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Gardner Community Action Team (GCAT)
The Gardner Community Action Team (GCAT)
is a community coalition that coordinates substance use prevention efforts in the City of Gardner.
Our mission is to increase the health and wellness of the Gardner community by reducing youth substance use and enhancing its protective factors while reversing or reducing risk factors.
The Gardner Community Action Team (GCAT) is comprised of residents, business owners, public officials, city employees and stakeholders all of which come together to make up the city of Gardner.
These coalition members work closely with all of its community partners to coordinate, plan and implement activities and learning opportunities for the community as a whole. These activities and learning opportunities include, but are not limited to, multi-media marketing campaigns, community and school educational programs and events, town hall events, conferences and health fairs.
Programs offered by GCAT
Training Active Bystander (TAB) – TAB is a way to analyze harm doing situation and assist participants in discovering the positive power of bystanders.
Game Changers - Resiliency skills building workshop for High School students
Escape The Vape - Hands on interactive activity that teaches the students about harmful effects of vaping
Guiding Good Choices –Guiding Good Choices (GGC) is a family competency training program for parents of children in middle school that gives parents the skills needed to reduce their children’s risk for using alcohol and other drugs
GCAT partnering organization
Organization/Group Name | Contact Person | Link to information | Type of Organization/Group | Focus |
GCAT | Veronika Patty | https://www.facebook.com/GardnerGCAT | Community Coalition | Substance Use Prevention |
Voices of Truth | Bernice Richard | https://www.voicesoftruthcenter.org | Organization/Faith based | Domestic Violence |
Gardner Domestic Violence Task Force | Bernice Richard | https://www.facebook.com/GardnerDomesticViolenceTaskForce | Organization/Faith based | Domestic Violence Awareness |
Alyssa's Place | Alexa Perivolotis | https://www.alyssasplace.org/ | Peer Recovery Center | Substance Use |
AdCare | Jaci Cavaioli | jcavaioli@adcare.com | Community Services | Substance Use Treatment |
Recovery Centers of America | Tara Rivera | https://recoverycentersofamerica.com/ | Inpatient addiction treatment | Substance Use Disorder Treatment |
United Way Youth Venture | Lauren Mountain | https://uwyv.mwcc.edu | Youth Support | Civic entrepreneurship |
Mount Wachusett Community College | Sharmese Gunn | https://mwcc.edu/academics/k-12/programs/gateway/ | Community College | Education for youth |
Healthy Families North Worcester | Karen Culkeen | https://www.carecentralvnahospice.org/ | Home visiting | Parent Education and support |
GPS / Heywood Hospital | Renee Eldredge | http://www.gardnerk12.org/DocumentCenter/View/6352/School-Based-Care-Coordination-Services | Public School | Care coordination / Community healthworker |
GPS / Heywood Hospital | Renee Eldredge | https://www.heywood.org/about-us/community-benefit | Local area hospital | Care coordination / Community healthworker |
GAAMHA | Michelle Dunn | https://www.facebook.com/gaamhainc/ | Substance Use Disorder Services | Residential treatment/ Housing/ Community services |
The AED Foundation | Michelle Dunn | https://facebook.com/aedfoundation | Substance Use Disorder | Assistance/education |
LUK Prevention | Liz Benard | https://www.facebook.com/LUKPrevention | Substance Use Prevention | Substance Use Prevention |
The AED Foundation | Michelle Dunn | https://facebook.com/aedfoundation | Substance Use Disorder | Assistance/education |
Joint Coalition Health | Susan Buchholz | https://www.facebook.com/Joint-Coalition-on-Health-345517582509386/ | Community Coalition | Social Determinants of Health |
Facing Additiction in Fitchburg and Beyond | Tara Rivera | https://www.facebook.com/FacingAddictionInFitchburgAndBeyond/ | Community Coalition | SUD Advocacy |
Community Health Network for North Central MA (CHNA 9) | Chelsey Patriss | https://chna9.com/ | Community Coalition | Health Equity |
First Congregational Church of Gardner | Sue Rader | https://www.facebook.com/First-Congregational-Church-Gardner-MA | Religious | Serving our community |
Heywood Healthcare | Michael Ellis | https://www.facebook.com/HeywoodHospitalGardner/ | Healthcare | North Central MA |