Project aims to address the public response to addiction through grassroots driven campaigns
Facing Addiction announced today that Fitchburg, MA has been selected as one of 15 communities to participate in the organization’s pilot community project. The project, first announced by Facing Addiction (www.FacingAddiction.org) in October 2015, will work to reform the public response to the addiction crisis in 15 selected communities via a grassroots-driven campaign strategy. Specifically, Facing Addiction will work with Fitchburg, MA and 14 other communities to:
• Secure increases in localized funding to adequately address the crisis
• Train advocates on proper organizational and advocacy techniques to reform their community’s response
• Invest time and resources in communication opportunities with elected officials and other policy makers
• Provide media guidance to garner press coverage to further highlight the solutions to the problem
• Develop political strategies and aid community stakeholders in the development of an overarching “campaign strategy”
“As addiction to alcohol and other drugs now impacts 1 in 3 households in America, we must urgently work to turn the tide on this health crisis. We received over 50 applications from communities across the country for this program,” said Greg Williams, Facing Addiction’s Co-Founder and Executive Vice President. “We are excited about the prospect of working to train,
organize and mobilize citizens in Fitchburg, MA to ensure a shift toward a public, health-centered response to those impacted by addiction.”
The Joint Coalition on Health (JCOH) submitted an application on behalf of the City of Fitchburg after requesting and receiving the full support of Fitchburg leadership including Mayor DiNatale, Chief Martineau and Fitchburg Board of Health Director, Stephen Curry. All three expressed the need for a more collaborative community approach in addressing this deadly issue. Susan Buchholz, Co-Chair of the JCOH Sub-Committee on Opiates and Addiction, coordinated the effort to assist Fitchburg to apply as a Pilot Project with Facing Addiction. “The process of applying to partner with Facing Addiction was a labor of love. So many compassionate, dedicated individuals and organizations, throughout the region, provided their support by helping to gather the necessary information.” stated Ms. Buchholz. She added, “It is clear that here in Fitchburg, like many communities across the country, it is difficult if not impossible to find anyone who has not been impacted by the tragedy of addiction. We are excited about working together to build on existing efforts within the community and to foster further meaningful, sustainable and positive change on the issue of addiction.”
Facing Addiction is a national non-profit organization dedicated to unifying the voices of the more than 45 million Americans and their families directly impacted by addiction. Facing Addiction is bringing together the best resources in the field in order to reduce the human and social costs of addiction, every year, until this public health crisis is eliminated. The organization was launched in historic fashion on October 4th, 2015, in front of tens of thousands on the National Mall at the UNITE to Face Addiction rally and concert, and recently was co-sponsor of the launch of the U.S. Surgeon General’s seminal report on the addiction crisis in America, in Los Angeles on November 17, 2016.
In addition to Fitchburg, MA the following communities have been selected to participate in Facing Addiction’s Pilot Community Project:
Annapolis, MD – Baton Rouge, LA – Billings, MT – Boise, ID – Chicago, IL – Cumming, GA – Martinsburg & Berkeley Springs, WV – New Canaan, CT –
Rochester, NY – Safford, AZ – San Diego, CA – Springfield, MO – West Bend, WI – West Linn, OR
The Joint Coalition on Health (JCOH) is a grassroots public health and human service coalition formed in 1998, whose mission includes advocating for underserved and marginalized populations by addressing health disparities and the social determinants of health. The Coalition has a long history of collaborating with diverse partners to create evidence-based initiatives, guided by assessment data and focused on systems, environmental and policy change.
Prior JCOH initiatives include founding Fitchburg Community Health Connections, the region’s first federally qualified community health center. To date, JCOH has brought more than $7 million in state, federal and foundation funding to North Central Massachusetts. Meetings of the Joint Coalition on Health are open to the public and are held monthly. For more information about the Coalition, contact Susan Buchholz at jointcoalitiononhealth@gmail.com
Questions on the Pilot Project should be directed to Facing Addiction’s National Director of Outreach & Engagement, Michael King, who can be reached at mking@facingaddiction.org.

Joe Jumonville (Northern Ill) RBI double in the bottom of the eight is the difference for Wachusett, as the Dirt Dawgs claims a 5-4 win over the Bristol Blues in Futures League action, Tuesday night at Doyle Field.

The Basics
Score:  Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 5, Bristol Blues 4
Records:  Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (4-5) | Pittsfield Suns (3-8)

How it Happened

Incoming freshmen Christian Fedko (UConn) and Joe Simeone (UConn) had a major factor in the decision of the game. Fedko had a two RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh, while Simeone picked up the win after pitching 1.1 innings and striking out two.

Keith Grant (Johnson & Wales [RI]) got the start for the Blues, going 6.0 innings, yielding the Dirt Dawgs to two run on seven hits, while striking out six. Offensively, Max Goione (Siena) was 2-for-3, while driving in one run.

The Dirt Dawgs started the scoring in the bottom half of the first as John Stanton (SNHU doubles, driving in fellow Penman Kyle Pangallo (SNHU) from second. Goione tied the game in the top of the third as he launched a solo home run to lead off the inning.

Both clubs were able to plate one run in their half of the fifth inning, with the Dirt Dawgs run coming way of Nolan Kessinger (UMass Amherst) hitting his first long ball of the summer. In the seventh, Fedko took the lead for Wachusett with his two RBI triple, before the Blues tied the game in the top of the eighth, as Bristol scored on an error and a wild pitch.

Jumonville came through in the clutch, as the Husky hit a double to dive in Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce) from third.

Inside the Numbers

• This is fourth time this season that the Dirt Dawgs have score five more runs. The team is now 3-1 in those games.
• In four games at home this season, Wachusett is now 3-1 in those games. All the wins have been one run games.

Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs head up north to take on the defending Futures Collegiate Baseball League Champions the Nashua Silver Knights tomorrow for a 7:05pm first pitch. The Blues return to Muzzy Field for a quick home stand, as they host the Worcester Bravehearts at 7:00pm.

After allowing four runs in the first three innings, the Dirt Dawgs fall to the Pittsfield Suns 5-1 in Futures Collegiate Baseball League action on Saturday night at Wahconah Park.

The Basics
Score:  Pittsfield Suns 5, Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 1
Records:  Pittsfield Suns (8-0) | Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (2-5)

How it Happened

Kyle Pangallo (SNHU) and Don Walsh (Post) led the way with collecting three hits apiece for the Dirt Dawgs. Mike Demarest (Adelphi) and Luke Brennan (Worcester St.) pitched the final 3.1 innings of no-hit baseball for Wachusett, shutting down the Suns offense.

Pittsfield was paced by a 2-for-4 performance by Scott Holzwasser (Northeastern) who launched a solo shot in the fifth innings. Cal Slepkow (Clark) went 6.0 innings of shutout baseball for the Suns, to set the tone from the get go.

The Suns jumped out to an early lead in the second inning, when the home team plated two runs in the bottom of the inning. Pittsfield would extend their lead in the third as the tacked on two more runs, expanding the lead up to 4-0. Holzwasser’s solo shot in the fifth padded the Suns’ advantage to 5-0.

The Dawgs would not get a runner to reach third base until the top half of the eighth, as Jack Gethings (Fairfield) singled home Pangallo on a base knock to centerfield.  Wachusett would threaten in the ninth, as with one out in the inning the Dirt Dawgs got runners on first and second, but could not capitalize.

Inside the Numbers

• This is the fifth game this season that the Dirt Dawgs have score three runs or less, and are 1-4 in those games.
• After taking the first two game of the season series, the Suns push their lead in the all-time series to 26-16.

Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs returns back to Doyle Field on Monday night for round three against the Suns, with a 6:35pm start time. Tomorrow the Suns look to extend their winning streak to nine games as they travel to take on the Seacoast Mavericks at 4:00pm.

Heywood’s Quabbin Retreat Project in Petersham. The next phase of the project will be up and running in the fall.

The first phase of Heywood Healthcare’s new dual diagnosis unit in Petersham is now up and running, and outpatient services are now available for adults with both mental health and substance abuse disorders, the system announced Monday.

The outpatient program, called the Dana Day Treatment Center at the Quabbin Retreat Project, is run by master’s-level educated therapists and offers care coordination and family support in small group settings. Local transportation is available for patients who need it, and most insurance plans are accepted.

When it’s fully operational, the Quabbin Retreat will include an adult residential substance abuse center, a residential adolescent substance abuse treatment program, and an inpatient detox center. Services will include group-based supportive therapies, life skills training, family education and support, and vocational assistance.

The adult residential substance abuse treatment center is scheduled to be completed in the fall.