Multiple organizations collaborate in Governor's Forum follow-up

A collection of minds from various segments in the area joined together as a planning group to share ideas and format strategies as a follow-up to Governor Shumlin’s June 16th forum on Opiate Addiction.
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Multiple organizations collaborate in Governor's Forum follow-up Jul 29, 2014 SPRINGFIELD — A collection of minds from various segments in the Springfield, Bellows Falls and Windsor areas joined together as a planning group to share ideas and format strategies as a follow-up to Governor Shumlin’s June 16th forum on Opiate Addiction. The purpose of the Governor’s Forum was to bring together leaders from different sectors of the community and share community-based solutions to tackle opiate addiction. Attendees at the June 16 forum included Vermonters from around the state working in prevention, treatment and recovery as well as business leaders, town officials, law enforcement health care providers, educators, parents, students, artists and those struggling with addiction and recovery. A follow-up meeting was held Monday, July 21, at the Springfield Justice Center for the 12 people who attended from the local area to discuss the forum and engage ideas for action needed to combat substance abuse locally. Representatives from the fields of medical, law enforcement social work, education, Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (SVAHEC), Restorative Justice Center, Vermont Department of Health, Turning Point Recovery Center, area Prevention Coalitions, as well as Kristi Morris and Stephanie Thompson from the Springfield Selectboard were in attendance at the follow-up meeting, sharing their enthusiasm for a commitment of change. Claudia Marieb, substance abuse prevention consultant said that the focus of the meeting was for “A group of people who want to do something for the community to get things going on the ground.” When asked about the gathering of meeting members, Marieb that the groups is “full of ideas and commitment to make change.” Similar groups who attended from other areas of the state are holding various follow-up meetings to formulate ideas for their areas. An overall, predominate theme expressed throughout the meeting in Springfield was the call for action and the strong interest to increase communication and collaboration across sectors to bring about change. Ideas discussed were placed into categories of community safety, intervention and treatment, prevention/education and activities for community groups to “run with.” Michael Johnson, director of Turning Point Recovery Center in Springfield was present at the follow-up meeting and said, “When someone with opiate addiction is in need of help, they can’t say what they need other than the drug. They know they need help, but it takes all agencies and organizations to keep them from giving up, and help them explore and determine needs.” A second follow-up meeting will be held within the next few weeks. Future meetings will also include an expansion of partners such as law enforcement.