Mama Paca in the news
Two New Children's Books Address Substance Use by Katie Rayner
"With the new school year rapidly approaching, there are many challenges for students to adapt to new models of learning due to COVID-19 restrictions, therefore it is now more important than ever for these students to feel connected. Whether it’s a teacher, staff member, or character in a book, children need to feel connected to something to help them cope with the various stressors that they have going on in their lives. “Children can often feel alone and isolated and when they can relate to characters in a book, it helps them feel less alone,” Sarah Cloud, Director of Social Work at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center said."
Author in the news
GUEST COLUMN: Fighting the Opioid Overdose Epidemic
Today, we all can have renewed hope for our community’s ability to recover from the opioid overdose crisis.
By Sarah Cloud, MBA, MSW, LICSW, VP PCO Hope and director of social work at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital; and Jeffrey Samet, M.D., principal investigator of the HEALing Communities Study, Massachusetts
Blog by Mary Peckham
Hope
Written by Plymouth County Outreach Peer Grief Support Specialist, Mary Peckham
So last night I was working on my outreach list in bed, we have not been able to do my visits, so I will be making phone calls and I happened to notice this tiny, what I thought was lint under my pad of paper, that had all the names of loved ones that have lost that I will call.
That is no ordinary piece of lint to a grieving mom … that is the tiniest heart, sent from the biggest heart in Heaven … God. And why did He send that ? HOPE !!!
He has my son safe and whole and these signs no matter how big or small, they are the hope that keeps me walking, that gives me the strength to do what I do now, that helps me to find joy and laughter and Light in this tear filled darkness of grief.
Sometimes I can go without a sign for awhile and then when it’s the darkest and especially when I am doing the work God has set me on now is when those signs fly … hawks fly and escort me when I do a visit, after a recovery coach zoom meeting I look up and a hawk is flying behind me over the pond, planting a memorial sunflower garden and a dragonfly sits with me for awhile.
It is at the darkest times that the Light of Hope can slowly encompass the shadows …
Signs of HOPE,
Signs of LOVE,
Signs of MATTHEW
Signs of GOD Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.