2017-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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In December 2017,the Substance Use Task Force As the Town Representative to the Human Rights together with the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce Commission,the Department continues to advocate for presented,"Let's Connect,Opioids and Our Workplace individuals in the cases of discrimination or unfair Business Forum" I want to thank Mary Lou Palumbo practice. The Department will typically mediate and the Mashpee Chamber for wanting to make this the situations before they reach the level of a formal focus of their yearly business forum. The speakers complaint. The Department stands by the importance included Vaira Harik with the County statistics from of the Human Rights Commission and the important the death record study of the straight to work work of the Town Representatives. population; Police Chief Scott Carline; Michael O'Keefe and Jim Cummings to speak about the Reality. This year, the Human Services Department Cora Roelofs and Jamie Tessler spoke about Opioid worked in collaboration with the Boys&Girls Club to Addiction and Work related Injuries; Catherine E. give out toys to needy families. The Fire/Police Reuben and Arielle B.Kristan,Attorneys with the law Department Toy Drive yielded approximately 1,800 firm of Hirsch Roberts Weinstein, LLP spoke about toys for Mashpee residents. practical information for businesses and handed out a toolkit. The day ended with Carmen Dwyer, a parent The Thanks for Giving Awards for 2017 honored of a child with substance use disorder and an employer Ron Bonvie with the individual award and Parents in Town. The Task Force hopes to follow up this forum Supporting Parents for the group award. Parents with smaller forums to reach as many businesses in Supporting Parents are part of the Drop-In Night and Town as possible. provide an important resource as a peer support group for parents and family members seeking help and The Task Force is also working with the Board of support for substance use disorder. Corinne Wickel,a Health to look at ways of making the lifesaving drug member of Parents Supporting Parents, has been Naloxone (Narcan) more available to residents. extremely involved from the inception of Drop-In Currently,Donna Mello with AIDS Support Group of Night. Cape Cod does Narcan training and dispensing at the Drop-In Nights. Her table is never empty. The Human Services Department wishes to acknowledge the continued support shown by the Town Homelessness continues to be a serious issue on Manager, Assistant Town Manager, the Board of Cape Cod,I value the collaboration with the Mashpee Selectman,the Human Services Committee,and all the Housing Authority in assisting individuals in a housing Town Departments who provide services and support crisis with the housing assistance program, and to this Department. I especially want to recognize the searching for resources for those who are homeless. incredible community response and collaboration of the Mashpee Substance Use Task Force and everyone The Department, in advocating for the disabled, associated with it. looks at individuals under the age of 60 who cannot get to the food panty and have few supports. This past I want to recognize all of the brave individuals year,CORD (Cape Organization for the Rights of the who have combatted the long standing stigma of Disabled) began a Mobile Food Pantry Delivery addiction to be a partner in the Drop-In Nights,as well Service to the mid and lower Cape with a bus donated as everyone who has attended Drop-Night to take that by the CCRTA. The Human Services Committee is first step and ask for help, knowing they can't do it exploring the possibility of bringing this type of service alone. Addiction is the most stigmatized disease. It is to Mashpee. all about connection, which is the essence of Human Services — making a connection with someone to let As the Town Representative to the Barnstable them know they are not alone. I am so honored to work County Regional Substance Abuse Coalition, the with such a dedicated group of individuals. RSAC, the Town supports all Regionals Efforts to combat the opioid crisis. The My Choice Matters I would like to recognize members of the Human Campaign and the second Parent Forum occurred this Services Committee and thank all of the dedicated year. members for their guidance and support. I value the collaboration with the Mashpee Schools, Mashpee Senior Center, Mashpee Housing Authority and 120