We’re back with May’s recap, and as usual, we’d like to thank all of our collaborators and team members for their daily and ongoing effort to bring services and resources to the county and individuals and families who need it.
If you know someone in Essex County who needs recovery support or services, or a family member who needs help supporting a loved one, please reach out to us at 978-961-7388.
RESOURCES AND SERVICES DATA MAY 2025
ECO worked with local police departments and other community partners this month to bring services and resources to Essex County residents, housed and unhoused. Here are some numbers from our activity in May of 2025.
Rides provided: 15
For clients who are not able to access services and resources due to transportation barriers, ECO provides rides to destinations such as detox, IP/OP treatment, clinics, AA/NA meetings, the hospital, court, doctor’s appointments, and other recovery-related appointments.
If you would like to apply for a ride voucher, please request an application through our contact form or get in touch with one of our Recovery Coaches.
Scholarships provided in 2025: 70
As of this month, ECO has provided 70 unique individuals with sober living scholarships, totaling $35,250 in awarded funds. We want to thank our sober home partners for all of the work they do creating a safe and sober space for those who need it.
Outreaches conducted: 154
ECO conducts outreaches via phone, in person, alongside police officers, at shelters, on the street, in the community, at community events, through service projects, etc.
Clients who accepted services: 105
As happened in March, over half of the individuals we reached this month accepted services.
Follow-ups/client engagements: >350
After an initial outreach, ECO follows up to engage with clients and ensures they are properly connected to services and resources. It is our hope that clients will utilize ECO Recovery Coaches long-term; in many cases, this happens. Due to the hard work of our team and collaborative efforts, we consistently have high numbers of follow-ups and engagements.
MAY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
For more events and news, visit our Facebook.
LCOT (Lynnfield Community Outreach Team) Quarterly Hub Meeting | ECO’s Dani Sinclair on Community Partnership | May 2nd, 2025
On May 2nd, ECO joined LCOT‘s quarterly hub meeting. LCOT’s mission is to help Lynnfield residents in times of crisis access appropriate mental health, substance use, and other community support services.
Quarterly meetings happen within a collaborative network, organization, or community initiative as an opportunity for participants to share updates on progress, projects, or programs; review data and outcomes from the past quarter; and discuss challenges while identifying potential solutions. Additionally, they serve as a time to plan upcoming activities, set goals for the next quarter, and strengthen communication and coordination among partners. We are very grateful to have opportunities like this where we can share our mission and resources with our collaborators like LCOT.
Our Program Director, Dani Sinclair, and Recovery Coach Supervisor, Steve Heald, spoke to attendees at May’s quarterly meeting about ECO as a community partner to the region. ECO’s aim is to work collaboratively to engage, support, and empower local communities like Lynnfield. Our role is to extend services, share information, and build trust within communities. By working together, ECO believes we can help identify local needs, promote access to resources, and foster a sense of connection and inclusion, ultimately strengthening the fabric of Essex County towns and cities.
Guest Speaker Amanda Fisher at ECO Team Session | May 28th, 2025
During ECO’s team training and info session on May 28th, we had a session with Amanda Fisher of Pettengill House, a nonprofit community social service agency providing wraparound programs and services for individuals, children, and families of all ages across nine Massachusetts communities.
During the session, Amanda refreshed our team on housing assistance programs and services available to our clients, such as emergency and temporary help like RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition); ongoing rental support (vouchers), such as the MRVP (Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program); and policies and context that influence the access and availability of these resources.
We are grateful to partner with social service agencies like Pettengill House to enhance our ability to support individuals facing complex challenges. This collaboration allows our teams to connect people directly with critical resources, including housing assistance, healthcare, food programs, and job training. While our Recovery Coaches are skilled at building relationships and identifying needs in the community, resources like Pettengill House offer infrastructure to provide long-term, comprehensive support. Social service agencies fill that gap by offering structured case management and wraparound services. Together, we can form a more effective and compassionate response to the county’s needs.
STAR Involvement
Essex County Outreach continues to work with and attend events with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department community-based re-entry initiative, STAR. Our partnership with STAR helps improve access to services, strengthen continuity of care, and promote wraparound support. Thanks to STAR staff and all of our coaches for helping STAR individuals achieve positive outcomes.