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< Back Cindy Kucich Front Desk & Community Engagement Manager ckucich@safecoalitionma.org After staying home to raise her children, Cindy found a renewed sense of purpose in giving back to her community. That purpose became deeply personal in 2017, when she lost her brother to a fentanyl overdose. Through that experience, she came to understand the devastating impact of substance use disorder and the vital importance of support, compassion, and connection. After volunteering with SAFE Coalition for many years, Cindy is excited to join the team and continue connecting with people, supporting families, and helping make difficult journeys a little less lonely. She is deeply grateful to be part of an organization that has made such a meaningful difference in her own life and in the lives of so many others.

< Back Meghan Monahan Grief Specialist mbrewer@safecoalitionma.org I have over 14 years of experience supporting families through both anticipated and acute grief. With a Master's degree in Counseling and Certification in Loss and Grief Support (CCLS), my approach focuses on meeting clients where they are in their grief journey. I help them understand their emotions and identify their goals. Together, we establish a personalized plan that aligns with their lifestyle and comfort level as they navigate through their grief.

< Back Make a Donation SAFE relies on the generosity of donors like you. Thanks to your support, we can continue our vital work assisting those impacted by substance use disorder and mental health issues. Your commitment makes a real difference in their lives, and we couldn’t achieve our mission without you. Thank you for your ongoing support! We accept ACH transfer donations. For more information, please email info@safecoalitionma.org If you would like to write a check , please mail to: SAFE Coalition PO Box 434 Franklin, MA 02038 SAFE Coalition Employer Identification Number: 81-0856576 If you have any questions or would like to adjust the frequency or amount of your recurring gift, please contact us at (508) 488 8105. Safety Net Society Did you know that monthly giving is one of the most important ways to sustain our programs every day of the year? It's also a more convenient way to make a bigger impact over time. We invite you to join our monthly giving club, the Safety Net Society, where your gift has the power to make a big impact. Tree of Life The Tree of Life will memorialize loved ones we have lost while also celebrating those who seek recovery. Your contribution to this piece of artwork will be displayed as a permanent reminder of our mission. A purchased leaf will help provide vital support for individuals and families faced with substance misuse and mental health challenges. Be a part of this special fundraiser and share in the celebration of life. Join the Safety Net Society Today Purchase a Leaf Today!

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< Back James Derick Director of Family Recovery | Co-Founder jderick@safecoalitionma.org Jim Derick is a parent who knows about the devastating impact of Substance Use Disorder. His son Jack battled this illness for over 15 years and it was this struggle that led Jim to help form SAFE. On July 15, 2022 Jack died of an accidental overdose. Jim remains committed to helping families impacted by mental health and substance misuse challenges. Jim spent 22 years in the risk management field. In 2015 he co-founded SAFE and was elected as its' first president. Jim dedicates most of his time to family recovery and is furthering his education at Hartford Family Institute to become certified in body-centered psychotherapy. Jim is a facilitator for Road to Recovery, a 12-step support program for family members and Learn to Cope, a support group for families and loved ones impacted by Substance Use Disorder. Jim also serves on the Franklin Public Schools Substance Abuse Task Force.

< Back Grey Almeida Media Consultant info@safecoalitionma.org Bio Coming Soon!

< Back Where We Serve SAFE currently serves 55 communities throughout Massachusetts. We have organized diversion programs in 19 schools and communities, conducted Narcan training sessions in 44 communities (6,000 Narcan doses distributed as of Feb. 27, 2025), and delivered public presentations in 31 communities. Would you like to see SAFE serve your community too? Let's get started today! Communities served by SAFE > Diversion Program Overview > Narcan Trainings Overview > Panels & Presentations Overview > Communities served by SAFE Attleboro Avon Bellingham Berkley Boston Braintree Bridgewater Canton Chelsea Concord Dedham DMH Central DMH Eastern DMH Western Dover Easton Fall River Fitchburg Foxborough Franklin Grafton Holbrook Holliston Holyoke Hopedale Hyannis Lexington Lowell Mansfield Martha's Vineyard Maynard Medfield Medway Middleborough Milford Millis Milton Needham Norfolk North Attleboro Norton Plainville Quincy Randolph Roslindale Sharon Sherborn Southbridge Upton Uxbridge Waltham Webster Winchester Worcester Wrentham Schools/Communities involved in the diversion program Bellingham Chelsea Easton Fall River Foxborough Franklin Hopedale Maynard Medfield Medway Milford Norfolk Norton North Attleboro Plainville Roslindale Sharon Uxbridge Wrentham Community Narcan Trainings 41 communities currently served & 6,000 Narcan doses distributed as of Feb. 27, 2025. In 2024, SAFE ordered the 2nd highest amount of Narcan in Norfolk County and is currently only 1 or 2 affiliates in Franklin supplying Narcan. Attleboro Avon Bellingham Berkley Boston Braintree Bridgewater Canton Concord Dedham Dover Easton Fall River Fitchburg Foxborough Franklin Grafton Holbrook Holliston Hyannis Lexington Lowell Mansfield Martha's Vineyard Maynard Medway Milford Millis Milton Needham Norfolk North Attleboro Norton Plainville Quincy Randolph Sharon Sherborn Uxbridge Webster Westwood Winchester Worcester Wrentham Communities where we have been on panels/presented Attleboro Avon Boston DMH Central DMH Eastern DMH Western Dover Easton Foxborough Franklin Grafton Holyoke Lexington Mansfield Maynard Medway Milford Millis Milton Norfolk North Attleboro Randolph Quincy Sherborn Southbridge Upton Uxbridge Waltham Webster Worcester Wrentham

< Back Lindsay Semas Member Lindsay Semas brings a strategic skill set to the SAFE Board of Directors. She is a passionate problem solver, driven by efficiency and effectiveness. She has a strong background in strategy, financial management, building and scaling teams, and driving results for small and mid-sized growth companies. She currently serves as the Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development at Interactions, LLC. A conversational artificial intelligence company located in Franklin. Lindsay is the founding leader of the Women’s Leadership Group at Interactions and is an active member of the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. She holds a MBA and BA in Accounting from Salve Regina University. She is a member of the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame where she has been recognized for her outstanding achievements and leadership as a member of the women’s basketball team. Lindsay was drawn to the SAFE Coalition because she appreciates the value of quality education and support during difficult times. Such services have made a significant difference in her life when dealing with post-partum depression/anxiety and family experiences with substance use. Lindsay resides in Norfolk with her husband John and children Audrey and Gus.

< Back Kate Gross Director of Grants and Communications kgross@safecoalitionma.org Kate brings 20 years of writing experience to SAFE's communications work, with a background that spans newswriting, international business development, grant writing, and higher education. A former journalist and PhD in English, she has spent her career finding ways to make complex information clear and useful for the people who need it most. Kate first joined SAFE as a volunteer in 2023 on community outreach programs. Becoming Communications Manager in January 2024 was a natural next step in showing up for work she already knew and valued. Kate holds a BA from the University of Michigan, an MA from Boston College, and a PhD from the University of Connecticut, and has trained hundreds of college students in writing, professional communications, and media writing. She has also worked as a grant writer in Dublin, Ireland, where she learned to research new fields quickly and write with clarity. Driven by a belief that our best communications will benefit the communities we serve, Kate seeks to extend SAFE’s mission through its media channels. She loves building systems that help nonprofits communicate consistently and with impact, because her career has always been about making sure the people doing the most important work have the words to show it.

< Back Jennifer Knight-Levine CEO | Co-Founder Jknight-levine@safecoalitionma.org I am a graduate of both Franklin High School and Framingham State University and began my career in the field of mental health in 2008. Starting in Massachusetts, I worked with adults in recovery from mental illness and later worked with adolescents in the foster care system in southern California. During my time in California my work primarily focused on implementing a groundbreaking three-year health and wellness state research contract dedicated to developing alternative holistic therapies to encourage behavioral and emotional self-regulation, increasing family relationships, and decreasing the use of psychotropic medication. In 2014, I began a doctoral program at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Depth Psychology with an emphasis on Community, Liberation, and Eco-psychology. Upon moving back to Massachusetts, I returned to working with adults in recovery and am dedicated to supporting those in the community who are affected by opioid addiction. As a Franklin Girls Ice Hockey alumni, I am an avid Bruins fan, an enthusiast of the mountains, and a lover of country music.

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