CHD’s FIRST Steps Together program held an open house at their location in Easthampton, MA, on Tuesday, February 11, for those interested in learning more about the program, including fellow organization staff, local partners, and more. Though new to Easthampton, CHD’s FIRST Steps Together has an existing location in Pittsfield, MA.

FIRST (Families In Recovery SupporT) Steps Together is a peer coaching and parenting support program for moms recovering from opioid dependence. FIRST Steps functions as a home-visiting program in which moms with children up to the age of five are connected with a family recovery support specialist, who is also a peer with lived experience, to walk beside them on their recovery and early parenting journey.

“It’s a home-visiting program but we also encourage people to come here to us to talk about what they might need,” said Peer Specialist Jessica Judice. “We meet them where they are in their journey, and go from there.”

In addition to home or community-based recovery coaching and parenting support, the program also offers recovery and parenting groups, referrals for physical and mental health care and substance use treatment, connections to community-based services, and help with the ongoing services they may already receive.

The new location sits adjacent to CHD’s Easthampton Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic. In addition to its warm and inviting office space, the Easthampton location also offers additional resources for moms and their children alike, including basic needs like wipes, as well as access to toys and coloring supplies for kids.