Pictured from left to right: Heather Putnam - U.S. Attorney's Office, Morayo Akande - New England ATTC, Scott Gagnon - New England PTTC, Maria Restrepo-Toro - New England MHTTC, Kim Nelson - SAMHSA Regional Administrator, HHS Region 1
A representative from The New England ATTC traveled to Maine with the SAMHSA Region 7 Administrator Kim Nelson and representatives from the New England PTTC and MHTTC teams. They met with multiple stakeholders including the Maine SAMHSA Director, Sheldon Wheeler and associates, Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner, Jeanne Lambrew, the US Attorney’s Office, and multiple Native American tribes. The purpose of this visit was to improve the relationship between SAMHSA and our various Maine stakeholders through the highlighting and offering of services from the various New England TTCs. The New England ATTC heard common challenges faced by the different stakeholders, particularly the challenges that the many Native American tribes and other underserved populations face in getting access to funds and suitable health care for people with substance use disorders. This trip serves as the beginning to a growing partnership between the New England ATTC and the many stakeholders in Maine. We also attended a forum hosted by the US Attorney's office on trauma informed best practices when working with victims of crime titled "Hope and Healing".