The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the award of more than $5.1 million in funding to establish 14 new recovery community centers across New York State, and expand services at two existing recovery centers. Funding for the centers was awarded through a competitive Request for Applications process, administered by OASAS and its fiscal partner, the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene.

 “We are committed to investing in recovery centers across the state to help individuals and families struggling with addiction,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force, who made today’s announcement at Save the Michaels of the World in Buffalo. “This funding will establish 14 new recovery community centers and expand services at two existing centers across the state. We want to ensure people have access to the resources and services they need to lead healthy and safe lives and continue our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.”

“Treatment alone is not enough for people dealing with addiction, and we need to make sure that the proper recovery supports are available,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “These new centers will offer people in recovery a chance to meet their peers going through the same challenges, receive help to reclaim their lives from addiction, and build a new life in recovery.”

Recovery Community Centers are part of Governor Cuomo’s multi-pronged approach to addressing substance use disorders in communities across New York State. The centers promote long-term recovery by providing professional staff, peers and volunteers to engage and support people in recovery. Services offered at the centers include peer support, skill building, recreation, wellness education, employment readiness and social activities. The services available are designed to meet the specific needs of the individuals who live in the communities where the centers are located. With the addition of these new recovery centers, the state will have developed a total of 25 new recovery community centers since 2016.

The following providers have been awarded funding to open new recovery community centers. They are listed with the counties that will be served by each center. Each provider has also been awarded one-time start up funding to assist with costs related to establishing the new centers.

Capital District

• Second Chance Opportunities, Inc. (Albany County): $350,000
  
  

Central NY

• Helio Health (Onondaga County): $349,900
  
  

Finger Lakes

• Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (Ontario County): $348,973
• Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. (Genesee County): $260,000
  
  

New York City

• The Fortune Society (Queens): $350,000
• Exponents, Inc. (Manhattan): $350,000
• Samaritan Daytop Village (Bronx): $350,000
  
  

North Country

• Champlain Valley Health Center (Clinton County): $335,000
• Seaway Valley Council of Alcohol/Substance Abuse Prevention, Inc (St. Lawrence County): $350,000
  
  

Mid-Hudson

• Independent Living, Inc. (Westchester & Putnam Counties): $350,000
• Rockland Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence (Rockland County): $350,000
  
  

Mohawk Valley

• Catholic Charities of Herkimer County (Herkimer County): $250,000
  
  

Southern Tier

• Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc. (Delaware County): $350,000
  
  

Western NY

• Save the Michaels of the World (Niagara County): $350,000

Additionally, the following providers have been awarded funding to expand services at existing recovery centers.

Capital District

• Prevention Council of Saratoga County (Saratoga County): $80,000
  
  

Long Island

• Family and Children’s Association (Nassau & Suffolk Counties): $350,000
  

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.