News  Taunton District Court and Community Justice Support Center Staff Participate in Overdose Awareness Event

Staff pictured: Filomena DaVeiga, Program Manager, Taunton CJSC; Kelly Hamilton-Welzel, Chief Probation Officer of Taunton DC; Joann Fitzgerald, Probation Office Manager, Taunton DC; Shae Brazil, Specialty Court Coordinator, Taunton DC; Wesley Dyer, Attleboro DC Associate Probation Officer; and Craig O'Leary, Taunton DC Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Co-Chair of the Taunton Community Crisis Intervention Team; and member of the Taunton Opiate Task Force. The other participating staff included Melissa Cardo.

Taunton District Court and Taunton Community Justice Support Center staff turned out to support those who suffer with addiction and their families by participating in the City of Taunton's Overdose Awareness Day.

The Probation and Support Center staff set up a community resource table at the August 28th event which featured information on Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS) programs and resources. Staff also distributed waterproof toiletry bags which contained shampoo, hair conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and resource information. The event took place in downtown Taunton at Liberty and Union Park.

Among the staff who participated are Filomena DaVeiga, Program Manager, Taunton CJSC; Kelly Hamilton-Welzel, Chief Probation Officer of Taunton DC; Joann Fitzgerald, Probation Office Manager, Taunton DC; Shae Brazil, Specialty Court Coordinator, Taunton DC; Wesley Dyer, Taunton DC Associate Probation Officer; and Craig O'Leary, Taunton DC Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Co-Chair of the Taunton Community Crisis Intervention Team; and member of the Taunton Opiate Task Force. The other participating staff included Melissa Cardona, Treatment Manager at Taunton CJSC; Serena Hallahan, Clinician at Taunton CJSC; and Alyssa Semedo, Public Benefit Coordinator, Taunton CJSC.

Staff will continue to distribute the bags to "those in need at the courthouse and other community events," said Kelly Hamilton-Welzel, Taunton District Chief Probation Officer

"Community engagement has been a priority for the Taunton District Court Probation Department even before my arrival as the Chief in 2016 and we continue to carry this tradition under the leadership of Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and his Executive Leadership Team," said Chief Hamilton-Welzel. "Our participation in the Taunton International Overdose Awareness event is a continuation and strengthening of partnerships in the community as we all work together to build a safer, healthier, and stronger community."

Members of this Department have been involved in the Taunton Opiate Task Force, the Community Crisis Intervention Team and the Safe Neighborhoods Initiative for many years, according to Chief Hamilton-Welzel.

Community engagement is a top priority of Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and his Executive Leadership Team. This Taunton event is one of more than 80 community engagement events being hosted by MPS staff across the Commonwealth.