VBT Police move forward with ‘Hope Not Handcuffs’ program

Thanks to a new partnership between Families Against Narcotics (FAN) and the Van Buren Township Police Department, people who are seeking treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction will now have a convenient, local option for accessing the help they need.
A news release from FAN, a Macomb County-based nonprofit that assists individuals and families affected by substance use disorder, said FAN is excited to announce that its “Hope Not Handcuffs” initiative is now up and running at the Van Buren Township PD.
One of FAN’s most successful programs, “Hope Not Handcuffs,” is designed to give people who are struggling with substance abuse disorder a safe and easy way to access help: by visiting their local police station.
The program’s concept is simple: Any person who is battling a substance use disorder can go to a participating agency and say they want help. They will be greeted with support, compassion, and respect, and one of FAN’s trained volunteer “Angels” will be dispatched to meet them.
The Angel will then contact FAN’s call center and work with them to get the individual placed into treatment. In addition, program participants will be connected with peer support services, and their families will be offered family support services.
Since its inception in February of 2017, “Hope Not Handcuffs” has been implemented at 140 law enforcement agencies and community partners across Michigan, and has connected people to addiction treatment resources more than 11,800 times, the news release said.
Van Buren Township Police Chief Jason Wright said he is looking forward to a successful collaboration with “Hope Not Handcuffs” in his community.
“Our department is always watching for innovative partnerships that further the quality of life for our residents and ‘Hope Not Handcuffs’ is a great fit,” Wright said. “Together we can make a difference in someone’s life. Compassion and forward-thinking can pave the way to positive change. I support ‘Hope Not Handcuffs’ and the valuable resources they provide.”
FAN’s “Hope Not Handcuffs” program, which depends on volunteer Angels to help it run smoothly, is looking for people in the Van Buren Township area to fill that role.
“Our volunteer Angels are such an integral part of the ‘Hope Not Handcuffs’ initiative,” program director Kim Baffo said.
“By volunteering as an Angel, people can assist fellow community members who are struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction find recovery and get a fresh start on life. This makes the community as a whole healthier. By working together, we can also help reduce the stigma associated with the disease of addiction and facilitate positive change,” she said.
Baffo noted that the schedule for volunteer Angels is “extremely flexible” and the work is “incredibly rewarding.”
For more information on becoming a volunteer Angel, or to register for an upcoming virtual or in-person training session, go to familiesagainstnarcotics.org/hopenothandcuffs-angel, email [email protected], or call 833-202-HOPE (4673).