Our Mission: To ensure that our rural region works collectively to help reduce opioid and heroin addiction, prevent overdose deaths, and improve the quality of life in our community.
Formed in September 2013, the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region works with over 300 public and private partners to ensure that our rural region works collectively to help reduce opioid and heroin addiction, prevent overdose deaths, and improve the quality of life in our community.
Organization
Governed by a 20-member Executive Council, the Opioid Task Force implements and promotes an array of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery strategies through its five working committees and special projects, which focuses on:
- Education and Prevention
- Healthcare Solutions
- Housing and Workforce Development
- Law Enforcement and Justice
- Treatment and Recovery
Co-Chairs
Christopher J. Donelan
Sheriff, Franklin County and Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
John F. Merrigan
Franklin County Register of Probate and Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
David E. Sullivan
Northwestern District Attorney and Opioid Task Force Co-Chair
Executive Council Members
Kat Allen, Coordinator, Communities That Care Coalition, Partnership for Youth, Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Heather Bialecki-Canning, Executive Director, North Quabbin Community Coalition
John Bidwell, Executive Director, United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region
Ronald Bryant, President, Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Abbi Cushing, Program Director, The RECOVER Project
Rose Evans, Vice-President of Operations, Behavioral Health Network
Robert Haigh, Jr., Police Chief, City of Greenfield
Shawn Hayden, Chief Operating Officer, GAAMHA, Inc.
Marisa Hebble, Coordinator, Massachusetts Community Justice Project, Executive Office of the Trial Court
Dr. Richard Hopper, Interim President, Greenfield Community College
Jerry Lund, Advocate, HEALing Communities Study Community Advisory Board Member, and Community Health Center of Franklin County Board Member
Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator, Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region (non-voting member as staff)
Martha Murphy-Kane, Director of Operations, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office
Dr. Ruth Potee, Medical Director, Opioid Task Force, Behavioral Health Network, and Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Diana Szynal, Executive Director, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
Phoebe Walker, Director of Community Services, Franklin Regional Council of Governments
Liz Whynott, Director of HIV Services, Tapestry
Our Team
Project & Office Assistant