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.