Initial Meeting of the Task Force
Tim Cruz – District Attorney
- Welcome remarks
- We will go around the table and have everyone introduce themselves and say a few words.
Fred Clark – President of Bridgewater State University
- BSU would like to host future meetings
- Would like to be a partner and address prevention programs
- BSU is involved in K-12 districts
- BSU is the state’s largest producer of teachers
- State universities can play a helpful role in terms of educating young kids
- Mary Waldron from BSU is available to assist with bringing resources together
Joe McDonald – Plymouth County Sheriff
- Governor Baker was surprised with the level of concern over opioid crisis
- Created a task force -which Sheriff McDonald is a part of
- Executive Office of Health and Human Services – Governor’s Task Force Plan
- Jail – great programming (re-entry, etc.)
- Downfall – have to go to jail for this programming
- Prison populations are declining state wide (1650 — 1000 approximately in Plymouth County) leaving space to dedicate special units
- Plan (not public yet) – Special unit re-purposed for section 35 civil commitments
- Totally separate run by DPH
- Expand capacity
- Not incarcerated – there for treatment
- Thinks it’s a temporary solution
- 60 new beds – Can come on line faster than a new facility utilizing space available due to declining inmate population
Paul Jehle, PhD – Senior Pastor, The New Testament Church, Plymouth, MA
- Spiritual component, faith community
Chris Mello – Admission Director and Chaplin at Teen Challenge
- Teen Challenge – Christian 15 month residential program (focus teens using drugs)
- Community liaison – outreach
- Background of addiction
Peter Holden – CEO Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
- Opiates come from providers – too many prescriptions are written – as a result, there have already been changes in reducing prescriptions.
- Need to develop a behavioral health system in Plymouth – important to deal with addiction as illness not crime
Sean Varano, PhD – Kelley Research Associates
- Data and evaluator for DFC and PFS
- Works with Pam Kelley
Pam Kelley – Kelley Research Associates
- Data and evaluator for DFC and PFS
- Works with Sean Varano
Deniz Leunenberger- Chief of Staff at BSU
- She will assist with marketing and communications
Monica Mullins – Legislative Aide for Senator deMacedeo
- Issue of scarcity of beds and services
- Contact office a last resort
- Senator alerted governor
Beth Stone – Director of Communications at DA’s office
- Will be in charge of the media
Barbara Faherty – Executive Director of Community Programs at DA’s office
- Will assist with the preparation of the meetings, and will lend support to the task force and subcommittees
Karen Barry – Deputy Director of Public Information with Sheriff’s office
- Will assist with the preparation of the meetings, and will lend support to the task force and subcommittees
- Will assist with media
- Had the opportunity to witness the work of the Governor’s task force
