Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield, Vermont, Inc is affiliated with Recovery Partners of Vermont as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Vermont’s 12 Turning Point Centers provide a peer-based network of support for all people affected by any type of addiction. They offer services such as a drop-in center, substance-free social functions, a recovery coach program, and a transitional housing program. They are the recipient of a HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Grant.
Over the years, UVM CORA has worked with several Turning Point Springfield staff, including Astrid Bradish-Hoyt and Michelle Greene. Astrid, the assistant director at Turning Point Springfield, also supervises recovery coaching in the emergency department. Michelle has held various positions, including recovery coach and counselor, and is now in administration.
UVM CORA has met with the organization approximately seven times and provided them with many harm reduction materials, including telehealth supplies, infection prevention supplies, and tobacco toolkits. Michelle explained that showing people who are vulnerable that there are organizations who care about them – such as when giving out donated supplies – helps clients get past the stigma they feel.
Supplies Disseminated
- Intranasal naloxone
- Fentanyl test strips
- Fentanyl test strip guides
- Masks, gloves, and thermometers (COVID supplies)
- Telehealth supplies
- Infection prevention supplies
- Tobacco Toolkits
From Michelle: “One man really sticks in my mind about the wound care supplies. I went on a call a couple months back. You could smell this poor man’s wound from a distance. He was sitting on the couch with his leg up, and we ended up convincing him to go to the emergency room. Afterward, we gave him the wound care kit and a harm reduction bag and got him an appointment at a local clinic where he could see a nurse. From his involvement with nursing there, he was able to get connected to more services, and get in treatment with suboxone. We heard from a friend of his recently who said how well he’s doing, and that this man was able to buy a lunch for the first time in their friendship. It started with something that seems so small—just wound care—but turned into recovery.”
Astrid commented that telehealth supplies (cell phones) have also been important. She said: “Being able to connect folks with phones has helped us so much more to follow up and work with them. When we gave out the first round of phones, we saw how much easier and how much more often we were able to reach people for a ten-day follow-up after they left the emergency room.”
UVM CORA appreciates the direct connection we have with dedicated professionals who work every day supporting people in their recovery.
Added Michelle: “We need local community support. We couldn’t exist without local EMS, community partners, UVM CORA. All of us can do this work if it’s done together, as a community. It reduces the stigma when we make the effort together, and we need to continue to involve more folks.”