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< Back Monika Page, MD, FAAP Secretary Monika has lived and worked in the Franklin area for the past 15 years alongside her husband and three sons. She is a partner at Pediatric Specialists of Foxboro and Wrentham, where she is deeply committed to helping children and families achieve their best health. Over the course of her career, Monika has seen the profound impact that substance use, addiction, and mental health challenges can have on individuals, families, and entire communities. She brings both her medical expertise and a deep understanding of these issues to the board, along with a strong commitment to supporting the organization’s mission and ensuring its continued growth and success.

< Back Hidden in Plain Sight A mock teen bedroom highlights for parents and caregivers what to look for. Date: Per request Time: Per request Details: Email to book: info@safecoalitionma.org Price: $150.00/hour Our mock teen bedroom provides parents and caregivers with insights into current trends related to adolescent substance use and highlights what to look for. It also offers guidance on how to have conversations with your teen if you are concerned.

< Back Karen Bean, LCSW Clinician kbean@safecoalitionma.org Karen has worked with Children and Families since her first job out of high school. As an adult, she fostered children for 11 years, and over that time also held roles as cofacilitator of Massachusetts Approach to Positive Parenting (MAPP) training for others to become licensed to foster, as well as Family Liaison for Massachusetts Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) to provide ongoing support for foster parents/kinship placements to parent children experiencing foster care. Following her journey with foster care, Karen received her master's in social work at Simmons University, where she interned at South Bay Community Services and Kaleidoscope Family Services. She provided in-home therapy and Behavioral Health services to individuals and families. She brings deep empathy to every interaction and tailors her work to each person's unique needs, helping clients process complex emotions, address trauma, and build resilience. Karen enjoys painting, going for walks, spending time with family, and going to the Beach in the Spring and Fall.

Providing a safe, sober space for music, art, conversation, and connection. Free and open to the public. SAFE Café after Dark: providing a safe, sober space for music, art, conversation, and connection Sept. 20: Danielle Miraglia Get ready for a night of unforgettable live music at SAFE Café After Dark featuring Danielle Miraglia! Seating is limited—register today! Date: Saturday, Sept. 20 Time: 6–9 p.m. Location: SAFE, Franklin Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson and an infectious stomp-box rhythm with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips. Her latest “Bright Shining Stars” debuted at #15 on the Billboard Blues Charts and is a solo acoustic folk/blues record that highlights the one-woman-band live sound she’s honed over the years. You won’t want to miss this! Reserve your Seat

< Back WhyTry Program Ages: 14–18 Date: Wednesdays (3–4 classes/month). RETURNS OCT. 21, 2026 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Location: Adolescent Wellness Center SAFE Office, 31 Hayward Street, Suite 2C, Franklin, MA 02038 Target Audience: This is a prevention program for any youth open to learning about decision-making and building personal resiliency. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch are provided. Refer a Student Enrollment in the WhyTry Program includes the following steps: Referral: Students can be referred to the program by teachers, administrators, or counselors at the school. Guardians may also submit referrals. Refer a student. Enrollment: Once a referral form is submitted, SAFE staff will contact the youth’s guardian to complete the necessary paperwork and enroll them in the next available class. About the Program: WhyTry is an organization that helps individuals develop resilience. The WhyTry school curriculum provides students with resources to build essential skills and knowledge, such as problem-solving, handling adversity, fostering resilience, building relationships, and increasing motivation for success. These skills are taught using practical, evidence-based tools designed to engage students in a way they can understand and remember. What do we mean by resilience? Simply put, resilience is the ability to develop skills and strategies that tap into various sources of strength, allowing young people to bounce back and thrive in the face of challenges. The WhyTry Curriculum: WhyTry helps participants develop a greater appreciation for their relationships with family, friends, teachers, and counselors. It also fosters increased motivation toward responsibility, goal-setting, and maintaining a positive attitude while working toward those goals. 10 WhyTry Learning Units: The WhyTry curriculum consists of ten units, each titled after a visual metaphor that helps participants understand the topic. During your time at SAFE, we will cover 4 of the 10 units to best fit your needs.

Thank you to James and his support network for raising awareness about mental health and raising critical funds to benefit SAFE. While this campaign is closed , we encourage you to discover others ways to get involved and support SAFE. If you are looking to host your own fundraising event or campaign, please contact us at info@safecoalitionma.org 100 Miles for Mental Health: James Flannery Wilderness Run Fundraiser for SAFE The Challenge Run the Hundred Mile Wilderness route in one continuous effort Push boundaries of what's possible Raise awareness and funds for mental health support The Rules Complete self-support (no outside assistance) Start with everything needed for the entire route Finish with everything started with (minus consumed food) One continuous effort from start to finish The Route Location : Central Maine Trail : Northernmost section of the Appalachian Trail Start : Abol Bridge Finish : Greenville Road Junction Direction : Southbound Start date: June 20, 2025 Meet James Flannery James's athletic journey spans decades, from team sports in high school to conquering Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks. His most notable early achievement? "Bandit" running the Boston Marathon twice with friends in 2007 and 2009—with no training. Athletic Milestones 2015: Thru-hiked Vermont's Long Trail (600+ miles total, north and back south) 2018: Began focused running training in Golden, Colorado 2021: Completed first ultramarathon (32 miles) Present: Training for the ultimate 100-mile challenge From hockey and baseball fields to rock climbing walls, from Colorado's mountain peaks to Vermont's Green Mountains, James has always sought the next challenge. The two Boston Marathons remained his longest single-effort distances for years—until he decided to systematically pursue ultramarathons. Age : 34 Hometown : Franklin, Massachusetts Background : Lifelong athlete and outdoor enthusiast Instagram: @famous_seamus Raising Mental Health Awareness + Supporting SAFE "Over the course of my life, especially as a young adult, I have struggled to maintain balance in terms of my mental health, and my personal relationships have suffered as a result. Pursuing athletic challenges has always been one coping mechanism I employed to keep the mental and emotional struggles in check. I have always drawn inspiration from others sharing their own stories of struggle and perseverance, and that is the part I would like to lean into with this endeavor." The 100-mile challenge represents more than endurance—it's about: Breaking personal barriers that seemed impossible Sharing stories of struggle and perseverance Supporting others through Safe Coalition Stepping into vulnerability by making this journey public Why SAFE? James has chosen to support SAFE because he believes in the power of shared stories and community support. Having drawn inspiration from others who've shared their struggles, he wants to pay that forward while pushing himself beyond his comfort zone—not just physically, but emotionally and socially. Show your support for James: Donate to SAFE For James, raising funds isn't just about giving back—it's deeply personal. "I am raising money for SAFE because they are helping young folks find their way in this world with education and community support," he shares. "If not for athletics, I may have leaned harder on various substances to numb my feelings of hopelessness and existential dread." James knows he's one of the lucky ones who found a healthy outlet, but he also knows that not everyone has that same lifeline. "Not everyone has athletics to fall back on to manage their mental health challenges, and SAFE is a place where these folks can go for guidance and support." About SAFE SAFE offers judgement-free support for individuals impacted by substance use, mental health challenges, and related concerns. We serve over 55 communities in Massachusetts with programs for teens, support groups, harm reduction education, resources for families in need like a community diaper bank, housing support, and more. Thanks to generous donors like you, our services are FREE for our clients--no insurance needed.

< Back Randy Frederick Member Randy moved to Medway 31 years ago from Wisconsin and has seen the value of recovery and worked in the recovery field for 34 years. He has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Randy has spent his professional career in sales leadership roles in the Consumer Package Good and AgTech segments, and he helped build four emerging companies in the AgTech sector (Freight Farms, Crop One Holdings, Sensei Ag and urban-gro). His company, RW Frederick Consulting LLC, assists companies with Sales Team Assessment and Sales Operational Improvement and is currently under contract with a large firm in Rhode Island. Randy and his wife are the parents of three adult children and grandparents of three boys.

< Back Carrie Asprinio Chief Operating Officer casprinio@safecoalitionma.org Carrie Asprinio is the COO of SAFE. She was drawn to its mission as a recovery and sexual abuse survivor advocate, local resident, and business owner. Carrie is also the CEO and founder of Ascension Digital Partners, and a co-founder of Boston-based fintech Numerated. While at Numerated, Carrie led the bank products team, as well as built out and led the implementation and customer success functions. She is a 15 year veteran of Wells Fargo, where she had increasing levels of responsibility in commercial banking and asset management. She holds a degree in Marketing from Santa Clara University, and an MBA from Golden Gate University. She lives in Norfolk with her husband, two sons, and daughter.

< Back Wendy Cohen, MD President I am a family physician and have been providing primary care in Southeastern New England for the past 14 years. I currently practice at, and co-own, Infinity Family Care in Mansfield, MA and live in Foxboro with my husband and two children. Over the years, I have witnessed the effects of opioid addiction on our communities and the practice of medicine, as well as the terrible toll this disease takes on individuals and their families. I am thrilled to have connected with the SAFE Coalition to be able to help educate more of our community and provide better support and resources for my patients and their families. I have a particular interest in increasing awareness about Narcan and improving its availability to any potential bystander to an overdose.

< Back Brittany Capozzi Yoga Instructor As a Certified Yoga Therapist, Brittany utilizes breath, movement, and guided rest to support those who are dealing with the effects of trauma. She has been teaching people tools to reintroduce their mind to their bodies through yoga for over ten years. She uses trauma-responsive language to help practitioners and clients rebuild resiliency in the nervous system. She believes everyone deserves to be able to express who they are without being stuck in trauma; there are choices for how we can move forward. When appropriate, she uses her Trust Fall Writing method and belly dance teaching tools—such as the hip scarf and/or veil—to teach individuals about sensory awareness. Her educational toolbox only keeps evolving: She is a certified Rest and Revitalization Sleep Meditation teacher, taught by iRest’s co-founder Anne Douglas; a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, taught by Master Trainers Bill and Linda Hamaker; and a Warriors at Ease Level 1 Certified Teacher. When she’s not teaching or writing, she’s breaking geodes open with her husband and enjoying their orange and black Halloween cats.

< Back Press Releases: PATRIOTS #27 MARCELLAS DIAL CHOOSES SAFE COALITION FOR NFL’S ‘MY CAUSE MY CLEATS’ INITIATIVE FRANKLIN, MA – SAFE Coalition was recently chosen to participate in the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” program, with their logo featured on... SAFE Coalition Jan 27, 2025 SAFE COALITION DELIVERS HOUSING SUPPORT TO DOZENS OF FRANKLIN RESIDENTS OVER HOLIDAYS FRANKLIN, MA – Local nonprofit SAFE Coalition has helped more than 30 Franklin residents, many of whom parents and children, find safe... SAFE Coalition Jan 27, 2025 Senator Ed Markey visits SAFE Coalition, discusses substance use crisis and response FRANKLIN, MA – On Oct. 27, Senator Ed Markey stopped by SAFE Coalition to discuss the state of substance use and mental health crises in... SAFE Coalition Nov 19, 2024

< Back Robert Vacca Community Counselor rvacca@safecoalitionma.org Robert Vacca was born in Rhode Island and grew up in East Greenwich. After graduating from Providence College, he worked for a few years in the business world before realizing his calling was in education. He went on to earn a Master's in Teaching in History from Boston University. Rob spent thirty years teaching history at Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin. In addition to teaching history, he developed and taught a curriculum on the Holocaust, work that earned him a fellowship from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Rob is a firm believer in public education and in never giving up on children. Recently retired from teaching, he looks forward to his next chapter with the SAFE Coalition. When he isn't working, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife and son, watching baseball, reading, listening to music, playing guitar, and working out at the YMCA.