NYS: $7.7 million to support addiction workforce development through new fellowship program

Funding to support innovative program at 4 state medical schools

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced more than $7.7 million in funding will be distributed through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports to support a new workforce development and fellowship program at four medical schools across New York. This addiction workforce training initiative will support 83 New York state fellows with professional health care experience to gain educational training and development to “best meet the needs of New Yorkers impacted by addiction.”

“In my 2023 State of the State address, I outlined our commitment to supporting New Yorkers struggling with addiction across our state through significant investment in harm reduction, preventive, and treatment support programs,” Hochul said. “As medical professionals study the disease of addiction, it is imperative that we provide the appropriate professional educational training needed to best serve this population.”

This program will allow medical students, current medical professionals, and certain state workers to enter the fellowship program by supporting their stipends (or salaries) and benefits, and will also support curriculum development, instruction, and supervision of the fellows. Enrolled addiction professionals will gain experience across multiple prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery settings.

Each of the awardees listed below will receive funding through the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Supplemental Grant covering the program’s implementation for two years:

√ SUNY Upstate Medical University – $3,562,691

√ New York University Grossman School of Medicine – $2,397,908

√ Albert Einstein College of Medicine – $921,833

√ The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – $864,627

The enrolled fellows will represent the following health care professions: physicians, medical students, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed social workers, occupational therapists, licensed mental health practitioners, psychologists, credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors (CASACs), credentialed prevention professionals (CPPs), credentialed prevention specialists (CPSs), and certified recovery peer advocates (CRPAs).

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Expanding and enhancing the addiction workforce is a vital part of OASAS’ efforts to support the full continuum of services across the state. These professionals perform important work on a daily basis to assist New Yorkers who have been affected by addiction. This new, innovative fellowship program will help addiction services workers across multiple disciplines receive vital training and other professional development, which will benefit individuals and communities across the state.”

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS treatment availability dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at [email protected]. New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (short code 467369).