Middlesex DA, Project Linus Partner to Bring Blankets to Opioid Epidemic's Youngest Victims

SOMERVILLE, MA – The Middlesex County District Attorney's office and Project Linus are partnering to provide blankets to children in the immediate aftermath of a trauma, specifically one related to opioids.

Somerville is the inaugural community to take part in the program. As part of the two-part initiative, the police department will begin handing out blankets to children, and seniors from the Somerville Council on Aging will volunteer to create new, handmade blankets that will be distributed throughout the greater Boston area.

"This initiative is another way our office is partnering with police departments to provide early and informed care to high-risk children who have experienced trauma, specifically opioid-related trauma," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement. "Starting today we will be putting handmade blankets into the hands of first-responders across Middlesex County that will then be distributed to these children to provide a sense of security and help them cope after experiencing a traumatic event."

Project Linus will also provide blankets to all children identified through Project C.A.R.E, a collaboration between the Middlesex DA's office, the Lowell police and fire departments, Trinity Ambulance and the Mental Health Association of Greater Lowell to provide a rapid response intervention for children who witness a parent or loved one suffer an overdose.

Blankets will also be distributed to chiefs of police in Middlesex County and first responders to give to children who have experienced other types of trauma, such as witnessing a violent crime, losing a parent or sibling or becoming displaced from their home.

"We are honored to partner with District Attorney Ryan and Project Linus on this initiative," Somerville Police Chief David Fallon said in a statement. "This is an important step in addressing the impact that the opioid crisis has on the entire community. Through this program we are providing early intervention to help some of the most vulnerable victims of the opioid epidemic, children."

Fallon took more than 100 blankets back to the station after the announcement of the partnership earlier this week.

"The Greater Boston Chapter is so pleased to partner with Project C.A.R.E. to provide ‘handmade hugs’ to the children in our community," Lucy Maiullari, Greater Boston chapter coordinator of Project Linus, said. "We look forward to a successful partnership with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office."

Image via Middlesex DA