Maureen McGlame, LCSW, LADC I, MEd has changed many lives—not with fanfare, but with quiet strength, deep empathy, and an unwavering commitment to children and families affected by addiction. For more than 25 years, she has led COASA (Children of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse), a program she created to support young people growing up in the shadows of alcohol and substance use. Through COASA school groups, community workshops, and Camp COASA, Maureen created a space where children could speak the truth, break the silence, and begin to heal. “I was meant to do this work,” she says. “I had the opportunity to do something that means the world to me.”

COASA is grounded not in traditional therapy, but through a therapeutic process of supportive education—giving kids and families the tools to understand alcohol and substance use disorders, make safe decisions, and build resilience. In group circles and over take-out dinners, in storybooks and shared games, Maureen has helped young people realize they weren’t alone. She sees them grow into social workers, teachers, and compassionate adults who are now breaking the cycle in their own families. We are deeply grateful to Maureen for all she has done—and continues to do.

The path that led Maureen to this work was personal. After graduating from Boston University, she joined the Peace Corps and spent two transformative years teaching in rural Cameroon. Life there was intense and eye-opening. In a place with no electricity, alcohol was a part of daily life—and one night, Maureen experienced a blackout that shook her. She recognized it as something familiar: “the family illness.” After returning home to receive treatment for a tropical illness and grieving the death of her mother, she made the courageous decision to enter recovery at age 30. She’s now been in long-term recovery for 52 years.

From there, Maureen poured her passion into building programs across Greater Boston. She started out counseling people experiencing homelessness in the South End and eventually became a leader in addiction services at St. Elizabeth’s, Family Counseling and Guidance Centers, and Massachusetts General Hospital—where she still facilitates a long-running family support group. Along the way, she earned her master’s, helped train future counselors, served on state advisory councils, and advocated tirelessly to make sure children of addiction were seen and supported. Her programs were among the first to center the family system—not just the individual struggling with substance use.

For Maureen, the work has always been about telling the truth and helping others find theirs. “The rules of the alcoholic family are: don’t talk, don’t trust, don’t feel,” she says. COASA turns that silence into connection. Through evidence-based practices, shared stories, and simple tools like the “7 Cs” or the ACEs study, Maureen has helped children name what’s happening around them and realize they have choices—and rights. “You keep putting drops in the bucket,” she says, “and one day, it overflows into something that changes lives.”

As we bid farewell to COASA as of July first, we send our heartfelt best wishes to the remarkable woman who brought it to life. Maureen’s vision, persistence, and love have built something that will continue to ripple outward—helping children speak their truth, find safe people, and know they are not alone. We are cheering Maureen on with deep gratitude and admiration, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to touch lives in the years ahead.