Alyssa Holsopple is a member of the Voices of Hope backpack outreach and homeless engagement teams and is a resident of Cecil County.  She drove early to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 to represent the needs of our local recovery community.  She joined a team from across Maryland to advocate for recovery issues and resources to our policy makers.  The day was coordinated by Faces and Voices of Recovery and started with a briefing sponsored by the House Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force.  Afterwards, Alyssa met with a member of the appropriations committee and representative for Congressman Andy Harris.  Following that, she met with a Staff Aide for Senator Van Hollen.

Alyssa said that the advocacy team talked about bills currently being considered that need funding added for recovery supports.  They stressed that the funding going into the existing treatment structure just is not enough.  The Federal block grants given to the states for prevention and recovery gets significantly cut by the time the money gets to where it is intended.  They also discussed how the overall correctional system needs monetary support for recovery programs.  Alyssa said the briefing included representatives from New Hampshire and Maine who talked about how the addiction problem effects so many.  The representative from Maine shared about how his brother died from an overdose.    The representative from New Hampshire has a brother in recovery.

Alyssa represents Voices of Hope – people in recovery, family members and allies who support recovery in Cecil County, Maryland.  She makes a difference by being an active part of the solution to the behavioral health crisis we all face.  You can too.  Join Voices of Hope and come to our next Volunteer Recovery Army training on August 25 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Susquehanna Workforce Center in Elkton.