Reprinted from an article in The Patriot Ledger, July 17, 2025.
Canton residents struggling with substance abuse now have access to free recovery coach services, according to a community announcement.
The program, Connect2Recovery NC-8, is offered by Riverside Community Care and is available to residents of Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Milton, Walpole, Wellesley and Westwood.
The service is designed to eliminate barriers to recovery and support individuals on their chosen path to healing, regardless of their insurance status.
Recovery coaches are peer workers with personal experience in substance use recovery. They undergo intensive training to encourage, motivate and support clients on their recovery journeys.
Coaches assist individuals in developing a Recovery Wellness Plan, which includes goals in various areas of life. These areas include forming community connections, accessing peer recovery resources, obtaining living or financial supports, connecting to health providers, coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families and providing support with Massachusetts Drug Courts and Probation.
Anyone interested in the program can complete a confidential self-referral form, available on the Canton Board of Health website starting in July. The form can also be accessed via a QR code displayed on Naloxone distribution boxes around town, or in printed form at the Canton Public Library, the Department of Elder and Human Services and the Canton Health Department.
Completed forms can be photographed and emailed to NC-8@riversidecc.org. Questions about the program can also be sent to this email address.
The Connect2Recovery NC-8 Recovery Coach services are running as a pilot program through the Norfolk County 8 Collaborative. The program is funded by participating communities using money from lawsuit settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.
Canton Town Administrator Charles Doody and Canton Department of Public Health Director Meg Goldstein expressed their gratitude for the program and encouraged community members struggling with substance abuse to take advantage of it.
“This model for recovery coaching, paid for through the opioid resettlement funding, will provide a vital service for people who are unable to afford or otherwise unable to access recovery care,” Goldstein said. “Very few traditional insurance plans cover these services. This will help bridge that gap. The goal is for no one to fall through the cracks. We’re working to make the confidential sign-up process as easy and stress-free as possible. I think it will be very effective. The coaches from Riverside Community Care are experienced professionals who are well-trained at providing solutions and guidance to those in need of substance use recovery. Riverside provides a bevy of social and mental health supports throughout their program. We believe they will be able to really help meet the needs of the people in our communities. We hope as many people take advantage of it as possible.”
“We are proud to make these recovery coach services available to our community members, to help those who are struggling with substance use issues find the support they need,” Doody said. “Riverside Community Care’s Connect2Recovery NC-8 Recovery Coach services offer the assistance of well-trained professionals who provide personalized, ongoing support and guidance, helping individuals to navigate the difficult challenges that they face on the journey toward recovery.”
“Regular interaction with a recovery coach can boost a person’s motivation and commitment to recovery,” Doody added. “We urge all those who may benefit from these services to complete a confidential referral form, take a photograph of their completed form and submit them directly to NC-8@riversidecc.org. The decision to do so may put you or your loved one on a path toward long-term recovery.”
This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing, and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
