Essex County sheriff honored by Lynn addiction recovery home

LYNN ? Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins Jr. received a special recognition award Oct. 1 from Grace House, a local home for people recovering from addiction, particularly those who have been involved in the criminal justice program.?So much of what our residents have been able to accomplish is directly connected to Sheriff Cousins’ longtime commitment to helping justice-involved individuals return to the community and become productive citizens,” Dr. Steve Valle, founder of Grace House, said while presenting the award, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department.?This preparation is definitely working for the benefit of the residents, the taxpayer, and the entire community ? we see it every day at the Grace House.”Grace House is part of the Oxford House network of private drug/alcohol-free residences for people in recovery of addiction and mental health illnesses. Located at 181-183 North Common St., Grace House Institute was founded in 1993 to prevent homelessness among people being treated for addiction, particularly inmates being released from the criminal justice system.Cousins attended the home’s first fundraising event Oct. 1, when he was presented with a special recognition award, according to the Sheriff’s Department.The Essex County Sheriff’s Department has several initiatives with Grace House, according to the press release. Valle noted Cousins has inmates attend programs, life-skills classes and vocational training to prepare for eventual release.The department has also started a peer-mentoring project referred to as CONstructive Beginnings, through which released inmates are referred to Grace House. The program is a collaboration among the sheriff’s office, AdCare Criminal Justice Services and the Grace House Institute and also operates in Lawrence, according to the sheriff’s office.White House Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli visited Grace House in August to commend the residents, the Sheriff’s Department noted.