Marianne LaBarge City Councilor | Ward 6 | Northampton, MA

WARD 6

         CITY COUNCILOR

MARIANNE LABARGE
Text Box: NORTHAMPTON - The City of Northampton, along with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), will be hosting an open house for the Division of Community Care (DCC) on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 1 Roundhouse Plaza, Northampton. Commencing at 10 a.m., Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, along with local leaders and supporters of the DCC, will start the morning off with brief remarks. Immediately following, there will be an opportunity to meet and speak with the DCC team, view the community space, and/or participate in Community Responder-led activities. From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., pizza and Herrell’s ice cream cups will be provided. The event is free and open to all. No registration is required.   Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra reinforced her ongoing commitment to the work of the DCC and shared her excitement about its progress. “Synthesizing the work of the Northampton Policing Review Commission and valuing these recommendations has led to the design and launch of the DCC within the DHHS, and has been a massive undertaking,” shared Mayor Sciarra. “The city is extremely grateful to Commissioner O’Leary and her team for their diligence and dedication in bringing this work to life and what we are thrilled to celebrate on September 8th, please join us!”    The DCC in Northampton is the first city in Massachusetts to launch its civilian first responder team model as a Public Health led - Public Safety integrated community service. The DCC is dedicated to providing immediate trauma-informed responses and outreach to our community which is currently being developed along with support from funding provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “The Community Responders have been working incredibly hard this summer training and preparing to launch the DCC. We are excited that the time has come to welcome the community into the new DCC space and officially begin our new role. We hope many people will come and meet the team of Community Responders,” said Kristen Rhodes, Director of the DCC.” The DCC aims to support residents of Northampton, as well as visitors to the city, who are experiencing houselessness, emotional distress, problematic substance use, and other challenges or who are having difficulty meeting basic needs or navigating conflicts.    The DCC Community Space is located at 1 Roundhouse Plaza on the first floor, hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the space, you will find a team including Community Responders, the DCC Coordinator, and a Public Health Nurse. To reach the DCC, request services, or get support from a Community Responder you can call or text us at (877)DCC-0413 or email DCC@northamptonma.gov.   DCC services include emotional support; identifying resources for meeting basic needs; assistance with system navigation such as housing, food, and clothing; medical care assistance with a Public Health Nurse; substance use and harm reduction support; conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving; situations related to health and wellness; and ongoing Community Responder relationship building and follow up. More information about the DCC can be found online at www.northamptondcc.org.   For more information, contact Merridith O’Leary at 413-587-1214 or moleary@northamptonma.gov.