The New
York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced
the award of $250,000 to expand access to addiction treatment services and
recovery supports in Albany County. The Addictions
Care Center of Albany was awarded $100,000 to implement a Family Support
Navigator Program to assist families as they access substance use disorder care
for a loved one. The Catholic Charities’ Project
SAFE Point was awarded $150,000 to establish a Peer Advocate Program to
work with local emergency room providers to identify and implement best
practices for engaging individuals and patients within that setting with the
goal of directing them to the most appropriate treatment and recovery supports
following an opioid/drug overdose or substance use disorder crisis.
Both initiatives were developed by OASAS
in support of ongoing statewide efforts to combat heroin and prescription
opioid misuse by delivering services through county-based treatment providers.
The funding will continue to advance Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s statewide efforts
to combat addiction through community-based initiatives.
“The family support navigator and peer
advocate services provide critical guidance to people entering treatment, as
well as to their families,” said OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. “The
services also help reduce barriers to the treatment process, so people can
achieve long-term recovery without relapse.”
“Through this innovative program the
state and partners are working to end the opioid epidemic in New York,” said Albany County Executive
Daniel P. McCoy. “I commend the Governor and OASAS for
providing local programs the support needed to provide treatment and supportive
services for patients and their families in Albany County.”
“Addiction services in this community have been greatly enhanced by the addition of these two innovative programs. We are now better able to address the immediate needs of families seeking assistance and better respond to the immediate needs of individuals in crisis or in the aftermath of overdose. These are potentially lifesaving programs,” said Albany County Department of Mental Health Director and Director of Community Services Dr. Stephen Giordano.
The main purpose of the Family Support Navigator Program is to help patients and their families understand the progression of addiction and how to navigate the insurance and treatment systems. The family support navigator will also develop relationships with local addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services; managed care organizations; local substance use disorder councils; and community stakeholders, to assist families with accessing local treatment and support services.
The Peer Engagement Program allows peer
specialists to work in hospitals’ inpatient medical units and emergency
departments to assist patients who are there for drug and alcohol dependency
issues. They are people who are in recovery from a substance use disorder or
have a loved one in recovery – or have lost a loved one to addiction. They have
completed specific training that enables them to enhance a person’s wellness
and recovery by providing peer support. The primary goal of the Peer Engagement
program is to help individuals and families in crisis navigate the treatment
service delivery system. Peers who understand the service delivery system will
be available to meet people in emergency rooms and crisis centers, provide
emotional support, share insights about the treatment process and assist the
client in obtaining services.
In 2016, OASAS awarded funding to Albany
County to support the establishment of Family Navigator and Peer Advocate
programs in area Emergency Rooms, to assist the county in fighting the heroin
and opioid epidemic. The Family Support Navigator program commenced
during the first week of March and the Peer Engagement Initiative will begin on
a 24/7 schedule starting April 1, 2017. These programs will serve those in need
in Albany and neighboring counties.
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 this new and improved NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTrea
Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov
Source:
The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
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