Southern New Hampshire Health Donates $10,000 to Harbor Homes/Nashua Safe Stations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  

Southern New Hampshire Health Donates $10,000 to Harbor Homes/Nashua Safe Stations

The nonprofit agency Harbor Homes and member of the affiliated organizations that make up the Partnership for Successful Living, received a charitable gift of $10,000 from Southern New Hampshire Health of Nashua. President and CEO, Michael Rose presented a check to Harbor Homes/Partnership for Successful Living President and CEO, Peter Kelleher for the organization’s integral role in the Nashua Safe Station initiative.

In response to the opioid drug crisis facing the Nashua region, a task force was formed surrounding substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery which led to the creation of the Nashua Safe Station program. Modeled after the Safe Stations in Manchester, a cooperative was assembled with fire and police personnel, American Medical Response, and Harbor Homes that offers those who are suffering from addiction, to receive help by entering any of the six Nashua fire stations in a judgement free environment and without fear of incarceration. The fire personnel complete an immediate assessment to determine if emergency medical care is needed. If an ambulance is not required, a Harbor Homes trained recovery support provider is contacted who then responds in person to transport the individual to one of three locations where substance use disorder treatment and if necessary, protected shelter is provided. Individuals accessing assistance through a Safe Station site will receive services that are tailored to their specific needs on their road to recovery.

“Safe Stations are an important component of our community’s efforts to address the opioid crisis,” says Michael Rose, President and CEO of Southern New Hampshire Health.  “Every day, we see the tragic impact of opioid misuse in our Emergency Department and the devastating impact it has on families. This program is critical to connecting those seeking treatment to available resources as quickly as possible.  We are proud to support Safe Stations and hope that our contribution will inspire others to give to this critical program.”

Southern New Hampshire Health is comprised of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and Foundation Medical Partners, and is Massachusetts General Hospital’s first clinical affiliate in the region. SNHMC is a 188 bed facility that has two campuses in Nashua.  Foundation Medical Partners is a multi-specialty physician group practice with more than 500 primary care and specialty care providers who serve patients in 32 communities across Southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.  SNHH also offers urgent, walk-in care through 7 Immediate Care locations around the region. Through SNHH’s MGH affiliation, patients have easy access to advanced clinical expertise in areas including stroke, cancer, trauma and pediatric specialties. Together, SNHMC and Foundation Medical Partners comprise an organization working collaboratively to achieve the mission of maintaining and preserving the overall health of individuals living in the communities it serves.

“On behalf of our board of directors, volunteers, and staff, and above all, those we serve, I wish to extend my profound gratitude to our collaborative partner, Southern New Hampshire Health, for this generous gift. It is because of the support from our community fellowship that allows Harbor Homes and its affiliated agencies to provide these vital services within this integrated model of care, to assist those in need, and influence change.” stated Peter Kelleher, President and CEO of the Partnership for Successful Living.

A plaque naming Southern New Hampshire Health will be displayed in the Peggy and David Gilmour Medical Respite Center; the primary location and critical link in the recovery process of the Safe Station program.

 The Partnership for Successful Living is a collaboration of six nonprofit organizations which provide access to housing, health care, education, employment, and supportive services to help individuals and families achieve sustainable independence. Partnership agencies include Harbor Homes, Inc., Keystone Hall, Healthy at Home, Milford Regional Counseling Services, Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force, and Welcoming Light Inc.

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(Photo, left to right: Michael Rose, President and CEO Southern New Hampshire Health- Peter Kelleher, President and CEO Partnership for Successful Living)