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GOSNOLD ON CAPE COD $4,235.00 <br />Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Treatment <br />INDEPENDENCE HOUSE $2,783.00 <br />Services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual <br />assault <br />SALVATION ARMY $605.00 <br />Emergency Assistance Programs <br />SIGHT LOSS SERVICES $363.00 <br />Support to those experiencing sight loss <br />SOUTH COASTAL LEGAL SERVICES $2,057.00 <br />Legal Services to low income and elderly residents <br />ST. VINCENT DE PAUL $6,594.50 <br />Food Pantry and financial assistance to needy families <br />VNA/CAPE COD $9,922.00 <br />Provides home healthcare to residents of Cape Cod <br />TOTAL $42,350.00 <br />The Department established four initiatives this <br />year: Substance Abuse and Mental Health; <br />Homelessness; Advocacy for the Disabled: Food <br />Delivery to the Disabled and Supporting Regional <br />Initiatives. In response to the Opioid Crisis and with <br />the support of the Town Manager and the Human <br />Services Committee, the Mashpee Substance Use Task <br />Force was formed in September, 2016 As the Chair I <br />pulled together a multi -sector task force with <br />representatives from Police; Fire; Board of Health; <br />Mashpee Public Schools; HAC; Mashpee Public <br />Library; Recreation; South Bay Mental Health; <br />Community Health Center; Boys & Girls Club; <br />Gosnold; Mashpee Senior Center; Parents Supporting <br />Parents and the MOAPC coordinator from Barnstable <br />County Substance Abuse Task Force. <br />The mission of the Mashpee Substance Use Task <br />Force: to promote community awareness of substance <br />use through education, prevention and treatment to <br />build a healthy, safe and drug -free community. The <br />Goals of the Task Force: Engage the community with <br />our wellness campaign, "It's Never Too Early ... Or Too <br />Late" in order to prevent substance use and reduce <br />stigma associated with addiction. Educate the <br />community about the individual and family treatment <br />options available and connect those in need with <br />treatment providers and Promote the safe disposal of <br />prescription medications in order to decrease access to <br />those struggling with addiction. <br />Some of the accomplishments have been: A <br />community wellness campaign with the message, it's <br />never too early and it's never too late with a presence <br />at Town events. The link, www.itsnevertooearly.com <br />will connect you to the Substance Use Task Force <br />webpage with current articles and resource information <br />for parents and caregivers. The Task Force completed <br />a Public Service Announcement with the message <br />"itsnevertooearly" and "itsnevertoolate" and <br />introducing our Speaker Series filmed by Mashpee TV <br />to air on Youtube and Channel 18. The Speaker Series <br />will feature a different topic monthly around the issue <br />of Substance Use. The first month we had Calmer <br />Choice present about their wonderful work focused on <br />mindfulness that has been part of the school day at the <br />Quahsnet School. <br />The theme of the second Speaker Series will be <br />"A Parents Voice" and will be a filming of the Parents <br />Supports Parents Support group held at the Mashpee <br />Chamber every Monday night. Other topics will <br />include: Community connections; the Youth Voice and <br />Treatment resources. Other Initiatives include regular <br />promotion of the proper disposal of prescription <br />medication and a "Drug Awareness Display" put on by <br />the Mashpee Police which will educate about drug <br />paraphernalia and drug safety. <br />As we look forward, some projects include: <br />Looking at evidence based substance use curriculum <br />for implementation into the school system; exploring <br />the idea of an outreach center and having a forum with <br />treatment resources. <br />In March 2016, the Board of Selectman signed <br />the "State without Stigma" proclamation which was <br />supported by the Governor in response to the Opioid <br />Crisis. Stigma can create physical and mental barriers <br />for people suffering with Substance Use Disorder to <br />seek treatment. <br />As a member of the Barnstable County Regional <br />Substance Abuse Taskforce, the Department supported <br />the first ever Parent Forum at the Cape Codder in <br />November 2016. The Forum," My Choice Matters; <br />Parenting to Prevent Substance Use," educated parents <br />with practical strategies to prevent substance use, the <br />attendance was close to 300. <br />116 <br />