FOR-NY E-Bulletin, 2/29/24

Certified Recovery Peer Advocates are individuals who have a High School Diploma/GED or higher that provide coaching, support, guidance and motivation.

https://for-ny.org/crpa-training-scholarship-program

FOR-NY Training

Our Stories Have Power - Diversity Equity and Inclusion – 9 CE & CARC Elective

In Person – Dutchess Co. - Hosted by MHA of Dutchess Co.

Date: Wednesday 2/21/2024 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Thursday 2/22/24, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Register: https://app.donorview.com/VKwqN

Trauma Informed Care 101 – 6 CRPA/CARC CE and OASAS credits

In Person – Warren Co. – Hosted by Hope and Healing Recovery Center

Date: Tuesday 5/14/2023 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM & Wednesday 5/15/23, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Register: https://app.donorview.com/qrGDY

Looking for hosts for the following trainings in 2024:

Recovery; the Basics – 6 OASAS credits only

Multiple Pathways of Recovery and TOT – 4 CRPA/CARC CE and CARC Elective credits

Wellness for Professionals & TOT (Train the Trainer) – 8 CE and CARC Elective credits

Peer Professional Supervision– 12 CRPA/CARC CE credits, OASAS and SW credits

Science of Addiction and Recovery –6 CRPA/CARC CE, CARC Elective & OASAS credits

Our Stories Have Power - 3 CE & CARC Elective credits

All Upcoming training: https://for-ny.org/upcoming-trainings/ for CARC, CRPA. STAND UP for Recovery Day – February 13th, 2023 – Empire Plaza, Albany, NY

Volunteers NEEDED: https://app.donorview.com/ZQjOW

Scholarships: - funds are here! 25 scholarships are available now. CRPA scholarship application/info: http://app.donorview.com/r3n0M NYS Recovery Conference 2024 - October DATE and PLACE (Albany) TBD –Program

NEEDED - Email: Tknorr@for-ny.org Every second Wednesday of the month 9:15 – 10:00 AM

FOR-NY Learning Collaboratives:

Peer Supervisors Peer Learning Collaborative:

Every First Wednesday of the Month 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM- New Day New Link

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82568691624?pwd=ajRsZCtLeW01dFR6WjIweXlvSDV oZz09

Meeting ID: 825 6869 1624 Passcode: 432904

Families of Loss Advocacy– Turning Pain into Purpose

Second Monday at 10:00 am – NEW TIME NEW LINK

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85366576846?pwd=STlBS0ZoaTRTV0Q5c21GUys3V3 dpUT09

Meeting ID: 853 6657 6846 Passcode: 296584

FOR-NY Recovery Community Meetings

Community Based Recovery Supports (CBRS)

Bi-Monthly | 4th Thursday of the month | 1-3pm

Zoom ID: 860 9797 3979 CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CBRS

Alumni Association Meeting

4th Thursday of the month | 6-8pm

Zoom ID: 972 2457 6447

Recovery Community Organization (RCO)

2nd Wednesday of the month | 12-1pm

Zoom ID: 834 5884 9909

Peer Professional Job posting (hosted by The Alumni Association):

https://for-ny.org/alumni-job-postings/

Questions: email tknorr@for-ny.org

NYS Alumni Association of FOR-NY Calendar 2024

PEER &ALUMNI SPEAKERS NEEDED

Welcome Every Month Personal Recovery Stories, Spoken Work, Songs and Art Works in Addition to the Themes are Zoom Meeting ID 972 2457 6447, pw 767 785

February 22 Black History

March 28 Women’s History, Problem Gambling Awareness

April 25 Diversity, Sexual Assault Awareness,

May 23 Jewish Heritage Awareness, Mental Health

June 27 LGBTQ, Juneteenth,

July 25 Volunteer Awareness, Disability Pride Month, National Minority Mental Health Awareness

August 22

American Artists, Yoga, CRPA International Youth,

September 26 Hispanic Heritage, Recovery Month

October 24 Domestic Violence Awareness, Suicide Prevention

November 21 Veteran’s Month, Native American Awareness, Human Trafficking Awareness

December 31 Alumni’s Got Talent

To speak on a theme topic, contact Wilvena Gordon wgordon@for-ny.org 646-623-6816 text

Almost half of all New Yorkers rely on the state-funded Medicaid system for their healthcare coverage. And while private insurance pays hospitals 100% or more to cover the cost of hospital care, New York State’s Medicaid program pays hospitals 30% less than the full cost of the care they provide for Medicaid patients.

Continued Medicaid underpayment has already created a healthcare crisis in our cities and rural parts of the state that further threatens quality of care for all New Yorkers.

We are asking that you stand with us and join us in our ght for Medicaid Equity!

We are sending a letter to the Governor asking for equity, will you sign on?

Here is the virtual link:

https://share.hsforms.com/1UcwK1WcUTeeohg39IINNlwd7w7i

WE

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

SCAN THE CODE ABOVE TO PARTICIPATE!

Friends of Recovery-New York (FOR-NY) represents the voice of individuals and families living in recovery from addiction, families who have lost a family member or people who have been otherwise impacted by addiction. The negative public perception and shame that surrounds addiction has prevented millions of individuals and family members from seeking help. FOR-NY is dedicated to breaking down the barriers created by negative public perception that result in discrimination and policies that block or interfere with accessing recovery support services: access to addiction treatment, healthcare, housing, education and employment.

FOR-NY is working to build infrastructure around the state through local Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) and Recovery Community Outreach Centers (RCOCs) that build support for people living in recovery and others in need.

Hive of Hope is an exemplary recovery community outreach center. Only open a year, and without permanent and sustainable funding- they have built a state-of-the-art community center serving over 400 individuals, with an additional 3500 visits. It is a safe haven for those in recovery to meet like-minded individuals- building connections, providing employment and volunteer opportunities. Last year members at the center did 1000 hours of community service preparing holiday meals for the Capital City Rescue Mission alone.

Nathan Writer, the founder of the Hive of Hope is a leader in his community and a role model for the individuals he serves. Nate has consistently shown himself to be a dependable ally for not just FOR-NY, but for the Recovery Community. He exudes professionalism, and personally Nate has partnered with FOR-NY to:

• Lead a spring clean-up at the Boys and Girls Club of Albany

• Facilitate our Reimagining Recovery Series engaging the community about substance use and recovery.

• Organizing and volunteering for all FOR-NY events- the Recovery Conference and Stand Up For Recovery Day, our annual day of advocacy.

• Despite only being open a year, planned and partnered with ROCovery Fitness and other Recovery organizations to organize Sober Fest 2023, a three-day event bringing recovery advocates from throughout the state, a major undertaking for any organization.

• Organized monthly hikes throughout the state with other recovery advocates.

Located in Arbor Hill, this center offers a critical refuge in an area of Albany that is currently underserved. The inventory of abandoned buildings, and issues with the community feeling unsafe continue to receive regular media coverage. Hive of Hope counters that narrative and offers prosocial activities to keep our community’s youth engaged, and working toward a positive future.

With additional funding Hive of Hope will be able to continue as a constitutive resource of the Recovery Community. FOR-NY would be grateful for any assistance you could offer them.

Friends of Recovery New York 2024 Legislative Asks

The Recovery Community asks Governor Hochul to declare a Public Health Emergency to combat the addiction crisis by making significant investments to rapidly expand access to overdose prevention, addiction treatment and recovery services as a priority for all New Yorkers. As the nation’s overdose death rates has plateaued: NYS overdose deaths have continued unabated, data showed more than 6, 393 overdose deaths in New York State in 2022 – a 73% increase in overdose deaths that occurred during the last three years.

Declaring a Public Health Emergency would save Countless Lives by:

1) Waiving insurance co-pays and deductibles for New Yorkers attempting to access treatment and recovery services.

2) Creating a procurement process that speeds up distribution of opioid settlement funds.

3) Waiving fees for counselors and peers who want to work in the addiction service system.

4) Expanding community-based programs with the social network and expertise to engage with those most vulnerable to overdose.

5) Increase Medicaid rates for front-end substance use treatment instead of the current back-end recoupment process.

6) Ensuring equitable services for all marginalized communities.

Support A.8075 all formulations of safe and effective FDA approved Naloxone available. Despite the FDA’s approval of new opioid antagonist products to address the challenge of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids; In the state of New York, approximately 1,000 registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs (OOPPs) that distribute free overdose reversal medications are currently restricted to ordering only two naloxone products. It's imperative that we are making all tools in the toolbox available to combat this unprecedented Overdose Public Health Crisis.

ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Complete the 860 Housing Regulations. Ensure housing is funded across the continuum and separate from Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board funds.

• Housing regulations should be based on the National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR) social model. It is imperative that recovery housing be inclusive and embraces individuals receiving Medication to support their recovery (MAT/MSR)

RECOVERY ORIENTED SYSTEMS OF CARE: Supporting a pathway to Certification of Recovery Community Centers.

• License recovery community centers to create a permanent and sustainable revenue to support their essential work.

• Licensure would allow those centers to bill public and private insurance for the work of certified peer recovery advocates.

• New York should encourage and support research on the efficacy of these licensed recovery community centers that could be used as a model to expand the infrastructure of recovery while supporting the long-term recovery of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who need it.

• Support S2398 /A2210 “Daniel’s Law” to establish a statewide emergency and crisis response council to encourage local governments to develop preventive, rehabilitative, crisis response and treatment services for those experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

Budgetary Asks FY 2024-25

RECOVERY READY WORKPLACES: Funding for the S. 8381 “NYS Recovery Ready Workplace Act” to establish workplace programs to prevent addiction and support recovery in employment. The goal of RRW programs is to:

• Provide healthy, gainful employment for people in recovery;

• Prevent initiation of new cases of misuse and addiction related to workplace injury and stress through primary prevention of exposure to job hazards and stressors

• Support employees who are struggling and retain employees by providing access to treatment and recovery support services with a pathway to return to work

• Reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, and lost productivity among employees with substance use disorders.

• Support S.8412 To make the Opioid Stewardship Fund permanent, increase transparency related to the Fund, and require a portion of the Fund to go towards 10 percent towards recovery-oriented systems of care services (Recovery Centers and peer to peer services)

• Support A.2972/S.6499 to establish an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs.

• Provide intensive addiction and mental health integrated services to individuals with significant addiction and mental health issues who have had multiple and frequent treatment episodes

• Support A.3378/ S.4530 to establish an intensive addiction and medical services integrated services pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs.

• Provide intensive addiction and medical services integrated services to individuals who have significant addiction and medical issues

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FACING ADDICTION

SCIENCE AND KINDNESS: A NEW WAY TO HELP

Join us for a 1 hour informational talk

1 in 4 families have a loved one struggling with substance use.

The vast majority of these families navigate their pain alone, without access to strategies that could help them support their loved ones and themselves—even though these strategies exist!

The Invitation to Change (ITC) approach is a holistic helping framework based in science and kindness, designed for the families and loved ones of people struggling with substance use. It offers a set of down to earth, compassionate tools for creating an environment where change is more likely to happen, while also sustaining and caring for yourself along the way.

Time: 6-7 pm ET

Date: March 13th 2024

Location: Zoom

Click here to register

FREE FAMILY SUPPORT AND SKILLS GROUP

Stress Management | Communication Tools | Trust Building

Over 15 weeks, use the Invitation to Change Approach to reflect on what it means to help, reimagine the role that loved ones can play in the change process, and learn evidence-supported strategies for helping a loved one struggling with addiction.

Space for this group is limited! Registration is on a first come, first serve basis, with priority given to those in the Finger Lakes, Western NY, Central NY, Southern Tier, Capital Region, and North Country.

Time: Wednesday evenings, 6 - 7:30 pm ET

Dates: April 3 - July 10

Location: Zoom

Click here to register

SUCCESS THROUGH RECOVERY

WE INVITE EVERYONE FREE…FREE

GIVEAWAYS, Food, Fruit, VALUABLE RESOURCES on Opioid Overdose reversal and prevention..…

CONTACTS:

Luis Laboy

llaboy@acacianetwork org

718-598-1390

Albert Aponte

Albert aponte@samaritanvillage org 347-226-1569

BREAKING THE CHAINS OF ADDICTION BY SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES

An advisory committee of organizational leaders, representatives, and consumers that meet regularly to forge alliances and engage in collaborative initiatives to identify and address community needs in behavioral health

Meeting events include local and state presentations on service augmentation opportunities and system level technical assistance resources.

New Members are Welcome! CASAC, CARC and CRPA hours available!

Presentation by Venus Moore, NYC Problem Gambling Resource Center

Meeting Dates for 2024, 3-5PM: Mar19, April 16, May 21, Jun 18, Jul16, Aug 20, Sep 17, Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17

ZOOM ID – 848 4707 7077

Passcode – 049362

Phone Dial In # 1-929-205-6099

Join Zoom Meeting with the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84847077077?pwd=MHNWNjN6b3c5bEQxZHd6VzlFeFEvdz09

For more information contact:

Jonathan

WE WANT TO FROMHEARYOU!

CERTIFIED RECOVERYPEER ADVOCATE

PROFESSIONALTRAINING ANDSUPPORTPROGRAM

REQUIREMENTS:

Experience with a substance use disorder, someone who has personal or family experience with substance use disorder, and/or who is passionate about supporting someone in their recovery

Willingness to share your recovery journey to help others

High school diploma or equivalent

To learn more or discuss available scholarships:

email

To sign up for upcoming classes see our Events: