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

Teaching the science of addiction, impact on physical and mental health, and works with students to build healthy coping strategies, strong decision-making, and a resilient mindset. SAFE recently launched its “Up in Smoke” online course, a one-day, completely virtual program for students at risk of substance use and mental health challenges. Schools can elect to offer the course as an alternative to traditional suspension, and students can access the course on any computer with an internet connection. The online course is built on the same curriculum as SAFE’s in-person diversion program, which has run since 2019 and helped over 150 teens across Massachusetts. The all-new online option eliminates one of teens’ biggest barriers to support: reliable transportation. “We listened to community feedback and created an offering that can reach even more students regardless of whether they have a license, car, or a reliable ride,” says Jen Levine, CEO of SAFE. “This course is here for you when and where you need it.” The effect of diversion can be powerful. Schools everywhere are seeing higher levels of positive change from formal consequences that engage learning. “Life is full of challenges and opportunities, and the goal of this program is to help build the tools and confidence to navigate both,” says Emma Kelley, SAFE’s Director of Adolescent Wellness. The program seeks to move beyond traditional suspension methods to one that develops concrete coping strategies. Up in Smoke encourages students to reflect on choices leading to their current situation and empowers them to make healthier, more informed decisions. The course discusses the impact of substances like cannabis and nicotine on the brain and body, science of addiction, and long-term impacts of unhealthy stress responses and decision making. It also equips students with strategies for managing stress using interactive exercises, self-reflection prompts, and peer engagement. “This isn’t about judgment or punishment,” says Kelley. “It’s about growth, understanding, and creating a path that aligns with the goals and values that students care about.” The program also provides next-step resources for students and families as well as signed attendance records for the school. Up in Smoke is the only Tier II support of its kind in Massachusetts for substance use and mental health. It’s DESE-backed and helps schools comply with Massachusetts state law (2022 MGL c.71), which mandates education-based suspension alternatives. Up in Smoke Online is completely free and referrals can be made by school staff, clinicians, or parents. For more information, contact SAFE or visit our website.

FRANKLIN, MA – On Oct. 27, Senator Ed Markey stopped by SAFE Coalition to discuss the state of substance use and mental health crises in the area and the organization’s response strategy. State Representative Jeffrey Roy, a founding SAFE board member, also attended. Markey explored with the SAFE board and staff members the role public perception plays in access to substance misuse and mental health support. “The link between addiction and mental health must be destigmatized before people can get help,” Markey said. “No one can will their way out of it.” The conversation highlighted SAFE’s initiatives, including regular Narcan trainings at Dedham Jail, early intervention educational small groups for area children, and support groups for families of those suffering from substance use. SAFE’s approach to community-wide, wraparound care was notable for Senator Markey. “I understand the mission,” Markey said. “Because if one person suffers, everyone suffers.” The nonprofit’s CEO Jen Levine says SAFE helps many people who arrive at the office on one of the hardest days of their lives. “We are also here for them long before then, in small and straightforward ways, so that if their worst day ever arrives, they know where they can turn,” she says. Many are first introduced to SAFE through services like the organization’s free diaper and car seat bank or community events like medication takeback and CPR trainings. Markey has championed substance use intervention at the state and national levels throughout his political career. His first encounter with SAFE was at the 2015 National Prescription Drug and Heroin Summit in Atlanta, which he attended with President Obama. 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

“Dear SAFE”  is an Instagram-based project launched in October as a tribute to Mental Health Awareness Month. The idea was to have adolescents submit their mental health or substance use related questions to be answered by SAFE's clinical social worker, Alli Stokowski, LICSW.          Alli’s expertise allowed her to give in-depth answers to questions ranging from “How do pets affect mental health?” to “How do I help someone struggling with addiction?”. Through “Dear SAFE”, Alli is able to connect those submitting questions with accurate information on topics that may not always be comfortable to talk about.         The project is anonymous, which allows for answers without fear or judgment and Alli noticed that many of the teens had similar questions, showing a lot of common curiosity. “It is important to make sure these kids feel heard and that they know these are really common questions, and for them to know that it is perfectly safe and OK for them to ask,” she says. “We’d rather have them ask as a preventative measure”.         Alli says it is vital for adolescents to have the information they need to make difficult decisions in the future, especially as high school students. Misinformation, or a lack of information, can be incredibly dangerous, especially to vulnerable populations.         Alli also says the project normalizes the topic of mental illness and substance use in general. When one teen asked if psychedelic mushrooms could help with anxiety, Alli researched the question and found that there isn’t any evidence to support that common belief. She says it’s critical to supply community members with evidence-based answers to questions like these.        Dear SAFE can not only impact those asking the questions, but teachers, parents, and counselors as well. Alli hopes the program can be used as a starting point for conversations that can sometimes feel uncomfortable for parents or educators to initiate. Normalizing topics like mental health and substance use is essential to gaining insight into potential struggles adolescents face.    Thank you Alli for your excellent work and for sharing your thoughts on the Dear SAFE program!

We cannot stop singing the praises of our Dean College interns Lacey Migliaccio, Morgan Gregoire, and Zoe Sousa. These women have taken true ownership of the SAFE mission and furthered our projects in ways seen and unseen. From personally delivering diapers to a parent in crisis to setting up our entire gala by hand (and arriving in full glam mere hours later), bookending their internships with volunteer hours, overhauling our diaper bank, swag stash, tucking small, sweet inspirational quotes into the front desk and so much more, we are eternally grateful for the impact these three have made on our work—and us all. Simply put, they’ve put their hearts and souls into SAFE in ways that go way beyond the call of an internship. Thank you for all your help, big and small!

SAFE’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group is one of only two in the area helping transgenerational caregivers find community, seek support, gather advice, and share resources. Held the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at Bernon Branch YMCA in Franklin, with free childcare for children up to 8 years of age, the group provides a safe and supportive environment for relative caregivers. The group offers Zoom attendance as well. Led by Laurie Brown, who in addition to her work with SAFE also brings experience and resource knowledge from her work as a Family Partner for Adult Clinical Care Services at Riverside Community Care, serves on the advisory board of the Commission for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and builds on her own lived experience raising her granddaughter. Brown says the challenges facing grandparents raising young children are immediate and intense. “For me, it was an overnight jump into action. Rescue the child, do what you can do, and figure out as you go,” Brown says. “I all of a sudden had a 7-month-old baby, a diaper bag, my fulltime job, and my daughter’s issues to navigate on top. It was a lot, and no one around me had any idea how to help.” Because the group is comprised and led by peers, it is uniquely positioned to offer a quiet break from the immediacy and urgency that comes with jumping in to care for a grandchild. "There is no roadmap," says Laurie. "Our sacrifice often doesn’t cross our minds when we jump into action. We want to give the children safety, self esteem, opportunities, security, peace, a sense of family and unconditional love only a grandparent can give. We want them to thrive and be okay." This is where a targeted support group comes in. Meeting twice a month, group members discuss, among other things, common logistical issues like legal support, guardianship, different financial resources, DCF, school enrollment, daycare, and more.    They also address the ever-changing issues that come with having an adult child going through substance use, mental health issues, homelessness, court, or jailtime. “When you assume custody, you don’t know if it will be for 3 months, a year, or a lifetime," says Brown. And there are the accompanying emotions to unpack as well—for your own life change, for your adult child and their struggle, and for your grandchild. “People sometimes walk into their first meeting like a deer in headlights. Emotionally drained, financially drained, no idea where to go,” says Brown. “We don’t have answers for everything, but we do have empathy and compassion. We can listen and offer our connections and support.” For many, the connections forged in this support group sustain them through extraordinary highs and lows. Brown remembers a grandparent who once called to say she wouldn’t be coming due to the passing of her child from overdose. “Right away, she called back to say 'Actually, I am coming. That’s exactly where I need to be.’” Ultimately, what knits this group together is not just tragedy, but powerful, unbreakable love. “It’s always different. Outcomes are always different,” says Brown. “But the one thing we have in common is love and joy, because we have these grandkids in our lives, and these rescue missions we’re undertaking bring us together." For Brown, that sense of community is one of most critical forms of support a group can offer. “When you’re in it, sometimes you can’t even think straight. If you can go somewhere where someone can help you calm down, listen, and help connect you, you will be alright,” she says. “I connect them with what I know. But most of all we listen and help people know they’re not alone.” To learn more about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren or receive the Zoom login, visit our website or contact info@safecoalitionma.org .