MALDEN — Two years ago this week, the Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA) group formed with a mission to help anyone needing their assistance to cope with the disease of addiction.
MOA has grown in membership and goals and after celebrating its second anniversary with Malden Overcomes Day last weekend, also welcomed some impressive accomplishments by two of its founders.
MOA President Paul Hammersley and MOA Recovery Coach Program Coordinator Dawna Aiello have received certifications from the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification, Inc., as Certified Addictions Recovery Coaches.
Aiello is the first woman and Hammersley is the second man to be certified in the state of Massachusetts, two of only four certified Addictions Recovery Coaches in Massachusetts.
“It was a lengthy process, but it was extremely worthwhile and we look forward to sharing our knowledge and expertise with others in the community and the area,” Hammersley said.
The certification process took approximately one year and included a 30-hour recovery coach training designed by Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery. There is an additional 30 hours of training in various categories such as advocacy, mentoring/education, mental health, ethical considerations, cultural competencies, wellness/recovery, and motivational interviewing. Candidates must have 500 hundred hours of supervision by a recovery coach supervisor.
In the past 12 months MOA has played a major role in the training of more than 50 volunteer recovery coaches, some of whom currently work with residents both locally and from the area in the Malden Drug Court program.
MOA celebrated its anniversary with a free day of food and fun held at Lincoln Commons last Saturday. The Junior Aid Association of Malden provided major funding through a donation for this year’s event.
MOA now has more than 100 volunteers as members organizing events such as Celebrate Sober, The Candlelight Vigil, Pledge for Malden, Stop the Stigma Day and Malden Overcomes Day. MOA is also actively lobbying for opening the Bridge Recovery Center in Malden.
