PLYMOUTH – Members of Plymouth Country Outreach (PCO) presented at the ‘United We Stand’ 2020 Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP) National Forum this week. Held in Arlington, Virginia, the national conference brings together community members and state experts across the United States who are working to address the opioid epidemic in their local areas.
The presentation was called ‘Plymouth County Outreach Collaboratively Addressing the Opioid Epidemic’ and featured information about the measures PCO and its partners are taking to address the opioid epidemic in Plymouth County. The presentation included a program overview, the evolution of PCO over the last several years, the importance of collaboration and harm reduction, as well as a discussion about newly implemented initiatives. The presentation ended with an in-depth review of PCO data presented by Executive Director of Kelley Research Associates, Pamela Kelley.
In October 2018 Plymouth County Outreach received a two-year $496,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance COAP grant.
“We were thrilled to be able to present at the COAP National Forum and to share the great work Plymouth County Outreach and its partners have been able to accomplish as a direct result of the generous COAP grant,” said PCO Project Coordinator Vicky Butler. “Our main objectives were to show attendees how different community members can come together to help support those struggling with substance use disorder and help support them through recovery.”
The presentation was given by Project Coordinator Vickey Butler, Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri, Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney and Executive Director of Kelley Research Associates Pamela Kelley.
Operations Supervisor Hannah Panteleos, HUB Manager John Rogers and Lead Recovery Coach Haley Kennedy attended the conference as well to represent PCO.
About Plymouth County Outreach:
Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) is a collaboration of all 28 municipal police departments in the county, as well as Bridgewater State University Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department, along with dozens of partners from healthcare including South Shore Health, substance use disorder treatment organizations, the recovery community, faith-based groups, local substance use coalitions, concerned citizens and all hospitals that serve Plymouth County.
PCO’s Project Coordinator, Vicky Butler continues to keep the public updated through the PCO website: plymouthcountyoutreach.org | Facebook: @plymouthcountyoutreach | Twitter: @countyoutreach | Instagram: @plymouthcountyoutreach and can be reached at vbutler@plymouthcountyoutreach.org.
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