Millions secured to fund peer advocates, nurse practitioners for addiction, recovery throughout region

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services announced the award of nearly $5 million in funding, which will assist OASAS-certified providers in hiring nurse practitioners and Certified Recovery Peer Advocates (CRPAs) to help New Yorkers in need of addiction services.

Providers were awarded one-time funding of $40,000 per peer advocate position, and $25,000 per nurse practitioner position.

“Nurse practitioners and recovery peer advocates are on the front lines in the fight against the opioid epidemic,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who made today’s announcement in Albany. “With this significant commitment of funding for organizations in every corner of our state, we are investing in professionals who work every day to break the cycle of addiction. This funding will go a long way toward ‎addressing the impact of the opioid crisis and save lives.”

“Addiction professionals can make a huge difference in the lives of people affected by addiction,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “This funding will allow us to expand the number of people who can offer this vital assistance, and in turn will allow more New Yorkers to receive essential services and to progress in their recovery.”

Certified Peer Recovery Advocates are individuals who hold an OASAS-approved certification and provide peer support services. The advocates are either in recovery themselves, or have a close family member in recovery, and work to help patients develop recovery plans and learn effective coping habits.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) treat patients attempting to break their addiction to drugs, alcohol or other addictive substances. They may diagnose, treat, and prescribe for a patient’s condition that falls within their specialty area of practice. Within OASAS settings, their responsibilities may include: acute care, adult health, family health, psychiatry, and women’s health.

Providers receiving funding under this initiative are listed below, with the number of awards in parentheses.

Central New York

• Conifer Park, Inc. (1 NP)
• Crouse Health Hospital, Inc. (1 CRPA, 1 NP)
• Farnham Inc. (2 CRPAs, 1 NP)
• Helio Health, Inc. (2 CRPAs, 1 NP)

Finger Lakes

• CASA Trinity, Inc. (1 CRPA, 1 NP)
• The Clifton Springs Sanitarium Company, dba Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic (1 CRPA)
• Delphi Drug & Alcohol Council, Inc. (1 CRPA, 1 NP)
• Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency, Inc. (1 NP)
• Huther Doyle Memorial Institute, Inc. (1 CRPA)
• Rochester General Hospital (1 CRPA)
• Unity Hospital of Rochester (2 CRPAs)
• Seneca County Community Services Board (1 NP)
• Strong Memorial Hospital (2 CRPAs)
• Wayne Community Services Board (1 CRPA, 1 NP)

Southern Tier

• Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County, Inc. (1 NP)
• Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency, Inc. (1 NP)
• Ithaca Alpha House Center, dba Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (1 CRPA)
• United Health Services Hospitals, Inc. (2 CRPAs, 1NP)

Western New York

• Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. (1 CRPA)
• Buffalo Beacon Corporation dba Beacon Center (2 NPs)
• Council on Addiction Recovery Services, Inc. (1 CRPA)
• EHS, Inc., dba Evergreen Health (1 CRPA, 1 NP)
• Erie County Medical Center Corporation (3 CRPAs, 1 NP)
• Horizon Health Services, Inc. (4 NPs)
• Mid-Erie Mental Health Services, Inc., dba Endeavor Health Services (1 CRPA, 1 NP)
• Northpointe Council, Inc. (1CRPA, 2 NPs)

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, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the state’s Talk2Prevent website.