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HomeMy Public PortalAboutWatertown Cares - Right Turn and Watertown CaresCity of Watertown, MA  ARPA Project Proposal Submitted by: Daniel Unsworth Submitted on: May 24, 2023 Request Number: ARPA-10 Project Name: Watertown Cares Proposal Type: Organization Right Turn in Conjunction with the Watertown Cares Network. Recommended Project Manager: Woody Giessmann and Cynthia Wachs in conjunction with the Watertown Cares Network. Project Summary: Right Turn in conjuntion with the Watertown Cares Network will execute a three-year, multi-facted public health informational campaign.  The program will fund a part-time position embedded with Right Turn.  The campaign will focus on three community-wide goals; 1. Prevention of substance use disorder with a focus on school-aged residents and other vulnerable individuals; 2. Reduce the stigma of substance use disorder and accompanying mental health disorders; 3. Communication to all effected community members clarifying what resources are available locally and how to access them. Amount of ARPA Funds Requested: $297,332.5 Minimum Funds Needed: $297,332.5 Matching funds available? No Other funds available? No Project Narrative: I have a detailed narrative to upload City of Watertown ARPA Proposal 1. Applicant name: Right Turn in Conjunction with the Watertown Cares Network. 2. Contact person: Primary: Right Turn Treatment Center, Woody Giessmann (Founder) and Cynthia Wachs (CEO) Secondary: Watertown Police Department/Watertown Cares Network, Captain Daniel Unsworth 3. Phone: Woody Giessmann: (781-646-3800) Cynthia Wachs: (781-646-3800) Daniel Unsworth: (617-972-6535) 4. Email: Woody Giessmann: woody@right-turn.org Cynthia Wachs: Cynthia.wachs@right-turn.org Daniel Unsworth: dunsworth@police.watertown-ma.gov 5. Project name: Watertown Cares 6. ARPA funds requested: $298,798.00 7. Matching funds: NA 8. Other sources of funds: NA 9. Minimum funds needed: $240,000 10. Project managers: Woody Giessmann and Cynthia Wachs in conjunction with the Watertown Cares Network. 11. Narrative description of the project: A Community Challenge: From the 2014 to the 2015 calendar year, the number of opioid related overdoses in the City of Watertown increased seven-fold. In early 2015 it was evident our community of approximately 35,000 people was not immune to the nation-wide opioid epidemic. Since then, significant efforts by public safety and other community organizations have been initiated to preserve life and reduce the impact of substance use disorder (SUD) in the City. The COVID19 pandemic further complicated efforts to lessen the dual challenge of substance use and mental health disorders in our city. A Response: This proposed project brings to bear the considerable community knowledge of the Watertown Cares Network and the well-documented expertise of the Right Turn Treatment Program. The two entities will collaborate to execute a three-year, multi-faceted public health informational campaign. The program will fund a part- time position embedded with Right Turn. The campaign will focus on three community-wide goals: 1. Prevention of substance use disorder with a focus on school-aged residents and other vulnerable individuals; 2. Reduce the stigma of substance use disorder and accompanying mental health disorders; 3. Communication to all effected community members clarifying what resources are available locally and how to access them. Why These Three Goals are Essential to a Healthy Community 1. Prevention The Watertown Cares Network and Right Turn, an outpatient treatment center, recognize a moral obligation to focus on the prevention of substance use disorder in our community. A desired outcome of the proposed program will be to reduce the number of Watertown individuals and family members affected by SUD and the accompanying mental health disorders, relationship difficulties, employment challenges and general suffering. The prevention campaign will direct its efforts toward Watertown’s young people. To this end, the Watertown Cares Network will leverage its strong relationship with key partners to include the Watertown Public Schools and the Wayside Youth and family Network. 2. Stigma It is well recognized that the stigma of substance use and mental health disorders are barriers to treatment and support. For many suffering with SUD, shame inhibits requesting help. Their loved ones also suffer silently. This campaign will endeavor to reach individuals and their family networks with realistic messages of hope, empathy and direction toward treatment. 3. Resources For the last eight years, the Watertown Cares Network has worked to establish a unified approach to substance use and mental health disorders in the city. Partnerships have been established amongst elected officials, municipal departments, treatment providers, the clergy and churches, the business community, non-government agencies and other community stakeholders. Key points of contact have been identified in the community to serve as ombudsmen. Relationships with well-respected treatment providers have been solidified. The campaign will emphasize existing and readily available resources within the community and surrounding area. Benefit to Residents: The three stated goals are designed with the intent of forwarding an overarching mission: to prevent community members from suffering from substance use disorder, to enhance the quality of life in the City of Watertown, and to preserve life. Financial It is difficult to measure the financial impact of SUD on a community. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the annual economic impact of alcohol misuse at $249 billion and other illicit drug use at $193 billion. We know SUD is associated with overdoses and a myriad of other health related challenges. For instance, each emergency visit associated with SUD is estimated to cost approximately $2,700. Exposure to the criminal justice system is another unwelcome occurrence that often accompanies substance use and mental health disorders. Prevention or diversion from an arrest is estimated to create a cost savings of approximately $2,990 per incident. During the 2022 calendar year, Advocates Inc., which embeds clinicians within the Watertown Police Department diverted 195 individuals from emergency room visits and arrests. The estimated cost savings was $530,850. Quality of Life With focus on the three stated goals the quality of life in the City of Watertown can be enhanced. Each individual who experiences substance use and associated mental health disorders will suffer to some degree. Family members will suffer. Neighbors, employers, community members and municipal departments will be impacted to one degree or another. The prevention of some cases and intervention with others can have far reaching effects well beyond the individual struggling with SUD. Culture A unified approach by a community on the matter of SUD will impact the number of lives lost, the amount of human suffering experienced and the general quality of life. A culture must permeate municipal agencies, the business community, the clergy, non-government organizations and our neighborhoods. Communities that view SUD as a public health challenge will lower barriers to treatment, take harm reduction measures and avoid the pitfall of critically judging those with the disease. The proposed project is designed to impact our community’s culture. If you or someone you care about is experiencing SUD, Watertown is a good place to be. Leveraging of Financial and Other Resources: This project leverages the resources of Right Turn and the many other entities that have joined efforts to establish the Watertown Cares Network. The Watertown Cares Network has operated on very modest financial support from municipal departments and non-profit entities to include the Watertown Community Foundation. The greatest asset of this collaborative effort however has been the establishment of collective knowledge through pooling of varying perspectives. This collective knowledge on matters pertaining to prevention, recovery and the science of substance use disorder has been invaluable to ensure the best use of limited resources and to inform our response as a community. Perspective from treatment providers and people in recovery has been particularly important to shape the response of many municipal agencies, to include the Police, Fire, Health and School Departments. The proposed project calls for an end to funding of the project manager at the completion of the 2026 calendar year. We expect the relationships that develop, the media platforms established and the advertising materials created will continue to positively serve the City. Support of this project will effectively send a clear message well beyond the 2026 calendar year to all community members: the City of Watertown understands the nature of substance use and mental health disorders and it will approach the challenge in an effective and empathetic manner. Relevance to the Impact of COVID19: COVID19 had a significant impact on people suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders. Knowing that mental health and substance use disorders are often intertwined, it was expected we would experience new substance use challenges in the wake of this pandemic. In our community, the most noticeable shift in substance use disorder was observed amongst those struggling with alcohol. This, combined with the fact that the 2021 calendar year yielded over 2,300 fatal opioid overdoses in Massachusetts, it is evident that mitigating actions are necessary in response to constantly evolving public health challenges. Opioid Related Overdoses in Watertown Year Overdoses Narcan Use - Police Fatal 2013 8 0 2 2014 7 2 1 2015 49 18 9 2016 48 10 6 2017 43 16 10 2018 50 21 2 2019 33 11 5 2020 26 12 5 2021 32 12 5 2022 21 13 2 Strategic Alignment with the Comprehensive Plan and Charter Preamble: The guiding principles in the Charter Preamble of the City’s Comprehensive Plan are listed below, along with this program’s answer to each demand: • Safety & Tranquility: the empathetic outreach to community members in crisis leads to a sound strategy for reducing risk to the individual in crisis and lessening their impact on the community’s tranquility. • Learning and Excellence: the proposed program has been designed by individuals with years of experience and knowledge of our community’s needs combined with individuals highly regarded for employing best practices in the treatment of substance use disorder. • Equity and Diversity: the proposed program seeks to support an extremely vulnerable segment of our community. Individuals suffering with SUD and associated mental health disorders have also historically been silenced by stigma. • Health and Wellbeing: during every calendar year since 2014, Watertown has lost community members to opioid overdoses. Expecting this trend to continue, the program will offer support to these individuals, providing them with harm- reduction strategies and encouraging their return to a safer and healthier lifestyle. • Creativity and Innovation: Right Turn possesses a unique knowledge of the treatment field and the community of recovery. Infusing art and music into recovery is a trademark of its program. Its expertise, combined with the Watertown Cares Network and its deep community ties, will produce a targeted and effective public health campaign. • Accountability and Transparency: Watertown’s city departments, its business community, clergy and residents regularly encounter individuals suffering with substance use and mental health disorders. This program is designed to send a clear message to the community impacted by SUD and mental health disorders that Watertown, indeed, cares. The Following Specific Strategies will be Phased In over Three Years: • In-person public awareness events during the month of September (National Recovery Month) 2024-2026 • Design and distribution of campaign materials to include social media, traditional media, and billboard advertising • Partner with the Watertown Public Library Bookmobile to disseminate campaign materials • In-person prevention messaging in collaboration with the Watertown Public Schools • Guest editorials in Watertown News and appearances on WCATV • Partner with the Watertown Business Coalition for in-person messaging to their members • Conduct Narcan and other harm reduction trainings • Rolling Ads in Watertown News for three years. • Create a variety of campaign slogans and messages that will be used on cam- paign outreach efforts – written, broadcast, and merchandise. • Create a robust presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and buy ads on social media platforms. • Partner with the City’s IT Department to publicize campaign messages on City social media platforms and partner with the City Manager to include campaign messages in his quarterly newsletter. • In person messaging and distribution of materials to local houses of worship, social service agencies, individual and family support groups, and social and civic clubs representing marginalized communities. • Partner with the Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Planning and Community Development as well as all other city departments to urge their employees to place yard signs and window signs in their yards. • Place campaign banners on all municipal buildings. • Increase the members of the Watertown Cares Network to include additional members who represent the business community, communities of color and marginalized communities. Metrics to Measure Outcomes: The proposed program includes several means by which to measure impacts on our community. Many of these measurement tools are already in use. Some means, like use of the Flash Vote survey system have not yet been applied however the City’s Information Technology Department is prepared to collaborate with us. The following measurements will be recorded: • Changes in numbers of referrals to Jail Diversion Clinicians and the Social Service Resource Specialist • Changes in numbers of referrals direct to treatment providers • Number of visits to Watertown Cares social media platforms • Attendance at in-person events • Number of in-person events conducted • Number of Narcan trainings conducted and kits distributed • Number of overdoses recorded • Measurement of attitudes and knowledge pre-and post program initiation via the City’s Flash Vote survey system. Budget - PERSONNEL Project Coordinator – ¾ time $50/hour for 20 hours a week for 46 weeks per year for 3 years $138,000 Responsible for overall implementation of the Campaign as it is phased in over the three calendar years. Design Consultant $125/hour for 125 hours over 3 years $15,625 Social Media Consultant and Buyer $100/hour for 125 hours over 3 year $12,500 Evaluator $150/hour for 60 hours over 3 years $9,000 College Intern $25/hour for 75 hours over 3 years $1,875 TOTAL PERSONNEL $177,000 Budget - MATERIALS Billboards (3 rentals/year for 30 days per rental - 3 years) $55,000 Bus and Taxi Signs (10 rentals/year for 30 days per rental - 3 years) $10,000 200 Yard Signs over three years $2,000 100 Window Signs over three years $1,000 15 Banner Signs over three years $2,000 2 Table banners over three years $200 500 Campaign Brochures over three years $2,000 Materials and Refreshments for the three Annual Programs and for 10-15 smaller community events over three years $1,850 TOTAL MATERIALS $74,050 Budget - PROGRAM Room Rental for three Annual Programs (Armenian Cultural $1,500. Center and Mosessian Center) (sp, etc) and 10-15 smaller events (church halls, community centers, etc, over three years) Speakers for the three Annual Programs $6,000 TOTAL PROGRAM $7,500 SUBTOTAL – Personnel, Materials, and Program $258,550 Administrative Fee (payroll, bookkeeping, etc.) $38,782.50 At 15% of the three-year total TOTAL CAMPAIGN COSTS $297,332.50 In-Kind – Office Space, conference rooms, copying, etc. – Right Turn About Right Turn Right Turn of Watertown, a 20 year old organization, provides a broad range of outpatient evidence-based treatment programs for individuals and families recovering from substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. Since 2003, its guiding principles of recovery with creative expression and integration into the community have helped its clients and their families rebuild their lives. Right Turn uses a multi-disciplinary team approach under the medical direction of Stephanie Stratigos, DO, an addiction certified Psychiatrist, and its CEO, Cynthia J. Wachs. Woody Giessmann, the Founder of Right Turn, is a painter, songwriter, pianist, and drummer for Boston’s beloved band, The Del Fuego's. He started Right Turn in March, 2003 to provide evidenced-based treatment with creative therapies of music and the arts to people with substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder(s). Woody has worked in the field of Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health since 1993. He served on the Board of Registry In Medicine (BORIM) under Governor Charlie Baker for two terms and under Michael Botticelli at The Bureau Of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) on the advisory board for policy and funding. Right Turn is a community for people in early recovery, and for those who are maintaining long-term recovery. At Right Turn each person’s needs are assessed, and an individual treatment plan is developed. Right Turn integrates clinical best practices with outcomes-driven creative solutions into a full continuum of substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder behavioral health treatment. About the Watertown Cares Network The Watertown Cares Network evolved out of a collaborative community effort to lessen the impact of the opioid epidemic on its residents. In early 2015, it became evident that Watertown was experiencing the effects of the nationwide opioid epidemic, representing a significant public-health challenge. The City of Watertown recorded a significant increase in the rate of opioid related overdoses. With guidance from the City Council’s Health and Human Services sub-committee, a task force was formed comprised of community stakeholders. The task force included elected officials, leaders from several municipal departments including police and fire, members of the clergy, the business community, treatment providers, non-government organizations, people in recovery and parents. Since then, the Watertown Cares Network has strived to thoughtfully and effectively confront substance use disorder. Collectively, the Watertown Cares Network has an in-depth knowledge of our community and how it is impacted by substance use and associated mental health disorders. We have worked diligently to forward prevention, to lessen the stigma of these afflictions and to link our community members with much needed resources. Why Together These Entities are Uniquely Qualified to Manage The Program Right Turn, its founder Woody Giessmann, and the Watertown Cares Network have a long history of successful collaboration. The Watertown Cares Network brings to bear a high level of community dedication. This strength, combined with the knowledge, skills, associations and creativity of Right Turn will result in an effective effort. This program has been orchestrated by a group that possesses the technical skills, the experience and the empathy to execute all stated goals.