Initiative

ment.

Speaking to the selectmen, Page-shelton said, “Our focus is on supporting the community. Our approach to this is fourtiered: prevention, crisis response, recovery and training.”

Page-shelton is speaking across the state, describing how the program works so other communities might adopt it.

The Front Line Initiative provides “access to clinical services and educational opportunities to all members of the communities we serve regardless of insurance, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual preference, age, race, and there is no requirement that they be policeinvolved,” he said.

The prevention component of the Front Line Initiative

focuses on youth through ongoing engagement with schools, communities and civil organizations, according to Pageshelton.

Through the crisis response component, “We provide co-response with officers that can serve to divert from unnecessary emergency room visits and unnecessary arrests,” he said.

In recovery support, “We provide ongoing access to recovery support through our various programs, including clinical support for both individual and group formats.”

The training components offer numerous opportunities for police officers and communities.

In the last 18 months, the Initiative has received 285 referrals from Tyngsboro,

85% of which were noncriminal, according to Page-shelton.

Numbers of referrals for the five communities from 2018 through October 2021 were 5,835 of which 78% were noncriminal.

Select Board members asked Page-shelton to let then know how they can help.

For assistance, contact 978-957-2123, ext. 2017