Opioid Task Force

Building a Resilient Community Workgroup Meeting
2025-04-16 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Please join us for our Building a Resilient Community Workgroup, a project of OTF’s Education & Prevention Committee. For more information on how to participate, please contact Karen Carmona, Program Associate at karen@opioidtaskforce.org.

Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Training
2025-04-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-15 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-07-17 13:00 - 14:00
Please join Tapestry and the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region for this online overdose prevention training. You can register for this free event here.
Participants will learn the answers to these questions:
-What is an opioid overdose?
-How do you recognize and respond to an opioid overdose?
-How do you administer Narcan to reverse an opioid overdose?
The event is free and open to the public.
This is part of our 2025 virtual Overdose Prevention and Narcan training series, organized by Tapestry and the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.

Together We Act: United We Change - Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region
2025-04-30 14:00 - 15:00
To commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2025, you are invited to a workshop called “Together We Act: United We Change – Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region” on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 2 PM to 3 PM. You can register for this free event here.
This effort will focus on sexual exploitation and trafficking (SET) in our rural communities. It will provide an opportunity to learn and collaborate, understanding that together we can build stronger communities where all individuals feel safe, valued, and respected. We’ll hear from these local experts with experience and insights in this area:

Kelly Broadway, CSEC Coordinator and Community Educator, Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region
Jen Brzezinski, Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Franklin County Reentry Center, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Lisa McGahan, Individual & Family Advocate and Training Coordinator; and Eliza Galaher, Justice Collaboration Specialist & Advocate, The Salasin Project

Karen Carmona, Program Associate with the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region, will moderate this session.
The workshop will cover key topics, including the definition of SET, risk and vulnerability factors specific to rural areas, indicators of SET, and available local resources for both children and adults. Additionally, we will share updates on the SET Workgroup, which is jointly facilitated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Opioid Task Force, as well as our ongoing efforts in this critical area since 2019. There will be time for questions and discussion.
This is part of the 2024-2025 CONNECT Education Series. For more information, contact Nicole St. Hilaire, CONNECT’s Outreach Manager, at nicole@opioidtaskforce.org.

Moved to May 9th: Treatment and Recovery Committee Meeting
2025-05-02 10:00
Please note that this meeting has been moved to May 9th and combined with OTF’s Healthcare Solutions Committee meeting. The May 2nd Treatment and Recovery Committee meeting has been canceled. For more information on how to participate, please contact Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator/OTF, at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org.

Harm Reduction Workgroup Meeting
2025-05-07 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-04 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-09 11:00 - 12:00
Please join us for our Harm Reduction Workgroup meeting, a project of OTF’s Treatment & Recovery Committee. For more information on how to participate, please contact Nicole St. Hilaire, Outreach Manager/CONNECT, at nicole@opioidtaskforce.org.

Joint Healthcare Solutions and Treatment and Recovery Committees Meeting
2025-05-09 10:00 - 11:30
Please join us for the joint Healthcare Solutions and Treatment and Recovery Committees meeting, to be held on May 9th at 10 AM. For more information on how to participate, please contact Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator/OTF at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org.

Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force Meeting
2025-05-12 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-07-14 09:30 - 10:30
Please join our monthly meeting to discuss the emergency needs of unhoused individuals in the Franklin County and North Quabbin Region. To learn more about how to participate, please contact Kristen Cuddy-Pease, Program Associate and Project Coordinator/The HUB Project, at kristen@opioidtaskforce.org.

Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Workgroup Meeting
2025-05-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-07-14 13:00 - 14:00
Please join us for the Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Workgroup meeting, co-facilitated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Opioid Task Force. For more information on how to join, please email Karen Carmona, Program Associate/OTF at karen@opioidtaskforce.org.

Education and Prevention Committee Meeting
2025-05-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-10 09:30 - 10:30
Please join us for our Education & Prevention Committee meeting. For more information on how to participate, please contact Karen Carmona, Program Associate, at karen@opioidtaskforce.org.

Public Safety & Justice Committee Meeting
2025-06-02 13:00 - 14:00
Please join us for our Public Safety & Justice Committee meeting. For more information on how to participate, please contact Nicole St. Hilaire, Outreach Manager/CONNECT, at nicole@opioidtaskforce.org.

Treatment and Recovery Committee Meeting
2025-06-06 10:00 - 11:30
Please join us for the monthly meeting of the Treatment & Recovery Committee. For more information on how to participate, please contact Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator/OTF, at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org.

CAM Workgroup Meeting
2025-06-10 11:00 - 12:00
Please join us for our Complementary & Alternative Medicines (CAM) Workgroup meeting, a project of OTF’s Healthcare Solutions Committee. For more information on how to participate, please contact Karen Carmona, Program Associate, at karen@opioidtaskforce.org.

Methadone Workgroup Meeting
2025-06-12 15:00 - 16:00
Please join us for our Methadone Workgroup meeting, a project of OTF’s Healthcare Solutions Committee. For more information on how to participate, please contact Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator/OTF at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org.

CANCELED: Housing and Workforce Development Committee Meeting
2025-06-13 10:00 - 11:30
This meeting has been canceled. Please contact Kristen Pease, Program Associate and Project Manager/HUB Project at kristen@opioidtaskforce.org with any questions.

Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force Meeting
2025-06-16 09:30 - 10:30
Please join our monthly meeting to discuss the emergency needs of unhoused individuals in the Franklin County and North Quabbin Region. To learn more about how to participate, please contact Kristen Cuddy-Pease, Program Associate and Project Coordinator/The HUB Project, at kristen@opioidtaskforce.org.
Please note that this meeting date was moved to accommodate the annual Three County CoC Community Forum. We hope to see you there!

Canceled: Building a Resilient Community Workgroup Meeting
2025-06-18 11:00 - 12:00
The June 18, 2025 Building a Resilient Community Workgroup Meeting has been canceled. For more information on how to participate, please contact Karen Carmona, Program Associate at karen@opioidtaskforce.org.

Understanding Section 35: Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use Disorders
2025-06-25 15:00 - 16:00
Please join us on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 3 PM to 4 PM for “Understanding Section 35: Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use Disorders”, featuring Aidan Novo, Program Director, with Jessica Hughes, Recovery Specialist Supervisor, of Behavioral Health Network (BHN). Section 35 permits courts in Massachusetts to involuntarily commit individuals with an alcohol or substance use disorder to an inpatient treatment facility when their substance use presents a serious risk of harm to themselves or others.
In this session, you will learn:
*How the Section 35 process works
*Who does and does not qualify
*What resources and alternatives are available for families
*What happens when a person is committed, and after they complete the program
*Whether this type of intervention may be appropriate for someone you care about
This event will provide clear, practical information and supportive guidance for families navigating the challenges of substance use and treatment options.
Questions? Please get in touch with Nicole St. Hilaire, Outreach Manager, for CONNECT at nicole@opioidtaskforce.org.
This is part of the CONNECT 2024 – 2025 Education & Training Series. (CONNECT is a post-opioid overdose and community outreach effort sponsored by the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region in collaboration with its partners.)

Franklin County and North Quabbin Mobile Outreach Block Party
2025-06-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Greenfield Community College, One College Drive, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States

Canceled: Education and Prevention Committee Meeting
2025-07-08 09:30 - 10:30
This meeting has been canceled for July. For more information on how to participate, please contact Karen Carmona, Program Associate, at karen@opioidtaskforce.org.

MOVED to July 18: Treatment and Recovery Committee Meeting
2025-07-11 10:00
This meeting is being combined with the Healthcare Solutions Committee meeting, to be held on July 18th. For more information on how to participate, please contact Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator/OTF, at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org.

Joint Treatment & Recovery and Healthcare Solutions Committees Meeting
2025-07-18 10:00 - 11:30
Please join us for a joint Treatment & Recovery and Healthcare Solutions Committees meeting on July 18, 2025, from 10 AM t0 11:30 AM. For more information on how to participate, please contact Debra McLaughlin, Coordinator/OTF at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org.
