Dickinson College is partnering with the Cumberland County Commission for Women to host a panel of experts discussing care for children whose parents have been lost to or are struggling with opioid addiction. The talk, “The Impact of Opioid Addiction: Who Cares for the Children?" will take place Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Stern Center Great Room. The event is free and open to the public.
The panel discussion is moderated by Carrie Perry '94 and Flora Posteraro, hosts of the “Chick2Chick” podcast. In addition, the event will include messages from grandparents raising their grandchildren due to opioid addiction, a guide to local resources and a question-and-answer session.
Panelists include Rev. Donna Hale of the YWCA Carlisle, Matthew Null of Gaudenzia and Nikki McElwee of Cumberland County Children and Youth Services.
Hale is the founder of GRANDS, a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren due to the opioid crisis. She also volunteers in the Cumberland County Drug Treatment and Mental Health Courts and is a member of the Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Substance Abuse Coalition. Null is the referral development manager with Gaudenzia in Harrisburg, a drug and alcohol recovery program provider. He sits on numerous community and coalition groups and has provided services for many task forces and prevention/recovery organizations. McElwee, administrator for Cumberland County Children and Youth Services, is responsible for the department’s mission of providing professional services to protect the safety and welfare of children, preserving and supporting families and identifying a safe and permanent home for children who cannot remain in their living environment.
Published October 28, 2019