Welcome Kate Kneeland, new Police Clinician to the Police Force!

Kate Kneeland comes to us from Riverside Community Care. She is embedded full-time with us but is still an employee of Riverside. 

She is a Master’s level Clinician who has experience dealing with every age range of client, from children through the elderly. 

She is currently working Monday-Thursday from 1 -9pm, and Friday from 3-11pm. This schedule is based on our calls for service history and need for an on scene clinician.

  The technical name for this 100% grant funded position is Jail Diversion, but that does not adequately explain her role within the department. Jail Diversion began as a way to divert those with mental health struggles or substance use disorders from the rotating cell to court route. This helped them get the services needed that the Criminal Justice system is not prepared to provide. 

Also, the ability to divert from the ER, where many people end up out of necessity but this is super costly for individuals and taxpayers and does not provide the care or services needed and it ties up our emergency medical teams, from the Fire Department to the ER staff and makes it harder for those who actually need acute care. 

Kate can do the same assessments in the community and then work with individuals and families to make referrals for follow-up care and treatment. 

Kate has acclimated quickly to Ashland and is working seamlessly with Officer Ostreicher and Town Social Worker Jennifer Wuelfing to enhance the work that they have been doing for the citizens and visitors of Ashland. She has been welcomed and embraced by us at APD and we look forward to continuing to work with her for years to come!

Welcome Cheryl Bell to the Ashland Community Center Team!

Please join me in welcoming Cheryl Bell to our Team at the Ashland Senior Center! Cheryl is our New Outreach Coordinator and is available to assist Senior residents with information and resources such as Fuel Assistance, SNAP benefits, Transportation information to name a few.

Please contact Cheryl at 508-532-7945 or [email protected] for assistance or stop by to say hello at the Senior Center!