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Hochul: More than $3.7 million to support addiction prevention services across state

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Fri, Jan 21st 2022 04:25 pm

Funding will support prevention providers impacted by COVID-19 pandemic and allow them to expand evidence-based practices

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the award of more than $3.7 million to expand evidence-based addiction prevention services throughout New York. Funding was awarded to providers in each of the state's 10 economic development regions, and will support prevention providers who had their services negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is administering this funding.

"Like many New Yorkers, my family has been affected by addiction," Hochul said. "Expanding support services for those dealing with addiction is as vital as ever as we battle the opioid crisis. We will continue to work with local partners to boost preventative measures and treatment to help set New Yorkers on the path to recovery."

OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "Prevention is an important pillar of the OASAS continuum of care, and during the COVID-19 pandemic our prevention providers have faced unprecedented challenges in delivering their services. Providers awarded funding through this initiative have the opportunity to greatly increase their prevention infrastructure, and make the changes that they need to continue to provide these lifesaving services in the communities they serve."

Throughout the pandemic, many providers have had to pivot from in-person services to using remote and virtual services, which presented challenges in continuing to reach individuals and communities in need. Providers can use these awards either as start-up funding to create new services, or to support continued delivery of existing services and update programs. It can also be used to upgrade IT systems and videoconferencing platforms.

New York State Sen. Peter Harckham said, "Providing increased state funding aimed at prevention programs for residents with substance use disorder will save lives. More resources in the fight against the overdose epidemic will allow providers and advocates to continue work on reducing easy access to substances, and empowering communities through education and risk perception on substance use. Once again, I commend Gov. Hochul for her tireless work in safeguarding our residents, and ensuring that important public health initiatives like this are properly funded."

Assembly member Phil Steck said, "The introduction of telehealth and video-conferencing has allowed for those in substance use treatment during COVID-19 to still receive outpatient services for both substance use and mental health disorders, as well as provide prevention services. However, it is well-known that both private and public organizations in this arena are woefully underfunded. This funding will allow these awardees to expand their services beyond just those individuals onsite. I am very pleased that this award went specifically to ‘evidence-based’ addiction prevention services, and to see that many Capital Region organizations are in receipt of these funds."

Information about the types of evidence-based programs approved by OASAS can be found here.

Local awardees include:

  • Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Inc: $27,004
  • Council on Addiction Recovery Services Inc.: $69,054
  • Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council (CASAC): $70,000
  • EPIC – Every Person Influences Children: $45,000
  • Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Inc. (The Prevention Council of Erie County): $45,000
  • Preventionfocus Inc.: $10,679
  • West Side Community Services: $25,994
  • Western New York United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse Inc.: $21,825
  • Northpointe Council Inc.: $70,000

Hochul’s team said, “Over the past several years, New York state has instituted an aggressive, multipronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment and recovery services. To combat this epidemic, the state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment programs, as well as medication-assisted treatment, and mobile treatment and transportation services.”

Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, nontraditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

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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