Back to Life: Youth Theater Project Starting this April   Date : Thursdays, April 2–May 7, 2026 Time : 3:00–5:00 p.m. Location : SAFE Adolescent Wellness Center (Franklin) Ages : 13–18   This spring, SAFE is partnering with Drug Story Theater   to bring a powerful new program to the Adolescent Wellness Center. Back to Life: Youth Theater Project   is a free, 6-week theater program for teens ages 13–18. Starting April 2, participants will meet weekly to rehearse and perform an original play that tackles some of the hardest conversations facing young people today: substance use, fentanyl contamination, friendship, and asking for help.   Whether a teen wants to be center stage or help behind the scenes with lighting, sound, or set design, there's a place for them in this program. No theater experience is needed! The series wraps up with a public performance on May 7, followed by a community talkback with Dr. Joseph Shrand, a nationally recognized expert in adolescent addiction. It's an opportunity for teens to not only express themselves creatively, but to become real educators in their communities, helping audiences understand overdose prevention and destigmatizing the use of Narcan. If you know a teen who would benefit from this program, we'd love for you to share it with them. Registration is open now. Back to Life: Youth Theater Project is made possible by the generous support of Mass Cultural Council , Lawson Charitable Foundation , and Community Health Systems Foundation . Upcoming Webinar: Family Support—Why it Matters Date : Thursday, March 26 Time : 6:30–7:30 p.m. Location : Zoom When a loved one struggles with substance use disorder or mental health challenges, the entire family is affected. But recovery is possible, and family plays a critical role in making it happen. In the next installment of SAFE’s Family Recovery Webinar Series , Jim Derick (Co-Founder and Director of Family Recovery) will explore the powerful and often overlooked role of family support in the recovery process. Jim knows this journey firsthand. As both a parent and a professional, he has spent years helping families find their footing. In this one-hour session, he'll cover the importance of Family Recovery, how to recognize and address codependency, strategies for setting healthy boundaries, how to support siblings, and how to best support a loved one in recovery. Whether you're just beginning to understand substance use disorder’s impact on your family or looking for practical tools to strengthen your support, this session is for you. The Family Recovery Webinar Series is designed to deepen understanding of addiction, recovery, and the systems that support healing. SAFE Expands Grief Support to Reach More Families in Need   No one should have to grieve alone, and with new philanthropic support, SAFE is making that commitment a reality for hundreds more families across Massachusetts. SAFE’s Grief Support Program provides individualized counseling, a weekly sibling support group, and immediate outreach to families following sudden losses. When local police or schools refer a grieving family, our counselor reaches out within 24 to 48 hours—long before a traditional mental health waitlist would budge. Clients can stay connected to SAFE’s wraparound care network as long as they need, with no time limits or out-of-pocket costs. SAFE’s approach is built on the understanding that grief tied to substance use, overdose, or mental health loss often carries unique stigma and isolation. Our program is specifically designed to meet families where they are, offering clinical expertise alongside peer-based community support. Thanks to a $13,000 grant from The Parmenter Foundation , SAFE is expanding its Grief Support Program in meaningful ways: doubling annual client capacity, launching new in-person grief groups, and deepening community partnerships to ensure families receive timely, trauma-informed care at no cost. Too many families are processing devastating losses from overdose, suicide, and mental health crises with nowhere to turn. Traditional grief services often come with long waitlists, insurance requirements, or costs that put support out of reach. SAFE fills that gap. Take a Breath: 7-Day Social Media Detox Challenge   Life can feel loud right now. Between the news cycle, social media notifications, and the everyday weight of whatever you’re carrying, it’s easy to lose touch with how you’re actually doing. SAFE is inviting you to slow down and try one small, intentional challenge to help you reconnect with yourself and the people around you. Try It: The 7-Day Social Media Detox Challenge You don’t have to delete every app or disappear from the internet! This challenge is about small, intentional pauses and noticing how they make you feel. Day 1: Notification Audit Turn off non-human notifications: likes, algorithm-driven news alerts, and app badges that don’t involve a real person reaching out to you. Day 2: Morning Grace Before you reach for your phone, give yourself 60 minutes. Make coffee. Sit quietly. Let your brain wake up on its own terms. Day 3: Real-Life Connection Instead of commenting on a friend’s post, call them. Or make plans to meet up. Notice how different that feels. Day 4: Digital Sunset Power down all devices one hour before bed. Your sleep will thank you. Day 5: Unfollow or Mute Take stock of who you follow. If an account consistently leaves you feeling worse about yourself or more anxious about the world, it’s okay to let it go. Day 6: Nature Break Spend 30 minutes outside without pulling out your phone for a photo. Just be there. Massachusetts has incredible trails, parks, and open spaces waiting for you. Day 7: Reflect How does your mind feel compared to Day 1? Even small shifts in focus, sleep, or mood are worth noticing and celebrating. If you find it hard to disconnect, that’s worth exploring too. Digital wellness is a real part of overall wellbeing, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Contact SAFE at info@safecoalitionma.org to connect with a counselor or peer mentor. Bridging Safety and Healing through Yoga Therapy A Whole-Person Approach to Nervous System Regulation, Awareness, and Sustainable Healing By Brittany Capozzi, C-IAYT and SAFE Compass Yoga Instructor  Brittany teaches Compass Yoga   at SAFE each Saturday from 8:30–9:30 a.m. Free and open to all! The reasons people seek out yoga vary widely, such as better balance, stress relief, or easing pain. But for some, a traditional class doesn’t provide the therapeutic support they need. One-on-one yoga therapy offers a more focused approach for individuals working toward a specific issue or long-term goal, such as easing chronic tension to return to tennis or rebuilding energy after grief to enjoy activities like Zumba again. Healing often begins with personalized tools: small functional movements, breathwork, and guided rest. In a yoga therapy session, the therapist observes what is—and isn’t—happening in the body. A symptom like arm tension may subtly alter natural breathing patterns. The therapist responds with an objective perspective, also noting emotional influences such as frustration that may disrupt rest, or recurring thought patterns like “I’m not strong” that shape movement. Rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms, therapy acknowledges the energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual layers of a person and how they interact. For example, these facets can come together in the journey of a client recovering from hip surgery and relearning to balance on the injured leg. Her practice includes physical therapy, breath exercises, and guided meditations that regulate the nervous system. When she finally balances on the injured leg alone, her progress reflects more than physical strengthening, it reflects the power of rest to teach the body what safety feels like. When all facets feel safe, balance, strength, and steadiness can emerge. As therapy builds this foundation of safety, clients learn to notice what supports them and what doesn’t, including subtle patterns of compensation. Someone who tightens the neck when reaching overhead may be unintentionally overworking one area to relieve another, creating new pain on top of an unresolved root issue. These connections can be difficult to recognize alone. While internal sensations may shift naturally, the guidance of a yoga therapist opens new choices and directions, helping clients build awareness and move toward meaningful goals. This process mirrors substance use treatment. Both yoga therapy and recovery work support nervous system regulation, help individuals understand patterns of compensation, and strengthen self-trust. As people refine their physiological and emotional patterns, they shift away from brain states associated with pain, loneliness, and discomfort, and toward those that foster presence, ease, empowerment, and awe. If yoga therapy resonates with you or you know someone who may resonate with it, you can reach Brittany directly at Bellacoinforthought@gmail.com GROUPS & CLASSES - WEEKLY SCHEDULE Mondays Postpartum Support Group , 10:00–11:30 a.m. at North Attleborough YMCA. Registration required The Ripple Effect sibling support group , 7:00–8:00 p.m. on Zoom. Meeting ID: 831 8134 8873 Big Book for Beginners , 7:00–8:00 p.m., at SAFE Tuesdays Up in Smoke  Teen Diversion class, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at SAFE. Registration required. Families Anonymous ,   6:30–8:00 p.m. at SAFE and online Wednesdays WhyTry Teen Prevention  One-day Program, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at SAFE Registration required. Up in Smoke  Teen Diversion class, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at SAFE.  Registration required. Postpartum Support Group , noon–1:30 p.m. at Bernon Branch YMCA . Registration required Big Book Study ,  6:30–8:00 p.m., at SAFE Thursdays Up in Smoke  Teen Diversion class, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at SAFE.  Registration required. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ,  6:30–7:30 p.m. at Bernon Branch YMCA ( 2nd & 4th Thursdays only ) Fridays SAFE Cafe drop-in hours,  8:30 a.m.–noon at SAFE Saturdays Compass Yoga,  8:30–9:30 a.m. at SAFE Registration required Receive Free Narcan Training Join an upcoming SAFE Narcan training to learn how to administer this life-saving medication. Free and open to all! No registration required.      Attendees will:    Learn how to recognize an overdose   Practice administering Narcan   Develop confidence in responding to an overdose    Leave with two 4 mg doses of Narcan  Visit with SAFE about support resources Upcoming Trainings North Attleborough : Saturday, March 7 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Richards Memorial Library Wrentham: Wednesday, March 11 | 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Fiske Public Library Foxborough:  Tuesday, March 17 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Boyden Library Norfolk:  Wednesday, March 18 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Norfolk Public Library Medway:  Wednesday, March 18 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Medway Public Library Walpole:   Tuesday, March 24 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. | Walpole Police Dept, Community Room Help us continue our life-changing work.  Make your gift to SAFE today . Our Contact Information SAFE Coalition 31 Hayward St., Suite 2C Franklin, MA 02038-0434 508-488-8105 http://www.safecoalitionma.org

America's ongoing opioid crisis has led researchers and clinicians to explore safer alternatives for managing chronic and severe pain. As the dangers that come with opioid misuse continue to rise, researchers are adopting a new range of strategies built around traditional and cutting-edge ways of understanding the brain and body, from cutting-edge, high-tech options to proven traditional methods. Alternatives to opioid pain management can be divided into two categories: high-tech options which implement advances in the medicinal field, and low-tech or traditional options which place an emphasis on therapeutic techniques and promote peace of mind. High-Tech Treatment Opioid Alternatives These therapeutics typically involve targeting and sending signals towards the pathways in the brain and body to create a response that helps to relieve pain. One widely used high-tech option is spinal cord stimulation . For this procedure, a physician implants a small pacemaker-like device near the lower back. Patients can then use a remote control to send signals to nerves for help with reducing pain. Another approach associated with high-tech treatment is the use of radio wave therapy . This involves the insertion of needles next to the source of pain. An electrical current is then generated using radio waves which works to heat and damage the targeted nerve. This current helps interrupt pain signals and can provide patients with pain relief lasting up to one year. Low-Tech Treatment Opioid Alternatives These interventions are typically more focused on mental and physical rejuvenation. Physical therapy has been shown to improve individuals’ mental and physical health. For instance, following a consistent exercise routine can increase a person’s mobility and relieve pain signals. Acupuncture is the process of inserting tiny needles into different areas of the body where pain signals are located. The procedure is commonly painless and according to Elevance Health , it can relieve symptoms of chronic pain including neck and back pain, as well as headaches and migraines ( Acupuncture Found to Reduce Opioid Use and Emergency Department Visits , n.d.). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is structured, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on the present and aims to develop coping skills for everyday challenges. This therapy has been stated to be one of, if not the most effective treatment for managing chronic pain with opioid dependence. CBT can help patients steer their way of thinking in a positive direction and develop strategies for managing symptoms of pain. These can include practice with advocating for one’s own needs and setting goals to make small steps at a time to lead towards long-term progress. At SAFE , we make it part of our mission to help individuals navigate the challenges that come with substance use disorder including opioid pain management and mental health challenges. Through education, compassionate and judgment-free support, as well as access to safer alternatives, we help individuals take the next step toward healing.

SAFE Coalition was awarded a $25,000 grant from Community Health Systems Foundation  to break ground on its Adolescent Wellness Center.     The Adolescent Wellness Center will be a central space for teens across southeastern Massachusetts to access resources that combat substance use and mental illness. Built inside SAFE HQ in Franklin, the Center will offer a fully dedicated spot for teens-only support. The space will host larger events, small-group learning, and private consultation as well as educational nights for area caregivers.     The Center is designed to directly address the high rates of mental illness and substance use among teens. Research shows that offering teens neutral social spaces, like the Adolescent Wellness Center, is essential to maintaining a sense of wellbeing and community. Such spaces decrease social isolation and build a psychological sense of belonging. Regular visitors to these places report better overall mental health. The space will offer drop-in hours, referral services, mentorships, peer groups, classes and more. Events like drama therapy, sobriety nights, and trauma-informed yoga will offer more ways to play, cope, and grow.  Supports will also be available for education, prevention and recovery from substance use. The Center will offer programs to help students build resiliency to combat the perceived need for substance use, while support groups and peer mentorship will give teens added ways to be heard, gain advice, and belong. Recovery plans, referral services, and accountability check-ins will offer additional touchpoints.  The need for teen mental health and substance use support is greater than ever. Rates of teen depression and anxiety have remained high since 2020 and remain one of the Surgeon General’s top priorities. And teen overdose is at an all-time high, while the prevalence of vaping and other substance use persists.   Yet in-school and extracurricular programs across the region have shuttered due to cuts in school spending despite their success in preventing teen isolation, increasing touchpoints with supportive adults, and building self-esteem. Community-led programs are helping to close a critical gap in support by offering judgement-free, compassionate care to teens who need it most.   Community Health Systems  (CHS) was established in 1994 to support nonprofit organizations that enhance the community’s capacity to achieve optimal health, wellness, and quality of life.   SAFE began in 2015 after a community discussion on the increasing deaths from opioid use and what could be done to combat the rising epidemic. Today, the nonprofit works with first responders, local and state politicians, municipalities, schools, other nonprofits, and concerned citizens across southeastern Massachusetts to fill gaps in substance use prevention and education, harm reduction, recovery, and mental health support.     Learn more about SAFE Coalition .   ###

National Medication Take Back Day, a day for people to safely and anonymously drop off unwanted medicine, is on April 26. It’s important to know how you can contribute to removing potentially dangerous medicines from homes to keep families safe. SAFE Coalition is hosting drive-thru disposal stations in multiple Massachusetts towns including Franklin, Norfolk, Foxborough, Medway, and Wrentham. Over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions including opioids, and devices including vapes and cartridges are all accepted.   Learn more here . Having unused or expired prescriptions at home can be dangerous. In 2023, 20% of individuals  in possession of opioid prescriptions misused them, either by taking unapproved higher doses or in a manner unauthorized by their care providers. Unwanted medications can collect dust in cabinets or be scattered throughout the home, leading to dangerous situations including accidental overdose or poisoning if children, pets, or other individuals gain access to them. And flushing substances can contaminate the water supply and harm aquatic wildlife. SAFE Coalition partners with Deterra to implement effective and safe methods for substance disposal within their organization. For those who can’t make it to a Take Back event, community members can also visit the Deterra website  to purchase drug deactivation systems like disposal pouches, lockboxes, and containers. The takeback day initiative was started by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2010 and occurs in April and October. Organizations across the country work to set up drop off stations where individuals can dispose of unused or expired substances anonymously and without judgement. Together, we can take the proper steps to keep our communities safe and healthy. Join SAFE Coalition in making a difference for Medication Take Back Day 2025.

2,125 flags fly in Norfolk to commemorate the number of overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2023.  The CDC reports significant declines in fatal overdoses in Massachusetts, nearly a 30% change between 2023 and 2024, well above the national average. Despite the positive change, experts on the front lines say the news could create decelerations in much-needed infrastructural change.   The news is part of new findings  reported by the CDC , which says deaths from drug overdose in the U.S. significantly declined between 2022 and 2023. A total of 20 states have seen a drop in overdose fatalities, some by as much as 54%. The data covers drug-related homicides and intentional and unintentional suicides across a range of substances with abuse potential.    “The CDC’s findings are certainly good news, but we’re seeing a number of alarming indicators on the rise right now that are directly related to substance use, overdose, and harm prevention,” says SAFE Director of Collaborative Care Chavelyn Santana. “Trafficking rates, the number of unhoused, the number of missing people, increases in synthetic cannabis with the first overdoses being reported—many risk and protective factors for preventing misuse and maintaining sobriety are getting worse.”   SAFE co-founder and Director of Family Recovery Jim Derick has concerns that the findings will slow desperately needed reforms to systems of care. “The [reported decline in overdose rates] minimizes the experiences of people still impacted, people with repeated overdose, or families who have lost a loved one,” says Derick. “And the data doesn’t reflect the experience of people moving through systems of care right now who are still not being sufficiently supported.”  Still, the CDC remains hopeful. They link the change to improved harm-reduction strategies, overdose response systems, and the work of local and state organizations, like SAFE Coalition. “[O]ur partnerships with public safety colleagues in every state mean that we are more rapidly identifying emerging drug threats and supporting public health prevention and response activities in communities across America,” says Allison Arwady, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.     While this national decline is encouraging news, there is more work to be done.  Overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44 , highlighting the importance of sustained efforts to ensure this progress continues.    Stigma around substance use remains one of the biggest barriers to funding, equitable access to care, and recovery support. “In everything we do, we strive to give voice and support to people who may not otherwise get it, and to change a society that stigmatizes the conditions that take lives every single day,” says Derick.   “SAFE is a community’s expression that someone’s recovery matters,” says Derick. “Here is where we publicly acknowledge recovery in a way that our society just doesn't do elsewhere.”

SAFE has announced their 3rd Annual Gala for May 8, 2025, at the Lakeview Pavilion in Foxborough. Titled “An Evening of Giving,” the event will raise funds to advance SAFE’s mission of offering compassionate, judgement-free support to those affected by substance use disorder and mental health challenges.     Guests of SAFE’s gala will enjoy a gourmet dinner, live music, silent and live auctions, and inspirational guest speakers.   Jake Haendel will be the keynote speaker, whose podcast Blink  is currently at the top of the Apple Podcast charts. Haendel, a Boston native, struggled with substance misuse in early adulthood. He is the only known survivor of a rare brain disease that caused him to develop “locked-in syndrome,” a condition causing complete, coma-like body paralysis.   Haendel will speak on risk factors for substance abuse, especially for adolescents, and how more needs to be done to ensure no one goes unsupported.   “All kids are good kids,” he says, “and substance use disorder does not discriminate.”   Struggles like depression, anxiety, and trauma affect all kids, regardless of background, he says. These stressors can result in harmful coping mechanisms regardless of a person’s outward appearance or perceived privileges.   Businesses and individuals across New England show their support of SAFE’s work to reduce stigma and raise awareness by sponsoring the gala, such as Direct Federal Credit Union , who secured a champion sponsorship for the 2025 gala.   “Direct Federal Credit Union is committed to supporting organizations like SAFE that make a difference in our community,” says Kristen Johnson, DCFU Senior Vice President, Employee & Brand Experience. “By combining our efforts in philanthropy, volunteerism, and financial literacy, we’re able to contribute to the long-lasting impact SAFE is having on individuals and families. We are honored to stand with SAFE in their mission to strengthen our community.”   SAFE serves over 50 communities in Massachusetts with programs for teens, support groups for loved one’s impacted by others’ substance use, harm reduction education, resources for families in need like a community diaper bank, housing support, and more. SAFE’s services are free to recipients and no insurance is needed.   SAFE began in 2015 after a community discussion on the increasing deaths from opioid use and what could be done to combat the rising epidemic. Today, the nonprofit works with first responders, local and state politicians, municipalities, schools, other nonprofits, and concerned citizens across southeastern Massachusetts to fill gaps in substance use prevention and education, harm reduction, recovery, and mental health support.   “At the gala we bring together stakeholders, community partners, and members of the public, without whom we would not exist,” says SAFE Co-founder and Director of Family Recovery Jim Derick. “This event provides a platform to highlight our services and successes, report on impacts we have made, and chart our course for the year to come.”   Purchase tickets, secure a sponsorship, donate to the live and silent auctions, and learn more about SAFE’s work at www.safecoalitionma.org/2025-safe-gala

SAFE has contracted with the towns of Franklin and Norfolk to deliver community-wide lifesaving opioid use prevention, education, and recovery services in 2025.    The services will be funded by the towns' respective municipal opioid abatement funds, which are intended to help communities overcome harms caused by the opioid epidemic. Funding will enable SAFE to remain the only nonprofit in southeast Massachusetts offering wraparound, zero-cost substance use and mental health services to individuals and families. Thanks to the opioid abatement funding, SAFE will relaunch key programming specifically for Franklin and Norfolk residents and expand capacity for key services. In addition, Franklin and Norfolk teens will now have free access to SAFE’s substance use prevention and recovery program, Up in Smoke.  “The opioid epidemic is still impacting our friends, neighbors, and communities” says SAFE Community Outreach Counselor Dr. Stephanie Heath. “Overdoses are still happening, and families are impacted forever. We want to help people before they get to that point, and we want to help the people who have gotten to that point.”   The funding represents a significant investment in a rising crisis. While statewide opioid overdose and death have decreased in recent years, numbers in Franklin and Norfolk are growing. Franklin experienced the larger surge, with a 66% increase in opioid-related deaths between 2022 and 2023.  “Nearly half of adults in Franklin are unable to access substance use services” says Heath. “This is preventable, and we’re finally able to offer that help.”  SAFE’s strategy will be tailored to specific needs in Franklin and Norfolk, bringing together solutions designed to help community members with everything from education and prevention to harm reduction, recovery, grief support and family care.   Residents can expect to see the growth of SAFE’s presence in the community, offering increased support for everything from preventative courses for teens to walk-in counseling hours at SAFE, expanded support groups like family recovery and grandparents raising grandkids, grief counseling, medication take-backs, and walk-in Narcan training.   SAFE will also further existing partnerships with other community support organizations like Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Turning Point Recovery Support Center, Learn to Cope, Hockomock Area YMCA, Franklin Police Department, and Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office. SAFE works with its partners to coordinate referrals and build lifesaving support systems.    Opioid abatement funds typically seek to impact the opioid misuse and addiction crisis through several key strategies including supporting people in treatment and recovery, building greater connections to care, offering harm reduction (like Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and safe syringe programs), supporting parents and families, and preventing misuse through prevention education.  To date, SAFE has partnered with twelve municipalities across southeastern Massachusetts to advise, coordinate, and deliver community services related to opioid abatement funds.   Massachusetts has participated in nationwide financial settlements with several companies as part of the historic legal efforts to demand abatement of the harms caused by the opioid epidemic. These settlements combined will bring over $900 million into Massachusetts for substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support.

Ribbon cutting at our first office in Norfolk, February 2020 As we reflect on the growth 2024 has brought to our size and scope, we wanted to take a look back at where we began. Not everyone knows that SAFE’s inception was a community-led effort, paving the way for a methodology we center in everything we do. This month, we sat down with co-founders Jen Levine and Jim Derick to talk about where SAFE started and where we’re headed in the coming year.    In 2015, Franklin native Jen was returning home from her job in southern CA as a social worker with at-risk youth when she noticed that Franklin was experiencing a wave of loss and suffering owing to a rise in opioid use. Jim was witnessing the crisis first-hand as his son received a diagnosis of substance use disorder and began treatment.     JEN : I felt there was an invisible, excruciating, community issue that no one spoke about. I was even more surprised to learn that there were zero, absolutely no resources. Coming from California with so many access points to care, it was baffling to me that even our systems of care were shrouded in stigma and lacked education around addiction and recovery.     JIM : To put it in a word, that time was terrifying. Imagine your child being diagnosed with an illness which is chronic and potentially terminal and having nobody to speak with about it. With professionals, I didn't know where to turn. None of them knew how to respond other than to send you to a hotline. It was frightening and alienating. And I couldn't speak to family, neighbors, or friends about the most important thing in my life which was saving my son’s life. No one had the language or permission structure to even talk about it at that time. I had a friend going through the same thing with his son and we didn’t even know it. You just didn’t talk openly about any of it like you can now. The world has really changed in that respect.   Meeting with Ed Markey at the National Opioid Conference in Atlanta, 2016 Jen reached out to State Representative Jeff Roy and coordinated a panel discussion at Franklin High School to address communal concerns. First responders, local and state politicians, people working in the courts, and concerned citizens convened to discuss the scope of the issue and figure out next steps.   JEN : I remember that night so well. I was rushing from my other job and picked up my mom at her house. She asked if I had anything prepared to speak on and I told her I didn't even think anyone would come. She immediately went to the recycling bin and handed me an empty neon-colored notebook. She told me I needed to look prepared and hold something. When we pulled into the parking lot, there were so many cars. The crowd of over 200 people that night lit a fire in me. We had so many sectors of the community talking about how they were impacted by the epidemic. I did end up speaking that night and my mom was right, I totally needed a notepad!   JIM : I happened to be back from a [physical therapy] treatment for my son in Florida and was driving along and saw a sign blinking on Rte 140 that said "opioid mtg tonight Franklin High”. I could not believe someone out there had actually elevated this issue. I thought there'd be a conference room with 5 people. It was 200 people. The mood was terrified. Angry. Frustrated. Confused. Everybody had an opinion on how we could fix this. But the one thing it wasn't was judgmental. All ideas were welcome.   When I say nobody, I mean nobody was talking about this stuff at that time. So, this was unreal. I got up on the stage that night and introduced myself to Jeff and told him I wanted to be involved with whatever came out of this.   First meeting at Franklin High School, June 2015 Over the next 6 months, a coalition of 50 volunteers came together to voice their ideas on what support could look like. They gathered information to better understand the issues they faced and create an informed approach. Together, they designed a structured, sustainable, community-centered path to understanding substance use disorder. This was the birth of the SAFE Coalition.   JEN : We had so many people, so many ideas, there was so much to do - and the biggest question came with where we start. Like any new start-up, this was messy and so necessary. The first true project was a notebook called What Do We Do Now, a manual for police departments to give to households when they arrived at the scene of an overdose. We all pulled money together for the first printing of this. It was a step-by-step guide, and bright green so it would be hard to lose. That is where SAFE got its signature green coloring from! From there we began speaking with community members, listening to their experiences, learning about the gaps in care they were facing, and building relationships with care providers. This sounds seamless, but most of us were working full time and meeting with community members at night or on the weekends.  JIM : Jen and I, we had no money. Zero dollars. We decided to focus on one area, reducing barriers to treatment. We became allies to police for people who were detained with controlled substances, and we helped people get into detox centers and get treatment. At this point, police were not thinking treatment over arrest at all. So, we worked quickly to build relationships with other towns. We became a resource in many different towns for people who were trying to get to treatment centers. We were also educating the public on substance misuse, risks, and how to identify those things. But it was all bootstrap and very grass roots. Early Hidden in Plain Sight Display, 2016 As the SAFE Coalition developed, opportunities for further support emerged. Today, we offer local support groups for individuals and families, early intervention diversion courses for teens and adolescents, 90-day one-on-one support services, Narcan and CPR training and Narcan distribution, referral services, teen mentorships, medication take-back days, county-wide Overdose Awareness Day memorials, community events, trauma-informed yoga, a diaper bank, car seat bank, Santa Foundation partnership and more.     JEN : Jeff Roy has always said to me, ‘You must!’ And this phrase rings in my mind more than a few dozen times a week. When we started this, I was hosting a small family support group at the YMCA in Franklin. I was loving my career, happy to be helping community members, and yet I knew so much more could be done. Dreaming of what SAFE could be was so scary. It meant I needed to take so many leaps of faith, without a parachute and with a lot of public options on what we were creating. I think I was most significantly impacted and influenced by those who believed we could do this, and mainly by those who kept coming back for more care. They believed in use as we believed in them. Paul Farmer is a hero to me. He always said, " dèyè mòn, gen mòn ". When you solve one problem, you may be faced with another. It's a Haitian saying and I find it deeply inspiring and grounding.  While SAFE has grown and supported thousands, there is still so much to do, and I am so happy to be a part of this.   JIM : In 2015, we were labeled correctly as an opioid organization. We were born out of the opioid crisis and our primary response was seen as a response to that specific crisis. Jen knew that the bigger picture was tying together these threads like domestic abuse, mental health, poverty, and other social factors that have a strong correlation with substance use. Today, we are a communal vessel that holds space for all these interconnected and intersecting problems. We are able to respond and flex to emerging needs as they occur in real time, with a team of people that has the ability to discern where our time, talent, and treasure is best spent. The question has never been "is this the right thing to do?” We ask, “Is it an emerging and urgent need, and do we have the subject matter expertise to respond?" If the answer is yes, we figure out how to get in and make an impact. It's not the plodding, slow, low-risk pace of most nonprofits. We have something different. We have an entrepreneurial spirit.    Receiving the Red Triangle Award, 2017 While the SAFE Coalition has increased opportunities for hope, support, and recovery, we have only been successful in these endeavors because of trusted partnerships with local agencies and organizations. The SAFE Coalition is incredibly proud of the work with local police, fire, educational systems, political leaders, spirituality groups, non-political service organizations, veterans groups, judicial systems, public and private agencies, affected families and many others.  Looking toward 2025, we are prepared to settle into so much more: more harm reduction work and clinical care for youth; elevating the conversation around family recovery in the region; launching an online diversion program to enhance access and creating bi-lingual materials; building out three new support groups and creating partnerships with more school systems, and more.   JEN : I am so thankful for every person connected to SAFE, and none of this work would be possible without each and every single one. While I am a co-founder, they are the engine that keep these opportunities available to community members.

SAFE CEO and co-founder Jen Levine gives Narcan training at a community event. SAFE is thankful to Mike Beaudet and WCVB for highlighting the opioid abatement fund expenditure concerns in a  recent news segment .   SAFE Coalition has worked with over a dozen communities in Massachusetts to advise, coordinate, and deliver community services related to opioid abatement funds. “Families and individuals who have been impacted by the opioid epidemic deserve these funds to go to support and recovery,” says SAFE CEO and co-founder Jen Levine. “We want to help make that process as quick and seamless as possible.”  Founded in 2015, SAFE is the only nonprofit in southeast Massachusetts offering wraparound, zero-cost substance use and mental health services to individuals and families.  SAFE has close, first-hand knowledge of the opioid crisis’s impact today and the complex landscape of municipal abatement funds.   Opioid fund expenditure plans are incredibly specific, seeking impact through seven key strategies including supporting people in treatment and recovery, building greater connections to care, offering harm reduction (like Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and safe syringe programs), supporting parents and families, and preventing misuse through prevention education.   SAFE has a team dedicated to understanding this expenditure strategy and working with municipalities to get it right the first time.  “We can appreciate how this unique funding source can create gaps in municipal knowledge related to spending,” Levine says. “Our hope is to bridge that knowledge gap so funds can be allocated according to set timelines and expectations.”   Families and individuals have been impacted by the opioid epidemic for over 20 years. “By utilizing these funds, we honor all those who have struggled or are currently struggling and encourage people to get care before crisis” says Levine.   SAFE works directly with communities to deliver targeted services based on their highest needs. SAFE's services are designed to support individuals at every stage of their recovery journey, from individual and family support groups to youth education initiatives, peer-led programs, mediation, and counseling services.   SAFE also provide practical resources such as diaper and car seat banks, medication take-back events, Narcan training, trauma-centered yoga, and CPR instruction – all designed to address the broader social and environmental determinants of substance misuse and mental health.   Through a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach, we ensure that individuals in the community can readily access the critical services they need to improve their overall health, safety, and well-being.

FRANKLIN, MA – Local nonprofit SAFE Coalition has helped more than 30 Franklin residents, many of whom parents and children, find safe and stable housing since December.   Funded by the Town of Franklin’s ARPA grant for housing insecurity, SAFE’s housing services help Franklin residents seek temporary housing, connect with housing resources, advocate in housing court, and prevent imminent eviction. Additional support includes financial literacy, vocational opportunities, and clinical care.   SAFE Community Outreach Counselor Dr. Stephanie Heath works directly with SAFE’s housing clients and says homelessness can take many different forms. “It can look like living in your car, spending time on the couches of different family members, living in hotels, staying in churches, or other situations,” says Heath. “Circumstances like joblessness, domestic abuse, and forced eviction can all impact a person’s ability to access safe and stable housing. Every situation is unique, so it is important that we treat everyone on a case-by-case basis.”    Heath says SAFE’s recent surge in support cases affords opportunity for understanding and compassion. “This can truly happen to anyone. So often, people have done everything right, and they still end up without a reliable place to stay during the coldest months of the year. These are our neighbors and friends, people you’d never guess this is happening to.”    Heath works with clients as they build 90-day support plans. The plan helps identify factors impacting not only housing but personal, financial, and environmental wellness, expand the client’s support network, set goals, and create accountability check-ins. “We help people see themselves as capable of making their own best decisions. Homelessness may be out of their control, but we want to support people in ways that they feel ownership over decisions about their own life,” says Heath.     This support comes at a critical time in Massachusetts, with   homelessness growing by 74% since 2022 . Of the people experiencing homelessness in the state, 76% are families with children.   The state also has a high rate of chronic homelessness, which the Department of Housing and Urban Development defines as someone who has been homeless for 12 months consecutively or who has experienced four or more episodes of homelessness over the course of three years.  SAFE’s ARPA-funded housing services are a vital resource for local families. Where the state Section 8 low-income housing wait time is currently several years, SAFE can help families avoid eviction and access safe and stable housing in a matter of days or weeks.  In 2021, the  American Rescue Plan Act  federal stimulus bill (ARPA) was created to address public health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill included support for rental and housing services, affordable housing initiatives, utility assistance, grant programs for tenants and landlords, food security programs, childcare, and community outreach services.  In receiving an ARPA grant from the Town of Franklin in 2024, SAFE increased their ability to meet the needs of residents experiencing housing insecurity and the issues that come with it.   Community members wishing to grow SAFE’s ability to help can donate online  or email info@safecoalitionma.org  to volunteer.

FRANKLIN, MA – SAFE Coalition was recently chosen to participate in the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” program, with their logo featured  on Patriots running back Marcellas Dial’s cleats for the December 1st game against the Indiana Colts.   NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” program  (#mycausemycleats), a longstanding outreach initiative, allows NFL players to “reveal their passions beyond the game and wear their hearts on their feet.". Players are given the opportunity to pick a cause that is important to them and represent their chosen organization on custom designed cleats.  Dial decided to participate after learning of SAFE’s service to those suffering substance use and mental health. Dial feels connected to this issue having witnessed the passing of his dad in 2021 due to cirrhosis of the liver. He wanted to honor his dad and tell his story in the hopes of helping people going through similar experiences.   “It's a big platform, because I can bring attention to people who are going through it about how it doesn't only affect you, but the people around you," Dial Jr. said in a recent article  on the Patriots website.  "My dad knew what he was going through was affecting him, but early on, I don't think he was thinking about how it would impact us later on,” Dial says. “By the time he tried to get a hold on everything it was too late. That's the message I want to share and get out to everybody who is struggling – to not be self-centered in your thinking. Think about the people in your life who love you."  In addition to SAFE’s logo, Marcellas also had the words “Sobriety is a superpower” painted on the side of his cleats.   A new recruit to the Patriots in 2024, Dial’s wife and young daughter now regularly cheer him on from the sidelines.   SAFE Coalition, a nonprofit founded to combat the rising threat of opioid addiction and overdose in southeastern Massachusetts, now supports over 37 towns across the state with recovery and support groups, referral services, one-on-one nonclinical recovery support, resource connection, community trainings, educational programming for adolescents and schools, events like film screenings and talks, sober art and music nights, and trauma-informed yoga. SAFE also voluntarily advises opioid abatement funding boards in municipalities across the state.  Those interested in SAFE’s services or wanting to collaborate with the organization can contact SAFE at (508) 488-8105 or info@safecoalitionma.org