce the opioid death rate, decrease stigma, and increase safety for opioid users in the region.

“We are so grateful that Representative Smola has joined with other compassionate and responsive legislators who have been championing community-led efforts to address the opioid epidemic,” said Kristel Applebee, executive director of the consortium. “This funding will go a long way to help us channel the energy that is already so strong among the communities in the Baystate Wing service area, and connect those who have faced marginalization, oppression, or otherwise felt invisible with equitable recovery supports. We want to make sure everyone knows about the Ware Regional Recovery Center.”

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Northampton Recovery Center opens in new, larger space to expand programming

Northampton Recovery Center opens in new, larger space to expand programming

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information: NRC Director Lynn Ferro
(413) 834-8627
[email protected]

Northampton Recovery Center opens in new, larger space to expand programming

NORTHAMPTON, MA May 17, 2021 – On April 20, the Northampton Recovery Center (NRC) ushered in an exciting new era, opening a fully-renovated location at 25 Armory Street, in what used to be the La Fiorentina bakery in the heart of the city. This Friday, their first new program begins with the offering of a six-week art group. With nearly 3000 square feet, the new center is more than double the size of the former space at 2 Gleason Plaza, where it’s been located since May of 2018. The NRC began back in 2016, with the community gathering two afternoons a week in a meeting room generously donated by the historic Edwards Church on Main Street.

In late 2019, the NRC was delighted to learn it had been awarded one of eight additional Peer Recovery Support Center (RSC) contracts from the state’s Bureau of Substance and Addiction Services (BSAS). As one of 26 BSAS-funded RSCs, the NRC is supported under the umbrella of the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium (Consortium) along with the RECOVER Project in Greenfield, that became the first BSAS-funded RSC in the state nearly 20 years ago. At $400,000 a year for three years, this funding provides for the costs associated with running a peer supported recovery center. The NRC is now fully staffed, with three full-time and two part-time employees, including a Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Outreach and Community Engagement Coordinator, Peer Coordinator and Administrative Assistant.

To meet state regulations, the NRC is required to feature a large gathering space, a quiet room, a staff room and a full kitchen. Extensive renovations to this new space were funded in part by a generous $16,000 Beveridge Family Foundation Grant, with the remainder provided by the Consortium. The fully-upgraded kitchen is well equipped with a large stove, two ovens, two sinks, an island, and ample cooking supplies, and will function in some ways as the heart of the center, according to NRC Director Lynn Ferro. “Previous experience at our center has shown us that shared meals bring people together and creates community.” Down the road, Ferro said she expects the kitchen will be the locale for teaching NRC members basic cooking and baking skills, and for a cultural culinary exchange. Four staff or members have already earned Serv-Safe food handler certification, with one acting as “Food Manager” for the Center. In addition, the NRC now has a conference room, two accessible bathrooms with baby changing tables, storage lockers and computer terminals for member use, a sitting/reception area and a large community room. A sidewalk-facing alcove will be used to mount member-created art exhibits.

From its humble beginnings, operating on seed money from the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, donations from committed community members and United Way, the NRC now has the capacity to be open 50 hours a week, meeting a dire need for community-based recovery support. Wyatt Pease, a member and volunteer says “I find it most beneficial to just connect with people. Anytime you need help, no matter what it is, someone is willing to listen or point you in the direction of someone who can help you.”

Available to anyone interested in recovery-friendly community, anticipated programming includes: trauma-informed yoga classes (with all brand-new supplies), cooking and art classes, as well as music events, movie nights, and job-readiness support. “The essential element of Recovery Centers is the people of course, but this new space holds so much promise for providing a welcoming place for all people at any stage, on any path of recovery,” said Ferro. Recently, a visitor looked around and said “what a beautiful and dignified place to seek recovery”!

The Consortium, founded in 1975, is a learning organization committed to creating conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation. To learn more, visit their website at http://wmtcinfo.org/.

Salasin Project Receives Additional Funding from Western MA Women’s Fund #MeToo Grants

Therapist Shortage Fuels Ongoing Crisis In Youth Mental Health

Anna Dellarosa, at left, is raising her three great-nieces in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Gretchen Emond is co-director of The Support Network, which assists families in navigating the mental health care system.
Credit: BEN JAMES / NEPM

By BEN JAMES • APR 15, 2021

Gretchen Emond and Anna Dellarosa have a relationship forged from years of common experience.

“We are parents with lived experience raising a child with a mental health challenge,” said Emond, a family support therapist and co-director of The Support Network, which assists families in the difficult task of navigating the mental health system.

[…]

“I wouldn’t even know where my mind would be if I did not call this woman and say, ‘I’m losing my mind,’” Dellarosa said, nodding toward Emond. “‘Could you give me advice really quickly, so I can just take a deep breath and just go, you know, the next few hours?’”

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