The leadership team of Operation 2 Save Lives (O2SL) & QRT National is pleased to share that several of its team members and partners shared their expertise and experiences at multiple events in November and December.
PAARI National Law Enforcement Summit
On Dec. 4-5, O2SL & QRT National and partners from Cordata (Cincinnati, Ohio) attended the 2023 PAARI National Law Enforcement Summit at Boston University.
O2SL & QRT National’s Dan Meloy presented alongside Cordata’s Dr. Kelly Firesheets on “Meet in the Middle: Frameworks for Law Enforcement and Public Health Collaboration.” O2SL & QRT National’s Mike Botieri also facilitated the breakout session, “The Community Responder Model: How a Civilian First Response Can Improve Outcomes for Officers.”
The Summit unites law enforcement, public safety and public health leaders from across the nation who are in the early stages of establishing or actively participating in non-arrest deflection programs aimed at offering pathways to treatment and recovery. The Summit was attended by approximately 300 professionals. Event sessions and presentations covered many topics, including HUB Situation Tables, harm reduction and recovery, data collection and more.
Learn more about the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative here.
Litchfield County Opiate Task Force Conference
On Nov. 30, O2SL & QRT National’s Scott Allen presented at the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force’s (LCOTF) one-day conference, “Reimaging Empathy: A Decade of Unity and Resilience” in Torrington, Connecticut.
O2SL & QRT National have been working for the past several years with LCOTF partners and at police, treatment, healthcare and community outreach sites across seven cities and towns in Connecticut through the CLEAR Initiative (Community Law Enforcement and Addiction Recovery). During the conference, Allen led workgroup sessions addressing “Compassionate Policing through Deflection,” citing the work that has been ongoing through CLEAR since 2021.
“Reimagining Empathy: a Decade of Unity and Resilience” was a one-day event designed to explore the vital role of empathy, hope and wellness in addressing the challenges of the modern world. The conference aimed to inspire attendees to take collective action and foster healing solutions for themselves and their communities. It was attended by over 500 people.
Learn more about the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force here.
New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals Annual Conference
On Nov. 15, Allen presented at the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals (NEARCP) annual conference in Danvers, Massachusetts.
Allen presented, “Intersection of Deflection, Innovative Models to Expand and Enhance Recovery Courts” alongside Connecticut CLEAR partner and CEO of Liberations Program, Inc., John Hamilton, and New York Statewide Treatment Court Coordinator Dennis Reilly. The presentation was based on how O2SL & QRT National partners are beginning to more closely partner with and integrate Specialty/Treatment/Recovery Courts into their outreach initiatives and Situation Tables.
The conference aimed to bring together justice professionals, treatment/recovery specialists, and community partners to identify principles and practical solutions that will strengthen the region’s response to addiction and facilitate the expansion of recovery and treatment courts over the next 25 years.
Learn more about the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals here.
“Conferences such as these have immense value by allowing people to highlight their community’s experiences and share different perspectives,” Allen said. “We are grateful to these three organizations and the attendees of each conference for giving us an opportunity to share our work and the work of our partners.”
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