I am reaching out on behalf of the City of Gloucester, in collaboration with the towns of Rockport and Ipswich, who are investing $300,000 to address the opioid crisis through expanded treatment access, recovery support, and stigma reduction. More information about the funding is included below.
Are there any upcoming opportunities for collaboration where the Health Department could host a table at an event or have 5–10 minutes to speak about the Opioid Abatement funds during a meeting? We want to ensure these funds are used effectively, and your support would be a big help. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on where we could share this information.
Opioid Abatement Funding Framework
The initiative is funded in part by a grant from The Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, funded by the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and is strengthened by a shared financial commitment from all three municipalities, using funds from the national opioid settlements. Gloucester contributed $100,000, Rockport $30,000, and Ipswich $20,000, and Mosaic Opioid Recovery matched their investment with another $150,000 for a total of $300,000.
The collaboration, was shaped by data and feedback provided by those with lived and living experience, and will fund the following:
- Transportation to and from treatment
- Post-treatment supportive housing
- Substance-free community classes
- Expanded access to recovery coaches
- Anti-Stigma education for community-wide understanding of opioid use disorder (OUD) so more residents will seek help
Residents of the three communities can learn more about these services by visiting community organizations such as Core Peer Recovery, Action, Inc, Open Door, One Stop Harm Reduction, Learn to Cope, Gloucester Health Center, Fishing Partnership Support Services, Younity Access Center, Beth Israel Lahey Health, the Grace Center, and the health departments in each community. They can also go online at https://www.gloucester-ma.gov/1481/Opioid-Abatement-Funds to learn more.
The Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership is a public-private collaboration created to support initiatives in historically underserved communities that have experienced disproportionately high rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. Powered by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE) and supported by the Massachusetts Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, Mosaic represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement lifesaving, community-centered approaches to recovery.
Good Morning Gloucester 