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Although the program is just getting started in Holliston, the Holliston Drug and Alcohol Coalition has made some definite strides in its progress, including getting funding. Thanks to a grant from the Metrowest Health Foundation, HDAAC will be able to move forward in addressing addiction and the opioid epidemic in the Holliston community.
“Basically, it’s money for the town to start a coalition,” says Gina Stucchi, who heads up the effort to create Holliston Drug and Alcohol Coalition. “Holliston’s Youth and Family Services is the department that applied for the grant, so they could help us get started. It’s a huge step, because it tells everybody, that the town is backing HDAAC and the town sees a need for the coalition. It’s a huge accomplishment knowing that the Selectmen are signing off on this.”
Stucchi explains that some of the $8,700 the town received will be directed toward adding resources to the HDAAC website, www.hdaac.org.
“Our goal is to have online resources available to help educate residents on prevention and crisis intervention. We would also like to create a solid recovery community within Holliston which will help reduce the number of relapses. ” says Stucchi.
“Building our board is another thing,” says Stucchi. In order to spread awareness of HDAAC, the group will use some of this grant to fund a mailer to the whole town.
“We’re just telling everybody who we are,” says Stucchi, encouraging residents to get involved.
Stucchi is very excited that HDAAC will now have a home in Holliston, thanks to the town.
“A big piece – the town, as part of their contribution to HDAAC, is giving us an office where Youth and Family Services are, at 1750 Washington Street,” says Stucchi.
Stucchi explains that HDAAC is finishing up its assessment of the town’s needs in regard to addiction.
“We’re finishing up with some of our last stakeholder interviews, and most likely we will hire consultants to analyze what we collect and put together a strategic plan,” she says. “We’d like to bring as many people to the table as possible. The more people that can give us input, the better.”
HDAAC is working closely with the Holliston Police Department, which has recently signed onto a nonprofit initiative created by the Gloucester Police Department, PAARI, or Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative, a nonprofit that aids other police departments in coping with opioid abuse in ways that focus on treatment rather than arrest.
“Holliston Police has already signed on as a member of PAARI,” says Stucchi, and as such the police would have access to some of the $6 million in grant money for people that need treatment. “We a putting together a program with PAARI and the Holliston Police, but we haven’t developed what Holliston’s program is going to look like, yet,” says Stucchi, who is working with HPD Sgt. Matthew Waugh on the issue.
In other areas, Stucchi says she is pleased that Holliston Public Schools have welcomed Project Purple, noting that about 25 kids showed up at the first meeting there. Project Purple is an initiative that stems from the Chris Herren Project. Chris Herren is a former Celtic who fell from grace in his own battle with addiction. In fact, Chris Herren will be coming to Holliston High School to speak about his experiences (to anyone in 7th grade or older) in Holliston on February 1, at 7 p.m., thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Holliston Education Foundation and the Holliston PTSA.
Stucchi says she feels positive about what’s happening in the Holliston community. “It’s about strengthening community connections,” she says.
HDAAC meetings take place at 6:30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month, at the Holliston Fire Station meeting room. All are welcome to come join the conversation. To contact HDAAC online, visit www.hdaac.org or email info@hdaac.org