Increasing Awareness. Educating the Public. Erasing Stigma.
Families United for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in Shawn's memory by his family, dedicated to providing a safe space for people touched by addiction. Our mission is to increase awareness, provide effective resources, & erase the stigma surrounding SUDs.
What Guides Us
We Lead with Love, Truth, and Courage
We believe lived experience is expertise. Bereaved families carry a unique urgency & fearlessness, & we will use it to protect others & drive lasting change.
Every Life Has Value
We believe every person has the right to live & be treated with dignity, regardless of their substance use, circumstances, or anyone else's opinion.
Punishment Deepens Harm
We believe criminalization, shame, & fear-based messaging increase stigma & isolation, making people less likely to seek help & more likely to die alone.
The Overdose Crisis is a Public Health Issue
We believe substance use disorder is a health condition, not a moral failure, & our response must be rooted in science, compassion, & science-backed care.
Families Belong in the Conversation
We believe parents & loved ones need truthful information, real support, & a voice in decisions because families are essential to prevention, care, & recovery.
Hope Requires Action
We believe change is possible when support, treatment, & connection, not just slogans. We focus on practical solutions
that save lives.
What We Do
- Advocacy and Systems Change
We advocate for policies that treat the overdose crisis as a public health issue through expanding care, protecting human rights, & repairing systems that have failed families.
- Peer Parent Coaching
We support parents & caregivers navigation substance use disorder in the family, offering practical tools, emotional grounding, & guidance rooted in lived experience.
- Education and Public Awareness
We share clear, stigma-free resources about substance use disorder, overdose prevention, & recovery so families & communities can respond with understanding, not fear.
- Peer Grief Support
We provide compassionate support for families grieving oversode loss, helping them feel less alone while honoring grief as a love that has nowhere else to go.
- Harm Reduction and Life-Saving Support
We promote strategies that keep people alive & connected, including overdose prevention & safer-use education, because survival is the starting point for healing.
- Honoring Lives Lost
We uplift the names & stories of those we've lost, ensuring they are remembered with dignity & that their lives continue to create meaning & momentum for change.
Our Projects
The Mayor of Maple Avenue Podcast
This award-winning national podcast tells the tragic and profound story of Shawn Sinisi, exploring his battle with mental health & addiction, stemming from childhood trauma, including his history as the first documented victim of Jerry Sandusky to pass away. This project won the prestigious "Best Podcast" award in Pennsylvania. Created in collaboration with Meadowlark Media & Advance Local, it serves as a critical educational tool forunderstanding the intersection of trauma & SUD.
Free Clothing Giveaways
FUFC is proud to expand our reach
by offering freeresources to any woman in need to support their path forward. We offer clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, & hygiene products.
The Circle of hope
Located at Tuckahoe Park in Altoona, this monument is a collaborative projectbetween family members, friends, & an artist in recovery. It provides a serene space for reflection & support for anyone affected by Substance Use Disorder.
Our peer support services and educational resources are dedicated to helping families affected by substance use. We provide compassionate guidance, emotional support, and practical tools to help families navigate the challenges of substance use disorder and loss.
If your needs extend beyond the support we can provide, we will help connect you with a licensed therapist or treatment provider. Please note that we cannot guarantee placement, as availability and eligibility may vary.
A member of our team will personally meet with any family members who are struggling with the loss of a loved one due to substance use disorder. We believe no one should walk this path alone.
Narcan is available upon request. We will provide it directly to those who need it and can offer information on how to use it safely and effectively.
For help locating a licensed therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapist Locator or call 1-800-273-8255 within the U.S.
For licensed drug and alcohol treatment providers, contact SAMHSA or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you are in a medical emergency, call 911, or 988 if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or legal advice. It is not intended for diagnosing or treating any medical condition. Families United For Change does not endorse or promote the use of controlled substances and disclaims any liability, injury, or damages resulting from reliance on the information presented here.
