First, we appreciate you taking the time to read our April recap. It is always the priority to thank our community partners, first responders, service providers, and dedicated ECO team for all of the hard work. Your continued collaboration and commitment make it possible for us to deliver recovery support and resources to individuals and families across Essex County.
Every outreach, referral, and follow-up reflects the collective effort behind this work. Whether the need is immediate or long-term, your partnership helps ensure that people know they are not alone and that support is always within reach.
If you know someone in Essex County who is seeking recovery services, or a family member who needs help supporting a loved one, please contact us at 978-961-7388.
RESOURCES AND SERVICES DATA APRIL 2026
Throughout April, ECO worked closely with local police departments, clinicians, mental health supports, treatment facility teams, and community partners to provide recovery-focused services to both housed and unhoused residents throughout Essex County. Below is a snapshot of our activity for the month.
Outreaches Conducted: 127
ECO Recovery Coaches conducted 127 outreaches during April. Outreach efforts take place in a variety of settings, including street-based outreach, shelters and transitional housing, community events and service projects, alongside local police departments, and other community-based locations.
Clients Who Accepted Services: 75
Out of the 127 in-person outreaches conducted in April, 75 individuals accepted services. This figure does not capture individuals who initially declined services but later reconnected with ECO weeks or months afterward. We see this outcome frequently as trust and readiness develop over time.
Follow-Ups and Client Engagements: 500+
Following initial outreach, ECO places strong emphasis on continued engagement. Our Recovery Coaches conduct follow-ups to ensure individuals are successfully connected to treatment, housing, benefits, recovery supports, and other essential services.
In April, ECO recorded 550+ follow-ups and client engagements. This number reflects each individual interaction, meaning a single client may account for multiple engagements. Long-term connection remains a cornerstone of our approach, and many clients continue working with ECO well beyond their first contact.
Rides Provided: PAUSED
Transportation remains a major barrier for many individuals seeking treatment or recovery supports. Typically, ECO offers rides to recovery-related destinations including detox facilities, inpatient and outpatient programs, medical appointments, hospitals, court appearances, AA/NA meetings, and more. Please note that our voucher program is currently paused.
Sober Living Scholarships Provided 2025-2026: 70
As of April 2026, ECO has supported 70 unique individuals with sober living scholarships, totaling $35,250 in awarded funds throughout 2025.
We are deeply grateful to our sober home partners for their ongoing dedication to maintaining safe, supportive, and recovery-centered living environments for those taking critical steps forward in their recovery journeys.
Please note that not all regional data for April 2026 is reflected above. The figures provided are estimates intended to offer a general snapshot and may not capture all activity.
RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS
Essex County Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Map
ECO continues to refine and update its SUD Services Map, which can be found on our website. The Essex County SUD Services Map was created to improve access to treatment and recovery in Essex County and surrounding areas.
The map serves as a centralized directory for individuals, families, first responders, and service providers seeking local resources. By organizing services into searchable categories, the map helps users quickly identify appropriate supports and navigate the continuum of care.
Essex County Community Resources Map In the Works
This month, ECO continued work on a comprehensive Community Resource Map that will expand upon our existing SUD Services Map. The project is intended to help individuals and families more easily locate essential supports throughout the region, including housing, food programs, transportation assistance, and other community-based services.
By creating a centralized, publicly accessible directory, ECO aims to reduce barriers to accessing care and strengthen connections between community members and the resources available to support long-term stability and recovery. Although numerous resource directories are available, this map is being designed specifically for Essex County and neighboring communities, with an emphasis on services that are realistically accessible and frequently used by local residents. This regional focus will allow the directory to serve as a more targeted and user-friendly resource for individuals, families, first responders, and service providers.
Enhancing Our Monthly Reporting
Over the coming months, ECO will be expanding the information included in our monthly recaps to provide a more complete picture of the work being done throughout Essex County. In addition to outreach data, future reports will highlight accepted services, successful connections to treatment and recovery supports, partner agency collaboration, community resource development, emerging trends and challenges, and other indicators of community impact.
We are also developing new ways to capture meaningful outcomes beyond simple contact numbers, helping to better reflect the ongoing support, coordination, and relationship-building that are central to recovery coaching and community outreach. Our goal is to provide a clearer view of both the quantitative and qualitative impact of our work while continuing to identify needs and opportunities throughout the region.