PLYMOUTH — The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has been awarded a Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program grant that will fund PCO for the next three years, through September 2023.
The grant, from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance, totals $1.2 million and will allow PCO to continue to operate and also allow the organization to expand outreach efforts in order to reach more people and prevent fatal overdoses in Plymouth County.
“We are extremely fortunate to have received this grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help us in continuing our efforts to offer people support and assistance in accessing treatment while working closely with our community partners,” PCO Program Director Vicky Butler said. “We will be using these funds to continue our current operations and addressing the needs of our highest risk populations. In addition, we are excited to be partnering with the Plymouth County House of Corrections to offer additional support to inmates with a history of substance use being released back into our Plymouth County communities.”
In addition, PCO will also be conducting hot spot outreach throughout the county, providing resources, connection to services and harm reduction tools to community members.
Plymouth County Outreach’s grant was awarded through the East Bridgewater Police Department, and is part of “Category 1” of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s grant funding. Category 1 encourages and supports the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to the opioid and stimulant epidemics that expand access to supervision, treatment and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by the opioid and stimulant epidemics.
All “Category 1” projects are expected to involve multiple agencies and partners.
Grants totaling more than $340 million were awarded this year through the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help fight the addiction crisis nationwide.
About Plymouth County Outreach: Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief Emanuel Gomes, Sgt. William Schlieman of the Brockton Police Department, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Stephen R. McDonald, East Bridgewater Chief Paul O’Brien, Halifax Chief Joao Chaves, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief David Jones, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Matthew J. Perkins, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard MacDonald, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Matthew Clancy, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Timothy Hanlon.
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