PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
MEDIA ADVISORY
CONTACT:
Jennifer Donahue/Erika Gully-Santiago
Jennifer.Donahue@jud.state.ma.us
(617) 557-1114
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2019
Massachusetts Trial Court to Launch Federally Funded Grant Program for Drug Courts in Lawrence and Lowell
WHAT:
Massachusetts Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey and District Court Chief Justice Paul C. Dawley, together with local and court officials, will formally announce the launch of the MISSION-Mill Cities Grant, which will significantly expand services to court-involved men and women with both substance use and mental health disorders participating in the Lawrence and Lowell Drug Courts. Also speaking or in attendance will be: Trial Court Administrator Jonathan S. Williams; Lowell District Court First Justice Stacey Fortes; Lawrence District Court First Justice Lynn Rooney; Rep. Marcos Devers; Rep. Christina Minicucci; Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera; Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque; and other community officials.
Lawrence and Lowell are respectively the 13th and 5th largest cities in Massachusetts and both hold the Health Professional Shortage federal designation for few mental health providers. The $2 million, 5-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will fund case managers and recovery coaches who are employed by the Gavin Foundation, a Boston-based addiction recovery organization, using the MISSION Model of Care developed by physicians and psychologists at UMass Medical School.
Last year, 50 people in Lawrence and 64 people in Lowell died of overdoses. Essex County and Middlesex County have the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in the state. The multi-million dollar grant will expand services in the two communities to address this ongoing crisis.
The Lawrence Drug Court opened in 2005 and the Lowell Drug Court opened in 2015. There are currently 53 specialty courts across Massachusetts, including: 35 Drug Courts; 8 Mental Health Courts; 6 Veterans Treatment Courts; 2 Homeless Courts; 1 Family Drug Court; and 1 Family Resolutions Specialty Court.
WHERE:
Fenton Judicial Center
2 Appleton Street
Lawrence, MA 01842
WHEN:
Monday, November 4, 2019
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.