August 30, 2022

Funding to Establish Four Prevention Coalitions in New York City; Enhance Transportation Services for Treatment in Western New York and the Finger Lakes

Grants to Build on New York State’s Nation-Leading Continuum of Addiction Care

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $2.3 million to support addiction prevention efforts and enhance access to transportation services for treatment. Administered by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the funding will help establish four prevention coalitions in New York City and enhance non-medical transportation services for individuals having difficulty accessing addiction treatment in Western New York and the Finger Lakes.  

“Addressing addiction in New York requires a coordinated statewide approach to get people the help they need,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will help better engage vulnerable communities in New York City, while providing transportation to individuals who would otherwise be unable to access treatment in Western New York and the Finger Lakes – supporting our nation leading addiction treatment services.”  

The funding will provide a total of $1.8 million to establish four New York City-based addiction prevention coalitions to better engage vulnerable populations and isolated communities in developing and implementing environmental change and prevention strategies. The coalitions will develop culturally appropriate and tailored prevention initiatives for underserved communities and populations.  

The Archdiocese of NY Drug Abuse Prevention Program in Bronx County, CAMBA Inc. in Kings County, EImcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc. in Queens County and the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness, Inc. in Richmond County will each receive $450,000 over the course of three years to establish a prevention coalition. Funding for the grants was provided through the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.  

Additionally, the initiative will provide about $500,000 in state funding to a pair of pilot programs aimed at enhancing transportation services for individuals in active treatment or recovery, but who lack the resources to travel to these services. The Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. in the Finger Lakes Region will receive $249,900 and Save the Michaels of the World in the Western New York Region will receive $250,000.  

The awards will fund various transportation needs, including recreational activities likely to increase social connection or emotional well-being; recovery supports; peer interactions; formal or informal mutual support groups such as Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) and Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings; and rides to treatment or harm reduction services or to service providers. Data and information from this program will guide further expansion of these transportation services across the state.  

Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “Meeting people wherever they are and ensuring full access to different types of help is one of the cornerstones of our work. With this funding to enhance prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery supports across New York State, we are giving people more options to find the services they need, and I look forward to the many benefits these new programs will bring.”  

Representative Paul Tonko said, “Every day, we lose more loved ones to the disease of addiction. Despite our nation’s worsening overdose epidemic, access to lifesaving treatment remains out of reach for Americans who need it most. For years, I’ve worked to improve and expand access to treatment, including through my Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act and to increase federal funding for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, which provides critical funding for prevention, recovery, and treatment. I’m grateful to all those whose unwavering leadership and advocacy continue to provide hope and a path forward to those struggling.” 

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, 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 expanded 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 New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which recommended new, non-traditional services in 2016, 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 ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.