FRESH (Family Recovery Engagement Support of Hampden County) Start is a project in Holyoke, Mass., that is funded by the Children’s Bureau and jointly administered by the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Public Health’s Division of Perinatal, Early Childhood and Special Health Needs and Bureau of Substance Abuse Services. It builds on collaboration between two other Children’s Bureau projects: A Helping Hand and the Family Recovery Project. FRESH Start identifies and serves pregnant and parenting families of infants under the age of 6 months who are affected by substance use and/or HIV/AIDS. FRESH Start provides these families with comprehensive, integrated services that maximize stability, permanence, and wellbeing for the infants.

IHR staff includes a Family Recovery Specialist (FRS), a clinician who provides clinical consultation and support to four Peer Recovery Workers. The FRS also collaborates with the Department of Children and Families, early intervention and substance use disorder treatment staff regarding families in the project, in addition to engaging in direct service work with clients and providing clinical and administrative consultation to the Peer Recovery Workers. Project staff provide recovery coaching and parenting support, create group experiences for clients and engage in team building and the development of policies and protocols.

FRESH Start provides staff support to Moms in the Hood, a recovery support group for mothers and their children that was developed by FRESH Start graduates. FRESH Start has also created an open Narcotics Anonymous meeting in the community with childcare provided.

FRESH Start has a strong emphasis on interagency collaboration, which occurs through family case conferences, joint scheduling of appointments with other providers, and cross- and joint training, among other activities. FRESH Start services are offered through Square One in Holyoke, Mass., which provides a wide range of services to children and families by providing affordable, learning-focused child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers in a safe, stable and secure environment.

For more information, please contact Enid Watson at enidwatson@healthrecovery.org.