More than $2.9 Million in Community Prevention and Intervention Project Awards Will Support Prevention Efforts for Underserved Communities and Populations
Announcement Coincides with National Prevention Week Observance
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the award of more than $2.9 million for ten providers across the State to fund prevention services for high-need populations in underserved communities under the "Community Prevention and Intervention" initiative. These services are focused on implementing a comprehensive approach to addressing substance use, by supporting services for individuals, families, and the community at large.
"Every community in New York has been impacted by the opioid and overdose epidemic," Governor Hochul said. "Improving access to life-saving resources is critical in our efforts to helping New Yorkers affected by addiction and addressing this crisis, and this funding will help save lives and support communities as we combat this epidemic."
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "Our prevention providers serve an important role in the OASAS system of care by helping to address some of the root causes of addiction in communities across the state, as well as educating people about the risks of substance use. This initiative will allow us to better reach high-risk individuals in underserved communities with proven, effective prevention and education strategies."
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Funding these crucial prevention services will greatly benefit countless individuals, families, and communities, providing them with the resources needed to address substance use. I'm proud that this was made possible through the SAPT Supplemental block grant and am proud to support Governor Hochul's commitment to providing much-needed prevention services for high-need populations."
This announcement coincides with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Prevention Week, an annual observance designed to raise awareness of the prevention of substance misuse, and the importance of positive mental health. Visit the National Prevention Week website for more information on this observance, and the OASAS website for more information about OASAS prevention services.
The Community Prevention and Intervention Project is designed to help providers establish evidence-based prevention services targeted towards underserved communities and high-risk populations, through collaborative partnerships to address gaps in services. These populations include individuals involved in the criminal justice system, those identifying as LGBTQI+, OASAS permanent supportive housing providers; homeless shelters; foster care, kinship care, or transient youth organizations; refugee and immigrant organizations; tribal organizations; local youth bureaus; veteran service organizations; and other community-based service organizations.
Funding for this initiative was provided to New York State through the Federal SAPT Supplemental block grant. Providers and award amounts are listed below:
Capital Region
- Council for Prevention in Washington/Warren County - $300,000
Central NY
- Farnham, Inc. - $300,000
Mid-Hudson
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County - $299,999
Mohawk Valley
- Catholic Charities of Herkimer County - $296,000
New York City
- Riseboro Community Partnership - $300,000
- United Activities Unlimited, Inc - $300,000
- Let's Talk SAFETY, Inc. - $300,000
North Country
- Seaway Valley Prevention Council - $300,000
Southern Tier
- CASA Trinity - $239,800
Western NY
- Prevention Works, Inc. - $300,000
New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The State has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.
Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional 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.
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation's largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.
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].