By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
Photo by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
(Greenfield, MA) The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has received millions in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the HEALing Franklin County Project. A total of $2.65 million will be spread over the course of five years. The Center for Human Development and the Community Health Center of Franklin County will be providing staff for the project to support people transitioning back into the community navigate the healthcare system.
Dr. Allison Van der Velden, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Health Center of Franklin County said, “The Community Health Center is committed to provide high quality healthcare to any member of our community, regardless of income, insurance status, or circumstances. “High quality” means integrated, accessible, and individualized care with a range of office-based addiction treatments as part of primary care. CHCFC is confronting the opioid epidemic with evidence-based practices and by supporting and empowering patients through their personal health journeys.”
Franklin County Sheriff Christopher Donelan said the project focuses on using public health strategies to overcome chronic incarceration to make the community safer overall.
“Over half of the people in our jail have an addiction to opioids. This is a community problem and it needs a community solution. These funds will bring together a number of partners to give critically needed help to those suffering from profound addiction. We are following the science closely and need to offer treatments that are shown to work”, Sheriff Donelan said.