PSCP Directors

Grandparent Peer Grief Support Specialist

Kerry Bickford is a retired Youth Development Educator (25 years) who became a peer grief helper following the death of her son, Nathan. She is the founding editor of VOICES, a monthly newsletter for people who are bereaved, and works as a Peer Grief Specialist for SADOD. Although she works with all adults over 18, her focus is grandparents and relative caregivers - including grandparents raising grandchildren - who have been deeply impacted by the overdose epidemic.

The Sun Will Rise Founder

Robyn started the first The Sun Will Rise support group in 2015. TSWR is the nonprofit subcontractor for the SADOD project. TSWR and SADOD work together to expand peer grief support to everyone in Massachusetts bereaved due to substance use.

Bookkeeper

My name is Heidi and I am a bookkeeper here at PSCP. I’ve worked in finance most of my life, but I stepped away from the banking industry after losing my sister Heather to alcohol in 2021. I find great solace in my work here and the kindness and support of my coworkers has been incredibly healing and endlessly motivating. It is an honor to work with those who provide much needed support to our bereaved community!

The Sun Will Rise Director / Peer Grief Support Specialist

Leslie Lagos is the director of The Sun Will Rise Foundation (TSWR), SADOD’s partner in delivering grief support in Massachusetts, where she oversees the expansion of in-person and virtual peer grief support meetings. Leslie founded the Timothy Patrick Morrissey (TPM) Memorial Fund in honor of her brother, who died from an overdose in 2013. She is a person in long-term recovery.

Peer Grief Support Specialist

Melissa was working as a Post Overdose Specialist when she lost her only biological son, Sean Steven Miller, on 9/13/2023. Two out of three of her children struggled with SUD and Sean lost his Battle just as his older sister was getting well.

Moving into the role of Peer Grief Support Specialist has been the best way to turn her pain into purpose while allowing herself to grieve the many losses she has experienced as well. Helping others in their grief journey is what life has prepared her for and finding a company like has been like winning the lottery.

Community Peer Grief Support Program Consultant / Peer Grief Support Specialist

Don Lipstein, CBFRLC, ACC, is a grief-focused professional who has been facilitating individual and group support for over 10 years. He is currently working with SADOD as a Peer Grief Support Program Coordinator. He founded Imagine Family Recovery LLC in 2020 and is continuing to offer his compassionate care to the newly bereaved. Don lost his oldest son, Joshua to suicide in 2011 after a long battle with alcohol and substance use.

Peer Grief Ally Program Coordinator / Peer Grief Support Specialist

Aileen Lovejoy is the mom of a son who suffered with the disease of addiction for 20+yrs and died on May 12th, 2013, Mother's day, from an overdose 2 days following his birthday. She co-facilitates the HALO 18 Grief Group in Worcester. Aileen volunteers as a group leader for grief support at the Carriage House, Worcester, and is a member of Team Sharing-MA. She is a Peer Grief Support Specialist and a Peer Grief Ally, providing one on one support to those who have loved one to the disease of addiction. Aileen is also a member of the Worcester DA's Opioid Task Force.

Chief Operating Officer

Carrie McFadden, MPH, I joined the SADOD team in November 2021 to assist with direct service provider focus groups. Through my work with SADOD, I have had the space, support and grace to acknowledge and grieve whom I have loved and lost to the disease of addiction. I began my early career in a mindset of trying to fix my family history and now I realize all we can really do is connect with others who have walked similar paths, support with love, without judgment, and move forward as we are able.

Direct Care Service Provider Manager

Gabriel Quaglia, a certified community health worker, has worked for the past 7 years in service delivery, program development, and training for harm reduction, SUD treatment programs, and peer grief support. As a person in long term recovery, Gabriel has worked for over twelve years in advocacy and direct action with people who use drugs and people experiencing homelessness. Currently they are working for SADOD developing support for direct service providers (DSP), facilitating groups for DSPs experiencing grief and loss as well as providing training and technical assistance relevant to DSP support.

Community Peer Grief Support Program Assistant

Nic Scarmeas is a Reiki practitioner and a recovery coach, and she will graduate from Simmons University in May with a master’s degree in social work. She is a 2019 MetroWest Health Leadership Program alumni. Nic is an advocate and has served on five regional opioid task forces, including the Metrowest Opioid Coalition and Marion Ryan’s Opioid Task Force. She is known in the communities she has served as a collaborator, including with JRI, RIZE, Jewish Family Services, Advocates, Behavioral Health Community Partners, Natick Health Department, and Natick Police Department. Nic enjoys spending time with family and friends, writing, and managing her tabby cat’s social media accounts.

Newsletter Editor

Luke Schmaltz is the Editor of VOICES, the monthly newsletter from SADOD. He inspires readers through stories about bereaved people, peer grief helpers, direct service providers, and people in recovery. He is also a member of the company’s social media and Visions & Voices content teams.

Direct Care Service Provider Program Development Associate /Group Facilitator

Jill Shanahan (she/her) is a queer, neurodivergent, harm reductionist and is a person in recovery from chaotic alcohol use. She has a bachelor's degree from UMass Dartmouth and spent 15 years working in Massachusetts with people who use drugs; in drop-in centers, syringe service programs and other settings. Over this time Jill has become passionate about supporting staff of the workforce through training, mentoring and overall peer support. She is a peer group facilitator with SADOD for CPGS and the Direct Service Provider Program.

Kaitlyn is a mom of teenage twins and a young son. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from elms college and an addiction studies certificate from HCC. She is a recovery coach and a person in long term recovery from IV drug use and self harm. She is a harm reductionist.

She has lost many people close to her due to substance related deaths. Including her dad who committed suicide in jail, her best friend, and her closest cousin. These are just some of the people that she does grief work in remembrance of.

She has worked as a direct service provider her whole adult life. And has lost many peers and clients due to substances. From being a CNA, peer recovery specialist, substance use/ mental health counselor and many other positions she has been in many roles helping people who use drugs (PWUD).

Due to her personal trials like teen pregnancy, homelessness, domestic violence and dual diagnosis she has a passion for helping marginalized people/populations. While working in various settings she learned the hardships of direct service providers and became aware of the lack of support for those on the front lines. Especially when it came to grief. Knowing the weight of the work she wanted to be part of holding space for those who tirelessly fight on a daily bases- so they didn't have to carry the weight alone.

She loves to advocate strongly for those who have had their voices taken away by society. And will run along side those people, carrying some even, untill the finish line.

Administrative Assistant

Allyson Staggs is an Administrative Assistant at SADOD (www.sadod.org). She has managed and assisted in multiple different fields. She has majored in English and minored in Childcare Development, two of her passions. The work she does for the audience we serve is in honor of her uncle Michael, who died, and her father, who suffers from substance use disorder.

Communications Content Creation Manager

Alix Maria Taulbee is a filmmaker, writer, actress, and Communications Content Creation Manager for SADOD and PSCP. She has worked in her creative endeavors in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and more. Her extensive experience in film has allowed her to take on leadership roles in the marketing world and create marketing pieces that truly resonate with the targeted audience. After losing her brother to an accidental OD in 2009 and her mother to cancer in 2022, Alix has made it a personal mission to let other siblings know they are not alone.

Special Projects Assistant

Tavyn Thuringer was PSCP’s first employee in March 2020: “I grew up in a family plagued with addiction, and I am in recovery myself after a long, hard battle. I am so grateful to be doing this work, where I am inspired every day by somebody’s story. Where I am encouraged to tell my own story. Where my grief is what connects me with others, not what sets me apart. Where I am loved and supported by my co-workers without condition, and where simply being myself is what makes me an asset. I love working where my job is to help give people a safe space to grieve and be themselves.”

Director of Outreach Programs

Laura Vargas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has spent her career developing grief support programs for individuals, families, and communities bereaved by the overdose crisis. As a Latina living in the US and working in behavioral health, she has focused on ensuring resources and services are offered in culturally appropriate manners. Laura finds great passion in developing and expanding SADOD’s outreach programs.