Recovery Resources Cards Available At Locations in Bristol/Warren

The Bristol Health Equity Zone (HEZ), in partnership with East Bay Center, a division of East Bay Community Action Program, and the Bristol Police Department has been promoting recovery resources in the community. This collaborative effort is aimed at making information and support available to area residents who are in need of help. It includes the dissemination of resource cards, which are currently available at the Bristol Maritime Center, Rogers Free Library, Bristol Town Hall, Bristol Police and Fire Departments, Paper, Packaging and Panache, the Common Pub and Grille, Warren Town Hall, Warren Police Station, Warren Library, St. Mary of the Bay Church Food Pantry, and Warren Social Services. The Bristol HEZ will gladly deliver cards to any business wishing to display them as a resource to the community. Please contact Emily Spence at 401.263.1611 to request Recovery Resources cards.

In addition to programs and agencies that can help with recovery, the cards also list area organizations that offer support, mental health services, and assistance with basic human needs (food, shelter, and clothing).

Bristol Police Chief Josue Canario commented on his department’s involvement with the resources cards. He said, “This department spearheaded this effort with the Health Equity Zone to offer persons having experienced an overdose from heroin, or other substances, a chance to get help and receive timely counseling services from certified health professionals as quickly as possible following outreach by the Police for a reported overdose or other similar incident.”

Currently the Bristol Police use these cards when they go out on a call to try to encourage an individual to get help finding recovery services. Chief Canario explained, “We recognized a gap in services where persons who interacted with the police and rescue frequently were not receiving a way to get the help they needed unless they were transported to the hospital, which is not always the case.” And now, he said, “When police and rescue respond to the scene of an overdose, or when officers suspect substance use concerns are present, police are providing individuals with these cards that provide a variety of important information, but most importantly a 24-hour hotline number connecting them to an emergency services operator from the East Bay Center to set up recovery services.” The hotline will connect them with a peer recovery coach immediately. “The card also includes other resources to help in other areas of potential need” said Emily Spence, Bristol HEZ Coordinator. Spence added, “We want to get the word out. The police are finding these cards are a welcome source of information, but we want folks to know that this is a community-wide initiative and to know where they might find the cards if they, or someone they know, needs the information.”

In addition to the East Bay Center hotline, Rhode Islanders can call the Hope & Recovery Support Line at 401-942-STOP (401-942-7867) to talk to a licensed counselor. This support line is open all day, every day.

The Bristol HEZ is a community-wide effort funded through the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Resources and Services Administration to create innovative approaches that can reduce and manage chronic diseases, promote healthy lifestyles, assure healthy child development, and create environments where healthy choices are easier to make. The Bristol HEZ is one of nine HEZs established across the state as part of RIDOH’s Health Equity Zone initiative – an innovative model designed to build healthier, more resilient communities by building community capacity to transform systems for healthier living over the long term. Visit https://www.bristolhealthequityzone.org or www.health.ri.gov/hez for more information.

East Bay Center, a division of East Bay Community Action Program, is a community-based lifeline of behavioral health services that provides: 24-hour emergency services/crisis intervention; counseling for adults and children; psychiatric services; medication prescription and monitoring; and substance abuse and opioid treatment services. Visit http://www.ebcap.org/ for more information.