The funding comes as part an announcement by New York State of funding for agencies to to expand evidence-based addiction prevention services. Funding was awarded to providers in each of New York State’s ten 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.

On Thursday Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the rollout of $25.2 million in federal funding, which he said will expand critical initiatives in New York’s ongoing effort to confront the opioid epidemic that is gripping the nation.

The funding will be used to add and enhance treatment services for people struggling with addiction in high-need counties throughout the state, including mobile treatment, telehealth capabilities, and the expansion of medication assisted treatment.

It will also support statewide prevention and recovery programs.

A total of 16 counties, including Erie and Niagara, will share in up to $16 million to increase access to treatment.

In addition, $100,000 has been awarded to various organization, including CASAC, to help deliver evidence-based prevention services for underserved, hard-to-reach youth and other at-risk populations across the state.

The State Targeted Response initiative also includes programing for communities beyond the 16 high-need counties, including:

• Enhanced opioid use disorder services at four existing New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Health Hubs and the establishment of seven new Health Hubs – $2.7 million
• Creation of a Youth and Young Adult Statewide Recovery Network by the Friends of Recovery – New York – $450,000
• Substance use disorder prevention services to youth in foster care – $200,000
• An education and awareness campaign, with a focus on tribal territories and Latino communities – $1.59 million
• Addiction prevention services for families living in New York City shelters and Permanent Supportive Housing – $816,000

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction 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).

In recognition of local groups’ educational efforts on drug addiction, Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan will be proclaiming May 2017 as Drug Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in Chautauqua County.

One of the main events happening in May will be the Hope and Healing for Chautauqua event, taking place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville. This free, day-long event will feature guest speakers, presentations, and addiction resources for the community.

Dr. Rodney Wambeam

The featured keynote speaker for Hope and Healing for Chautauqua is Dr. Rodney Wambeam, Senior Research Scientist at the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center of the University of Wyoming. Wambeam will present on “Boomers, Xera and Millennials: How New Research on Generations Can Inform the Future of Prevention.”

In addition, Level Up Talks will be given in the form of micro presentations to provide further information about prevention, treatment and recovery concepts with the potential to “level up” hope and healing in Chautauqua County.

Breakout sessions will complete the day with HOPE Youth Empowerment Program for Youth Advocacy lead by Laurie Reynolds and Tracy Jespersen of CASAC; Planning and Evaluating Environmental Prevention Efforts lead by Wambeam; Success in Treatment and Recovery with Lifestyle Changes lead by Dr. Davina Moss-King; and Peer Specialists and Peer Recovery Supports lead by Kia Briggs, MHA and Pastor Leecroft Clarke of Addiction Response Ministry.

Information and resource tables will be available throughout the day. Additionally, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Credential Hours for CPP/CPS and CASAC will be available. Attendee registration to the event is open until May 1 and those who register after this date may not be guaranteed a lunch.

The Hope and Healing events are put on by the Healthy Opportunities for Prevention Education (HOPE) Chautauqua Coalition. This diverse group of community partners has been working together to plan local events that promote hope, highlight resources, and strengthen substance abuse efforts in Chautauqua County. The planning committee includes representatives of  CASAC, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Chautauqua Tapestry, Evergreen Health, HOPE Chautauqua Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, MHA, UPMC Chautauqua WCA, local faith leaders, and other dedicated community members.

For more information about the Hope and Healing for Chautauqua events, registration information and additional details, visit the HOPE Chautauqua Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/HopeChautauqua/.

The grant is an annual award of $579,500 over a five-year period, yielding nearly $3 million dollars over the life of the grant. The funds will be used by Jamestown Schools to provide supplemental services and enrichments for some 500 Jamestown elementary and middle school students, during the critical after school hours between 3:00 and 6:00 PM.

The district will work to provide the services with several community partners, including the YWCA, YMCA, Chautauqua Striders, Jamestown Community Learning Council, Infinity, CASAC and the Hispanic Community Council.

The State Education Department awarded more than $78 million in grants to school districts, not-for-profits, institutes of higher education, and other community-focused organizations through the program.

The Recovery Walk is a collaborative event being held in conjunction with September as National Recovery Month.

The goal is to promote awareness, educate the community, and remember those we have lost to or who are still struggling with addiction.

The walk will start at CASAC’s office on 501 W. Third St. in Jamestown and walkers will pass by area museums, outdoor sculptures, public arts, and historical markers before ending at the Renaissance Center at 115 West Third St.

At the Renaissance Center, walkers will watch “Recover Jamestown,” a documentary by local filmmaker Sheridan Smith.

For more information about the event or about CASAC’s programs and services, call its Jamestown office at (716) 664-3608 or its Dunkirk office at (716) 366-4623.

The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by helping support local suicide prevention and awareness programs right here in Chautauqua County. The goal for this year is to raise at least $10,000.

The Jamestown Out of the Darkness Walk is one of the nearly 250 Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held this fall nationwide. The walks are expected to unite more than 100,000 walkers nationally and raise more than $7.5 million for suicide prevention efforts.

The Jamestown community walk will take place at Tracy Plaza, City Hall with registration from 9 to 10 a.m. and the walk beginning around 10:05 a.m.  To register, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and go to the Jamestown walk page.

This walk is being organized by the local suicide awareness and prevention coalition within Chautauqua County called The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The Alliance is made up of members from various organizations such as Chautauqua Tapestry, Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Compeer Chautauqua, WCA Hospital, Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Mobile Crisis Team, Crisis Services, Hospice Chautauqua County, State University of New York at Fredonia, The Resource Center, New York State Office of Mental Health, Mental Health Association, Early Identification and Recognition Program with Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Family Services of the Chautauqua Region, Inc., CASAC, Lutheran, Jamestown Community College, VA of WNY Health Care System and passionate community members.

More details on the Out of the Darkness Walk will be provided Thusday on WRFA when we discuss the event and the effort to raise awareness for suicide prevent during our weekly Community Matters program… which airs at 6pm here on WRFA.