Are you interested in getting involved with Task Force-related efforts?
Task Force work groups meet on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and are always welcoming new volunteers. To learn more, contact a representative from one of the organizations below:
| Task Force Work Groups | State Co-Chair | Community Co-Chair |
| Prevention | Tara Cooper (EOHHS) Elizabeth Farrar (BHDDH) |
Obed Papp, City of Providence Healthy Communities Office |
| Rescue | Jennifer Koziol, (RIDOH) | Michelle McKenzie, Preventing Overdose and Naloxone Intervention (PONI) |
| Harm Reduction | Erin Brown (RIDOH) | Katelyn Case, AIDS Care Ocean State |
| Treatment | Linda Mahoney (BHDDH) | Dr. Susan Hart |
| Recovery | Candace Rodgers (BHDDH) | George O’Toole, Recovery Community Co-chair |
| First Responder | Megan Umbriano (RIDOH) | Chief John Silva, North Providence Fire Department |
| Racial Equity | Monica Tavares (RIDOH) | Dennis Bailer, Project Weber/RENEW Carlene Fonseca, The Greatest You Consulting |
| Substance Exposed Newborn (SEN) | Margo Katz (RIDOH) Kristy Whitcomb (RIDOH) |
Michelle Sherman, Family Services of Rhode Island |
| Family Work Group | Trisha Suggs (BHDDH) | Laurie MacDougall, Allies in Recovery |
For general inquiries about the Task Force Work Groups, please contact:
- Cathy Schultz – Director, Governor’s Overdose Task Force, Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
Learn More about the Task Force Work Groups
Family Work Group
The Family Work Group is a group of active and informed family members of youth, young adults, and adults who have or have had opioid and/or a substance use disorder and are now raising public awareness, educating, and advocating for policy reform.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
First Responder Work Group
The First Responder Work Group is dedicated to promoting an exchange of actionable information between police, fire, EMS and public health by providing access to certain law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and public health data with the intention of providing a discussion mechanism for all partners.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Harm Reduction Work Group
The Harm Reduction Work Group develops and evaluates strategies for helping people who use drugs to avoid some of the health and social challenges associated with drug use. The group supports approaches that connect people at high risk of death, overdose, or other urgent physical or social danger with supportive services, networks, and resources that reduce this risk.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Prevention Strategy Work Group
The mission of the Prevention Strategy Work Group is to prevent overdoses, overdose deaths, and opioid misuse by identifying, developing, and evaluating multi-level strategies and interventions. The Prevention Strategy work group is a collaboration of state and community partners.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Rescue Strategy Work Group
The mission of the Rescue Strategy Work Group is to eliminate overdose deaths in Rhode Island by ensuring that overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, and public awareness and preparedness are delivered to all populations using a comprehensive, data-driven approach with special attention given to populations and people who are most vulnerable and underserved. Additionally, the Rescue Strategy Work Group works collaboratively with local partners to ensure sustainable funding for a naloxone supply and to be responsive to local needs in overdose prevention in all Rhode Island communities.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Racial Equity Work Group
The Racial Equity Work Group is a coalition of healthcare professionals, State agency administrators, community leaders and advocates, peers, activists, and government representatives that are also involved in statewide overdose prevention and intervention efforts. This work group seeks to address racial equity in healthcare, advocate for criminal justice and legislative reforms, and increase the diversity in leadership roles in the 10 working groups across the Task Force Overdose Prevention Strategic Plan, and empower members to bring a racial equity lens to all other work groups of the Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Recovery Strategy Work Group
The Recovery Strategy Work Group is a centralized location for recovery supporters of all types to share community resources to build statewide recovery capital. As one of the four main pillars, the Recovery Work Group’s primary goal has been to address the growing need and capacity for peer recovery support services. Successful community and individual recovery nurtures the individual’s health, home, community, and purpose regardless of race, ethnicity, age, class, or gender.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Substance-Exposed Newborns (SEN) Work Group
The Rhode Island Work Group to Support Pregnant and Parenting Families with Substance-Exposed Newborns (SEN) is committed to improving a discrimination- and bias-free system of care that supports the bio-psycho-social health and well-being of pregnant and parenting people who use substances and their substance exposed newborns.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Treatment Strategy Work Group
The Treatment Strategy Work Group is a multidisciplinary group of individuals who gather to review timely overdose related data in order to identify tends and patterns to increase access to quality treatment and decrease barriers related to discrimination and stigma . As one of the four main pillars, the Treatment Work Group’s primary goal has been to address the core initiative which has been to increase access to medications that support recovery for individuals who have an opioid use disorder.
When & Where: Meeting times are subject to change – email the Task Force Work Group Chair to confirm meeting times.
Last updated: Monday, January 29th, 2024