Reading, MA — Chief David Clark is pleased to share that Krystal Mellonakos-Garay has been named as the Outreach Coordinator for the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support.
Mellonakos began in her new role Monday, October 4, with training in substance abuse prevention through the Reading Coalition. In her new role, she will work closely with the Coalition, Reading Police, and Reading Schools to expand outreach efforts related to substance misuse and promoting mental wellness among residents.
She will develop substance use prevention programming throughout Reading, including organizing related forums and facilitating educational opportunities. Additionally, Mellonakos will serve as a resource to provide referrals and will be an integral part of the schools’ multi-tiered systems of support. She will also serve on the police department’s Crisis Intervention Team Steering Committee.
“Keeping members of our community safe from substance misuse, and connecting them with mental health resources are core elements of our work,” Chief Clark said. “Krystal has been an invaluable contributor to ours and other police departments in the region, and I am confident that she will continue to be a vital resource for Reading’s youth and families.”
She previously served as a certified domestic violence counselor embedded with the Woburn, Wilmington, and Reading Police Departments, via RESPOND Inc. With RESPOND, she focused on working alongside law enforcement personnel to establish direct connections with individuals affected by domestic violence in order to provide myriad forms of critical support. In her previous role, Mellonakos conducted risk assessments and safety planning, as well as provided case management, mental health, and housing assistance.
Mellonakos speaks both Spanish and Portuguese.
Mellonakos is currently pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northeastern University and during her undergraduate studies, she interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston and at the International Institute of New England, assisting newly-arriving refugees with finding employment.
