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NYS OASAS announces availability of funding to support addiction prevention workforce

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Wed, Mar 2nd 2022 04:35 pm

Funding to allow providers to establish paid internship positions to strengthen prevention workforce, with emphasis on diversity in New York

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports  announced the availability of up to $1 million in funding for OASAS-certified and funded prevention providers to establish and support paid internship positions. Providers can receive up to $21,000 under this initiative, which is focused on attracting diverse individuals into the prevention field and providing them a pathway toward a professional credential.

“Prevention is a vital part of the OASAS continuum of care, and it is important that we support the providers who deliver these services,” OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “This initiative will strengthen the prevention workforce and make it easier to recruit qualified and dedicated people to this rewarding field, while also providing them with a comprehensive learning and development program.”

The paid prevention internship opportunity (PPIO) program is, OASAS noted, “intended to recruit talented, skilled, knowledgeable and diverse staff to the field. This allows the providers to gain dedicated workers, allows the workers to receive valuable job experience and development, and provides an entry-level path toward a professional credential such as a certified prevention professional (CPP) or certified prevention specialist (CPS).”

A key objective of this program is for providers to recruit interns to meet the needs of the populations and communities they serve. Applications that identify efforts to recruit Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ, refugee and other minority groups will receive additional points in scoring.

This funding will be awarded through a request for applications administered by OASAS, which is available to view here. The deadline for submissions is March 31.

Assembly member Phil Steck said, “OASAS has recognized the need for workforce development in the treatment field. Working directly with colleges and universities has not been the traditional manner in which treatment providers have sourced employees. A paid internship program will allow providers to work with these institutions, while also creating opportunity and a pathway forward to credentialing.”

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, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

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].

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