Behavioral Health Resources

Community Recovery Services Provided by GAAMHA, Incorporated

GAAMHA is in-network with most MassHealth plans where Recovery Coaching and Recovery Support Navigation are covered benefits for subscribers. Affordable private pay options are also available.

Recovery Coaching

Our coaches are trained peer specialists who embrace a philosophy that welcomes all methods of recovery and work to develop wellness plans that reflect the needs of the individual recovery.

Recovery Coaching is available for people as young as 15 and can be an effective early intervention and prevention tool for young people starting to experience trouble as a result of their substance use.

Learn more about Recovery Coaching.

Recovery Support Navigation

Recovery Support Navigators (RSNs) provide care management and systems navigation to support individuals with a diagnosis of a substance use disorder and/ or co-occurring mental health disorders.

RSNs possess a thorough understanding of community culture to address the barriers to successful recovery, use human experience language, and provide links to community resources and treatment options.

Access to RSN services is based on necessity and a referral by a medical or behavioral health provider, community partner, or another care manager who can identify the need for additional support.

Learn more about RSNs (PDF).

Family Recovery Coaching

Family Recovery Coaches assist in building capacity within family systems that are specifically designed to improve individual health and create an environment that is most conducive to the support and recovery of their loved one with a substance use disorder.

Magnolia New Beginnings and GAAMHA offer FAST® Family Meetings both online and in-person for families in the North Central area. By using a combination of these services, we feel that families will benefit from both professional facilitation and coaching, as well as the peer element that is so crucial for long-term support. For more information regarding meeting times and in-person availability, visit Magnolia Recovery Resources or GAAHMA's Family Recovery Coaching page.

Learn more about Family Recovery Coaching (PDF).

Alyssa's Place

Alyssa's Place via their Facebook page or website to make a referral or find out more.

Supportive Housing

  • For general information or to request a tour please contact:
    Michelle Dunn, Director of Community Outreach
    Phone: 978-632-0934, ext. 356
    Email Michelle Dunn
  • For all intakes please contact:
    Elizabeth Trumpolt, Intake Coordinator
    Phone: 978-632-0934, ext. 369
    Email Elizabeth Trumpolt

Health Resources in Action Offering Free Trainings

Opioid Overdose Prevention & Rescue Workshops

To learn more or schedule an on-site training for your staff, email Gracie Rolfe or call 617-391-9192

Opioid Overdose Rescue Training (2 hours)
Participants will learn about opioids and risk factors for overdose. They will then explore strategies for rescues and practice strategies through scenarios.

Opioid Overdose Prevention: Harm Reduction & Safety Planning with Clients (2 hours)
Participants will explore strategies to address the risks of overdose with a harm reduction approach. The scenario-based training provides opportunities for discussion and practice about issues of safety, grief, and moving toward behavior change.

Supplemental Modules

To learn more or schedule a training for your staff, email Michael Leonard or call 617-279-2249.

Addressing Stigma in Our Work: Working with People Who Use and Inject Drugs (Harm Reduction 2.0) (2 hours)
Implementing a harm reduction approach into our work can be challenging without the right tools. This training will take a deeper dive into the theory and practices of harm reduction, how we can restructure our programs to implement a harm reductionist approach, and how we can support the clients we work with in authentic, affirming ways.

Exploring Pathways of Recovery (3 hours)
When we recognize that recovery looks different for every person, we can better advise our clients. This training will introduce the many different forms recovery can take from Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) to 12-step programs, to cognitive based therapies. In addition, participants will explore addressing stigma around recovery and how to best support our clients.

Working with People Who Use Stimulants: Best Practices (2 hours)
As drug use changes and evolves in Massachusetts and beyond, we need to be prepared to support clients no matter what substances they use. Learn the basics of what stimulants are, what they do in the body, and how we can support people who use stimulants.

Supervising Staff in Times of Crisis (4 hours)
This training is intended to provide supervisors with the best practices and tools for nurturing and supporting staff who work in the substance use and harm reduction fields.

Secondary Trauma (2 hours)
The training module is designed to educate and build skills around understanding secondary trauma and cumulative stress with a specific focus on improving the wellness and safety of service providers working in direct care with people who use drugs. Training topics include supporting resilience and preventing secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout.

"If They Had Known" Screening Opportunity

DA Early’s office has acquired a license to show “If They Had Known,” a documentary film featuring young adults talking about the risks of today’s party culture. This film is based on a tragic true story of a Massachusetts college student who lost his life after mixing Xanax with alcohol.

With the goal of helping our high school and college students make good decisions and prevent tragedies, the DA’s office is offering your community the opportunity to show this important film. They can work with you to tailor an event that works for your school or intended audience.

Additional information regarding the film, including a link to the Clay Soper Memorial Fund website where you can preview the documentary can be found on the Clay Soper Memorial Fund website.

For more information, please email Jill Wooldridge or call 774-317-2127.

Testimonials

Here are several testimonials from those who have already seen the film:

  • Every student-athlete and parents should see “If They Had Known”. It is a very powerful presentation that is very impactful. We are glad our student-athletes and parents were able to witness. - Shrewsbury High School Faculty
  • An eye-opening documentary about today’s party culture and a film every parent needs to watch. - Deborah S., Parent
  • This film made me think about the importance of making good decisions and the impact one bad decision can have on others. - Devin G., Student
  • A thought-provoking film that all high school, college students, and parents should see. - Marlene R., Parent

Recovery Centers of America

Online Quit Coaches Now Available

The Massachusetts Smokers’ Helpline now has three ways to support people who want to quit tobacco. New online options expand upon and complement the traditional telephone service and make a free and confidential quit coach more accessible.

  1. Users of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and chew can reach a quit coach who can answer questions about the most effective ways to quit, how to get through cravings, and whether to use medicines. Coaching is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (with some holiday exceptions) by calling 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).
  2. In addition, tobacco users can now enroll online either for online-only services or to receive combined phone and internet services, through Keep Trying Massachusetts.
  3. Those who prefer online-only support can receive all of the same services - free coaching, help with planning to quit, and help to track progress using a variety of online tools - through Keep Trying Massachusetts. Online support includes the ability to develop a quit plan, plan for triggers or withdrawal, and chat with others who are trying to quit. Motivational text messages, emails, and instant messages are also available. 

Participants choose the parts of the Helpline program that work best for them and can use the services as frequently and as long as needed at no cost. Free nicotine patches and nicotine gum are available to all eligible users. And the Helpline services are available to support friends and family members, too. People who use coaching and medicines together are three times as likely to quit for good as those who use neither.

For more information about the Helpline and to enroll online, visit Keep Trying Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Smokers’ Helpline is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Online Resources to Support Recovery

  • Screening Tool for Depression and Mental Illness
  • Teenage Anxiety & Depression Solutions (TADS) - TADS is a 501c3 non-profit organization based out of Groton, Massachusetts that actively advocates for mental wellness for young people. The mission of TADS is to raise awareness about mental health issues in our society, especially depression, and anxiety, and in so doing, help to prevent suicide. TADS focuses on mental health issues, especially with regards to helping parents who have children with mental health needs.
  • Regional School Health Coalition Crisis Intervention & Response Guide and Training Tool - Initiated in 2010, the RSHC embarked on the development of a comprehensive guide and training tool aimed at highlighting the procedural and emotional aspects of emergency response /trauma response for youth. The work is being done in collaboration within the Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Central MA Child Trauma Center Project. The Crisis Intervention and Response Resource Guide and Training Tool inventories and identifies programs, resources and protocols available to all within the region as well as local, state, and national resources. A joint project of LUK, Incorporated, the Central MA Child Trauma Center Project, the Regional School Health Coalition, and Community Health Connections, Incorporated.

9 Steps to Respite Care for Family Caregivers

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center is pleased to share with you the first in a new series of fact sheets for family caregivers, “9 Steps to Respite.” View the 9 Steps to Respite Care for Family Caregivers series.

Miscellaneous Resources & Links