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Representative Thomas Moakley urges Falmouth commission to target transportation and recovery court partnerships
Summary
At the Jan. 15 meeting, Representative Thomas Moakley encouraged the Falmouth Commission on Substance Use to coordinate with the Falmouth Recovery Court and seek targeted transportation funding; Selectboard member Jack Richardson said Senator Fernandez's office secured about $300,000 for treatment-related transportation across the Commonwealth.
Representative Thomas Moakley told the Falmouth Commission on Substance Use on Jan. 15 that outreach to state legislators is essential to align local needs with state grant priorities and programmatic funding. The meeting was held at the Falmouth Public Library.
Why it matters: Commission members said transportation and coordinated recovery services are key gaps preventing people in recovery from accessing treatment, employment and other supports. Addressing those gaps will affect how the commission recommends distributing opioid abatement resources.
Moakley, identified in the meeting as a State Representative, described scarcity of recovery resources in parts of the Commonwealth and recommended more collaboration between the commission and the Falmouth Recovery Court to better reach individuals in need. Jack Richardson, representing the Falmouth Selectboard, said Senator Fernandez's office obtained roughly $300,000 statewide for transportation related to substance-abuse treatment and that similar funds or programs could be a model for local assistance. Elias Lieberman raised a recent county funding episode, describing a $2 billion cut and subsequent reversal affecting Barnstable County, and asked about state oversight of county funds. Richardson said Sheriff Buckley has prioritized recovery supports over punishment in county institutions.
Commission members flagged that transportation needs extend beyond medical appointments to include travel for job interviews and employment support. Bryan LeBlanc said many sober-house residents still face logistical barriers to work and services even where clinical appointments are covered through local programs. Catharina Armstrong and others emphasized that education and stigma reduction are necessary complements to increasing access to naloxone (Narcan) and harm-reduction services; Richardson suggested that local mandates such as installing naloxone boxes in public restrooms or letters of support from town committees could help change practice and policy.
Dennis Lyons asked how the town could access Department of Public Health grant programs; Moakley said programmatic grant priorities are typically incorporated into the Governor's budget and applications can be routed through legislative offices. The commission discussed potential partnership with the Regional Transit Authority and agreed that the full scope of local transportation needs should be defined and communicated to state offices to match funding appropriately.
The commission plans further follow-up: MOSAIC technical advisors will meet with the commission at a future session to advise on grant contract management and data needs, and members discussed engaging the Recovery Court and seeking more detailed transportation need assessments to inform requests to state offices.
