SOFAR (Supporting Our Families through Addiction and Recovery) is a medical home within the pediatric primary care clinic for children whose parent(s) have a substance use disorder. SOFAR provides ongoing support for families by fostering attachment, enhancing child development, providing recovery/parental mental health support, and facilitating access to specialty medical services within our clinic.
The SOFAR team of pediatricians, social workers, and patient navigators supports the entire family in navigating the medical system, and to link to school and community resources. We offer specialized mental health support for children and their parents, and we have an embedded developmental behavioral pediatrician on our team. We know that parents themselves need support along the way, and we are here to provide that too!
We also work closely with foster parents, grandparents, and other caregivers. We know that times of transition are difficult, and we are here to ensure everyone is supported.
To learn more about our program or to make a referral please call us at 617-414-6640.
Contact Us
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Some availability on other days if needed. Pediatric Primary Care is open Monday-Saturday.
Treatments & Services
For children and adolescents:
- Primary care medical home
- Pediatric infectious disease care
- Developmental assessment and links to early intervention services
- Mental health support
- Family Navigation
- Substance Use Prevention work for our older patients
For mothers:
- Internal connection to mental health and primary care
- External connection to services
- Advocacy
- Recovery Support Navigation
Our Team
SOFAR is a multidisciplinary team who work closeley together to provide high-quality, coordinated medical and psychosocial care for families to maximize their ability to successfully navigate parenting and substance use recovery.
Mei A. Elansary, MD
Jill E. Kasper, MD
More About Me
Alison Cohan
Emma Prescott
Family Navigator
Allie Longworth
Family Navigator
Additional Information
Listen in on Dr. Eileen Costello talking about why family centered addiction care is so important
Research Overview
Children and families of the opioid epidemic: Under the radar. Stulac S, Bair-Merritt M, Wachman EM, Augustyn M, Howard C, Madoor N, Costello E.Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2019 Aug;49(8):100637. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2019.07.002. Epub 2019 Sep 5.
Low Barrier Tele-Buprenorphine in the Time of COVID-19: A Case Report. Harris M, Johnson S, Mackin S, Saitz R, Walley AY, Taylor JL.J Addict Med. 2020 Jul/Aug;14(4):e136-e138. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000682.PMID: 32433364 Free PMC article.