Essex County Outreach

Essex County Outreach is a collaborative effort involving all 34 police departments within Essex County, as well as the sheriff’s department. We partner with social service agencies, peer specialists, and other community supports to assist with:

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
• Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
• At-Risk individuals
• Mental or behavioral health needs
• Harm-reduction strategies
• Supports to families and children impacted
• Grief support for those that have lost a loved one to SUD
• Veteran- and youth-specific referrals

After identifying an individual’s need(s), our goal is to have law enforcement partners, SUD professionals, licensed clinicians, social workers, and/or recovery coaches coordinate through the CIMS database and reach out to the individual within 72 hours.

OFFICE HOURS

Some coaches and staff have office hours at our location in Amesbury at 68 Elm St. (Room 217), Amesbury, MA. To visit our office, please call 978-961-7388.

Monday: Betsey 9:00–2:30
Tuesday: Brooke 12:00–5:00
Wednesday: Betsey 9:00–2:30; Debbie 9:00–2:30
Thursday: Debbie 10:00–3:00
Friday: Brooke 10:00–3:00

Our Team

Dani Sinclair — Program Director Email Dani

Dani has been a police officer since 2002 and currently serves in the role of detective with the Newburyport Police Department. A life-long resident of Massachusetts, she knew early on that her passion was to help people in her community. The role of policing is constantly evolving, and Dani was inspired by the compassionate and proactive work being done to assist those with substance use disorders after attending the first annual P.A.A.R.I. (Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative) Law Enforcement Summit in 2017.

Essex County Outreach was founded as a result. ECO connects the 34 law enforcement agencies in the county, the sheriff’s department, social service agencies, the public health sector, and other community partners. “There is no ‘one-way’ or ‘right way’ approach to assisting individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, and everyone’s journey is different. As such, these programs require working together in multi-agency collaborations while bridging gaps in service to best manage assistance for the individual.”

Steve Heald — Recovery Coach Supervisor Email Steve

Steve has been working as a recovery coach for over 8 years with P.A.A.R.I., Methuen Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, and most recently Mass General Brigham Hospital at Salem. He has been an RC Supervisor with the ECO program since 2021 and brings a wealth of experience and passion when he speaks to struggling individuals like they are humans. He graduated from Norwich University with a BA in Criminal Justice in 1990.

Steve began his career in Juvenile Corrections working with Boston’s most violent offenders and later worked with JRI as a Residential Director at Centerpoint, an intensive residential treatment program. Following his tenure at JRI, he became a Warrant Apprehension Officer with the Department of Youth Services (DYS) Gang Unit. He was assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force with Boston Police and later worked with the Lynn Gang Unit. Steve retired in 2006 due to a serious on-duty injury. He entered into treatment in 2004 for alcoholism and recently celebrated 22 years of sobriety.

Brooke Armstrong — Recovery Coach Email Brooke

Brooke has been dedicated to helping those struggling with addiction for over seven years. Her passion for this work emerged from her own long-term battle with addiction and the support she received from others along the way. With a solid foundation in recovery, Brooke now gives back by supporting men and women on their recovery journeys. Today, she is a mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister, and a productive member of society.

Brooke’s Office Hours: Tuesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. & Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Héctor Brito — Recovery Coach Email Hector

Héctor Brito is a dedicated Recovery Coach. He has been sober since 2001, after living with addiction for 27 years, beginning at the age of 11. During those years, he spent 15 years in and out of prison. His last incarceration marked a turning point as he embraced a faith-based life and began focusing on the wellness of others, particularly those suffering from addiction.

Since 2006, long before the term “recovery coach” was widely recognized, Hector has been committed to this work. It is his calling to reach as many individuals battling addiction as possible and to teach them that there is always hope. When he isn’t working, Héctor enjoys spending time with his wife, shopping, traveling, and (his ultimate favorite) eating…

Faith Brock — Recovery Coach Email Faith

Faith is a resident of Dracut and has maintained sobriety since 2017. Since 2024, she has been working with ECO at the Beverly PASS Program, where she supports adolescents navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Having experienced her own recovery journey as a teenager, Faith brings a unique perspective to her work and is able to connect authentically with the youth she serves.

She is currently pursuing a degree in Human Services to further strengthen her ability to support individuals and families through her work with ECO.

Outside of her professional role, Faith enjoys spending time in nature, staying active at the gym, and relaxing with her two cats, Pig and Beans.

Nike Laskaris — Recovery Coach Email Nike

Nike’s primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics and addicts achieve sobriety. She has been sober since 2020, which she considers both a miracle and a gift. Maintaining sobriety under any and all conditions is her main focus, achieved one day at a time by assisting others on their journeys, spreading knowledge about the disease, and sharing the message of unconditional physical sobriety that saved her life.

Nike is also part of the recovery team at Northshore Recovery High School in Beverly, where she directs the grant-funded Recovery in Action program, known as RIA. She is incredibly proud of the RHS students and their progress, always reminding them they are never alone.

Steve Perry — Recovery Coach Email Steve

Steve is a man in recovery who has transformed his defeats into a powerful testimony that recovery is possible if you just take the first step. He is an invaluable asset to ECO—particularly in its partnership with the Salem Police Department, sharing his life experience to help others struggling with addiction.

In his downtime, Steve enjoys walks on the beach and reading romance novels.

 

Heather Jernegan — Recovery Coach Email Heather

Heather is a dedicated Recovery Coach with experience supporting addicts and alcoholics on their journey to sobriety. Her approach is rooted in empathy, understanding, and a commitment to empowering individuals—specifically women and mothers—to heal from the wounds of addiction.

Her goals are to work closely with women on fostering healthy relationships, communicating effectively, and setting boundaries that encourage long-term healing. She helps clients build a solid foundation of sobriety and create a strong path forward.

 

Debra Wheeler — Recovery Coach Email Debra

Debra brings powerful lived experience to her role, using her journey to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. She is trained in providing compassionate, peer-based support and is deeply committed to helping others navigate recovery.

Debra specializes in working with seniors and facilitates women’s recovery groups, creating safe and empowering spaces for connection and growth. She also founded a peer support group, expanding access to community-based care.

Debbie’s Office Hours: Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. & Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Betsey Cassidy — Recovery Coach Email Betsey

Betsey has been in recovery since 2015 and is a dedicated recovery coach who is passionate about helping others find their own path to healing. Drawing from a strong foundation in recovery, she supports individuals struggling with substance use and seeking freedom from it, offering guidance and hope.

She is committed to sharing the reality that lasting change is possible and works to create a supportive, welcoming environment for those ready to take that step. As part of her role, Betsey also helps manage a meeting space that serves individuals in recovery from alcohol use, further strengthening community connection and support.

Outside of work, Betsey is a proud mother to three grown sons and enjoys life with her two dogs. She values her role within a large family and circle of friends and loves to bake, often sharing homemade treats with those around her.

Betsey’s Office Hours: Mondays 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Our Work

Law enforcement has recognized our expanded role in assisting people with non-arrest pathways to recovery and treatment. When attending the first P.A.A.R.I. (Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative) Summit in 2018, the collective vision to assist those in need was inspiring. The Plymouth County Outreach program stood out as the model for our program. Through the procurement of a COSSAP grant through the Department of Justice, we have been able to further develop our evolving program by identifying and coordinating with key community and social service partners and enhancing existing programs already in place within our communities.

The CIMS (Critical Incident Management System) web-based software product developed by Kelley Research Associates supports countywide police led programs to facilitate the transition of those experiencing drug overdoses to treatment. A newly designed feature to the CIMS database is the Behavioral Health component, where police led programs would also facilitate the transition of those experiencing a mental health incident. The database documents all overdose incidents within the county jurisdictions, all outreach attempts to those that have overdosed or are at high-risk of overdose, and documents behavioral health incidents occurring within the community. Additionally, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, led by Sheriff Kevin Coppinger, identifies individuals most at-risk of overdosing once leaving the facility, and partnering agencies will perform check-ins to ensure these individuals are receiving necessary supports.

From this CIMS alert system, our social service partners, usually alongside a plainclothes police officer and Recovery Coach with lived experience, will conduct an outreach visit to the individual and/or family member to offer supports and guidance to treatment and resources.

This website is designed to be a one-stop location with links and information to a multitude of resources. It is also a virtual space where we can connect with our champions in the community, share community events, and contact law enforcement partners for assistance.