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.

(Pictured left to right: Rev. Luke Fodor, Dorothy Carlson, Kim Carlson)

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WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Rev. Luke Fodor about Alex House, a supported recovery house that will be opening in the city of Jamestown. A community shower is scheduled for Saturday, March. 4 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Community members are asked to bring donations of basic household items to help resource the house. Celebratory food will be served, and information from other community agencies that deal with addiction and recovery will be available. There will be a special presentation at 4:15 p.m.

The Alex House is an Oxford House – a democratically run, self-supporting drug and alcohol free home. First established in 1975, the Oxford House concept has proven to be a “remarkably effective and low cost method of preventing relapse.” Oxford Houses provide a time-tested, solid foundation for all aspects of recovery.

The Jamestown house is named in memory of Alex Foulk, a young community member who died last year of a heroin overdose. The opening of the first Oxford House in Jamestown is the work of Alex’s mother and recovery advocate, Kim Carlson and ‘A Fresh Start’, a local nonprofit organization designed to promote awareness and encouragement based on personal experiences.

Working directly with UPMC Chautauqua WCA, the Mental Health Association, CASAC and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help people get comfortable with conversations about addiction and alcoholism so that they can get the help they need. A Fresh Start is also open to assist family members who have lost loved ones to addiction or who currently suffer with the disease.

“Our goal is to help people open up to and talk about substance abuse disorders, addiction and alcoholism. So many people don’t get the help they need because of stigma and not knowing where to go,” Carlson says. “Alex had a zest for life. He was hard working, well mannered, physically fit, and by all accounts a happy and healthy 26-year-old man. I knew that if this could happen to my son, our family, that it could happen to anyone. I had to take a stand to find a way to bring light to this situation. Losing a child is the most horrific pain a parent will ever feel. I say that I talk about my child so people can talk to their children. Through our experience, communication, knowledge, open minds and open hearts we can bring change so that others might not feel our pain.”

St. Luke’s has collaborated with A Fresh Start to serve as an operational base by offering meeting spaces at its 410 North Main Street location. The shower and presentations are the first of many expected to be held there.  The purpose of the shower is not only to help resource the home to be ready to support the daily needs of the residents, it is also to help educate the community about the Oxford House program and how it can help the area.

“We are thrilled to assist the work of recovery. We are a non-judgmental community that welcomes and supports people in recovery, helping them to grow into their best selves.”   says the Rev. Luke Fodor, Rector of St. Luke’s.

“Kim’s work is a manifestation of resurrection in action—she has turned death into life We are honored to assist with the establishment of the Alex House; a timely celebration of new birth almost one year after his death.”

Witkowski began her association with CASAC in 2005 as a prevention educator and most recently has served as director of program services.

She received her undergraduate education from the State University at Fredonia and a master’s degree at Walden University. She obtained her Credentialed Prevention Professional certificate from the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services in 2014. Witkowski is from Dunkirk.

WRFA public affairs director Jason Sample recently talked with Julie Franco, Anne Rosenthal, and Victoria Patti about the 2016 Hope & Healing for Chautauqua Week, which will run from June 11 to June 17 and is being coordinated by the Hope Chautauqua Coalition.

The Hope Chautauqua Coalition is comprised of representatives from the Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council, the Mental Health Association, Evergreen Health Services, Chautauqua Tapestry, the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, local faith leaders, United Christian Advocacy Network, WCA Hospital and many dedicated community members.

The week will not only provide information on local resources that are available for those battling with addiction, but will also feature special guest speakers during the Hope and Healing for Chautauqua forum scheduled for Wednesday, June 13.

Tracy Strawberry

Hope Chautauqua Coalition Coordinator Julie Franco says both Tracy Strawberry – ordained minister and wife of the former pro baseball player Darryl Strawberry – will be on hand for the forum, along with Dr. Robert Myers from the University of New Mexico.

The day-long forum will also feature several other professionals who have experience with helping in the fight against drug abuse and addiction.

The June 13 event is at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville free to attend but registration is required by May 31. To learn more or to register call Franco at 664-3608 or email HopeChautauqua@gmail.com.

In addition to the forum on June 13, several other events are planned for the week, including various training seminars along with a Chautauqua Bright Spots Recognition Event scheduled for June 16 at the YWCA.

A complete schedule of events and activities can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/HopeChautauqua.

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 class is open to the public and will provide training to community members who wish to learn to respond to an opioid overdose by administering naloxone, also known as Narcan.  Narcan is an opioid antagonist which reverses opiate effects of sedation and respiratory depression during an opioid overdose. Narcan can be administered by first responders or friends and family of someone who is experiencing an opiate overdose.

The goal of the training is to prevent death and other negative consequences of opioid overdose by training nonmedical responders to recognize a suspected opioid overdose and to take appropriate action. The learning objectives for participants include: identifying risk factors for overdose, recognizing the signs of an overdose, performing techniques to stimulate someone who appears to have overdosed, correctly performing rescue breathing, and correctly administering naloxone.

Upon successful completion of the 90-minute training, each participant will be provided with a certificate and a free naloxone (Narcan) kit. The training is open to the public. Please call CASAC at 716-664-3608 to register for the training as spots are limited.

The class is open to the public and will provide training to community members who wish to learn to respond to an opioid overdose by administering naloxone, also known as Narcan.

Narcan is an opioid antagonist which reverses opiate effects of sedation and respiratory depression during an opioid overdose. It can be administered by first responders or friends and family of someone who is experiencing an opiate overdose.

The goal of the training is to prevent death and other negative consequences of opioid overdose by training non-medical responders to recognize a suspected opioid overdose and to take appropriate action.

The training session lasts 90 minutes and is open to the public. Call 716-664-3608 to register for the training as spots are limited.

Fletcher Elementary School fourth graders Nivette Hunter, Sara Randolph and Coleson Barber worked on BrainWare Safari software during the Fletcher Advantage Afterschool Program. The award-winning software helps build 41 cognitive skills in six areas for third through sixth graders: attention, memory, thinking, visual processing, auditory processing and sensory integration in fun games. JPS currently uses BrainWare in fifth and sixth grade classrooms during the school day creating a school to afterschool academic connection. “I love playing the game because it helps me think of different ways to get through a maze and solve a problem and it’s so much fun,” said fourth grader Darius Freeney.

JAMESTOWN – Good news for some after school programming at Jamestown Public Schools.

Jamestown Public Schools was recently awarded a one-year extension to its New York State Education Department Extended School Day Grant. The district has received the grant since 2010. The newest extension will conserve existing after school programs and services through June 2016.

The district receives $342,078 annually to help provide a number of high-priority out-of-school time services, including elementary after school programs at Bush, Fletcher, Love and Ring schools, Chautauqua Striders tutoring, visual and performing arts experiences with Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, educational presentations with Chautauqua Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Council, literacy and family night events, after school robotics program in the middle schools, After School Amigos Family Literacy Program at Love School, and a “Literacy Café” middle school reading program.

“This extension is a welcome reprieve from our anticipated funding dilemma,” said JPS Director of After School Programs Julie Poppleton. “We were advised that the existing Extended School Day grant would definitely sunset this June, and were anxious about our chances of capturing another award in light of growing competition for shrinking dollars. We are constantly working hard to secure funding that supplements modest parent fees so that we can sustain service to our community. We know that after school programs not only keep kids safe, they can also inspire learning, help improve students’ academic performance, school attendance, behavior and health, and support working families.”

Jamestown Public Schools serves over 400 students each day in its after school programming. Jamestown Public Schools, in partnership with Chautauqua Striders, YWCA of Jamestown, The Y, and other community organizations, provides academic support, a wide array of youth development activities that complement the regular school day, and family involvement opportunities at four district elementary, and two middle schools.

Assembly members Tom McKevitt, Andy Goodell, Barbara Clark, and Ray Walter join Senator Cathy Young and others to admire artwork created by members of Women Create from Chautauqua County. (Image from Andrew Goodell)

ALBANY – Several local artists from the Chautauqua Region are getting the spotlight in Albany.

Assemblyman Andy Goodell says various pieces of art created by members of the Women Create project is on display in the Legislative Office Building in Albany and received rave reviews from many public officials and visitors.

This is the fourth consecutive year Goodell has brought local artwork to the Legislative Office Building in Albany, with past works being contributed by artists from Aspire, the Resource Center and Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council (CASAC).

The artwork is from the 2013 Women Create exhibit. A new Women Create exhibit for 2014 will be unveiled this Saturday night at the 3^rd on 3^rd gallery in Jamestown.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan.

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan says a Community Forum focusing on the growing epidemic of Opiate use and abuse in the county will take place in mid-March in Mayville.

Planning for the forum began shortly after Horrigan was elected and has been led by Chautauqua County Community Mental Hygiene Services Director Patricia Brinkman.

The Community Forum will feature a panel of local experts, who will discuss data on current practices, impacts of drug abuse, and barriers that need to be overcome.

Other key stakeholders were also involved in preparing for the event including leaders from various police agencies, the Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council (CASAC), WCA Hospital, the County Department of Mental Hygiene, the Mental Health Association, Chautauqua County Department of Emergency Services, and Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.

The forum will be held on March 12, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. at Chautauqua Suites, 215 W. Lake Rd. in Mayville.

For more information concerning the Community Forum, call (716) 753-4104, or (716) 753-4211.