The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the availability of funding to establish or expand services for youth and young adults in recovery from addiction. Up to $180,000 is being made available through a series of mini-grants, which will be administered by the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene and OASAS. Up to 15 projects will be awarded up to $12,000 each. This funding is part of the $25.2 million federal State Targeted Response Grant that New York State received in early 2017.

“It is critical that we continue our efforts to reach young people affected by this devastating disease,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “This initiative will help ensure that youth and young adults have the support they need, and will give them a voice in their own recovery process. Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership, we are continuing to make strides in preventing substance use disorders and expanding our important recovery services here in New York State.”

The mini-grants will be specifically focused on establishing peer-driven services. These include alternative peer groups for youth and young adults, recovery supports and recovery community organizations looking to develop or enhance services, alumni support groups, and activities that promote recovery for youth and young adults in a targeted community.

The initiative is also designed to ensure that these projects are youth-driven. Young people in recovery will have the opportunity to help determine how best to utilize this funding, and expand recovery supports and services based on the unique needs of their own communities.

The funding will be awarded through a Request for Applications, which OASAS is issuing today. It can be viewed here. Responses are due December 8, 2017.

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 new and improved NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the Access Treatment page on the NYS OASAS website. Visit the #CombatAddiction website at oasas.ny.gov/CombatAddiction to learn more about how you can help to #CombatAddiction in your community.

Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.