FOR-NY E-Bulletin, 3/21/24

About This Training

Equity

Faces & Voices of Recovery developed the “Our Stories Have Power” training to give people in recovery and their family members messaging, or language, that they can use to talk about their recovery in non-stigmatizing terms and included Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as they are central to building a strong recovery movement.

Register: https://app.donorview.com/w8K8l

9

FOR-NYTraining

OurStoriesHavePower:Diversity,Equity&Inclusion-9 CRPA/CARCCEandCARC Electivecredits

InPerson–OrangeCo. –HostedbyADACofOrangeCo.SponsoredbyRecoveryResourceCenter ofOrangeCounty

Date:Thursday4/4/202410:30-AM-4:30PM&Friday4/5/24,9:00AM–3:00PM

Register: https://app.donorview.com/w8K8l

TraumaInformedCare101–6CRPA/CARCCEandOASAScredits

InPerson–WarrenCo. –HostedbyHopeandHealingRecoveryCenter

Date:Tuesday5/14/20231:00PM-4:30PM&Wednesday5/15/23,9:00AM-12:30PM Register: https://app.donorview.com/qrGDY

Lookingforhostsforthefollowingtrainingsin2024:

Recovery;theBasics–6OASAScreditsonly

MultiplePathwaysofRecoveryandTOT–4CRPA/CARCCEandCARCElectivecredits

WellnessforProfessionals&TOT(TraintheTrainer)–8CEandCARCElectivecredits

PeerProfessionalSupervision–12CRPA/CARCCEcredits,OASASandSWcredits

ScienceofAddictionandRecovery–6CRPA/CARCCE,CARCElective&OASAScredits

OurStoriesHavePower-3CE&CARCElectivecredits

AllUpcomingtraining: https://for-ny.org/upcoming-trainings/ forCARC,CRPA.

membersNEEDED- Email:Tknorr@for-ny.org themeetingiseverysecondWednesdayofthemonth9:15–10:00AMonzoom.

FOR-NYLearningCollaboratives:

PeerSupervisorsPeerLearningCollaborative:

EveryFirstWednesdayoftheMonth11:00AM–12:00PM-NewDayNewLink

JoinZoomMeeting

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

MeetingID:82568691624Passcode:432904

FamiliesofLossAdvocacy–TurningPainintoPurpose

SecondMondayat10:00am–NEWTIMENEWLINK

JoinZoomMeeting

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

MeetingID:85366576846Passcode:296584

FOR-NYRecoveryCommunityMeetings

CommunityBasedRecoverySupports(CBRS)

Bi-Monthly|4thThursdayofthemonth|1-3pm

ZoomID:86097973979 CLICKHERETOLEARNMOREABOUTCBRS

AlumniAssociationMeeting

4thThursdayofthemonth|6-8pm

ZoomID:97224576447

RecoveryCommunityOrganization(RCO)

2ndWednesdayofthemonth|12-1pm

ZoomID:83458849909

PeerProfessionalJobposting(hostedbyTheAlumniAssociation):

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

Questions: email tknorr@for-ny.org

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

ry

ANNUAL AWARENESS BREAKFAST

The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. invites you to join them at their Annual Awareness Breakfast. This signature event, which coincides with Alcohol Awareness Month, also recognizes the contributions of the community in helping support our agency’s vision to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery.

This year the Amethyst Award & the Paul Dunn Advocacy Award will be presented to members of our community who have helped others by inspiring them with the message of hope and recovery in the elds of mental health and substance use disorders. By joining us at this community event you will be inspired by these wonderful stories of recovery that will be shared and the hope that every person will be able to achieve and celebrate recovery.

DATE AND TIME

Tue, April 02, 2024 . 8:30 AM–10:00 AM EDT

LOCATION

Hart's Hill Inn, Whitesboro, NY

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

Senate One House Budget Release Unveils Legislative Victories: Recovery Wins on the Horizon

S8412 requiring a 10% set aside for Recovery Support Services from the Opioid Stewardship Fund, as well making the Fund permanent with increased transparency was INCLUDED in the Senate one house budget bill!

S2398 /A2210 “Daniel’s Law” which establishes 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 received an additional 2 Million Dollars for its pilot program in both the Senate and Assembly one house budget bills.

A.2972/S.6499 which establishes an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs was included in the one house Assembly budget bill.

The budget release unveils a series of legislative victories, signaling promising strides for the Recovery Community. However, in celebrating these small victories, there is a realization that there is still significant work to be done. Stay tuned as policymakers gear up for the next phase of action.

We need YOUR advocacy to:

1. Raise Awareness: Spread information about recovery initiatives, their importance and how they can benefit the community. Use social media, organize events, and engage with local media to amplify the Recovery message.

2. Contact Representatives: Reach out to elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels to express support for recovery efforts. Write letters, make phone calls, and attend town hall meetings to ensure your voice is heard.

3. Collaborate with Organizations: Partner with other recovery centers, community groups, local partners and advocacy organizations that are involved with our recovery efforts.

4. Mobilize YOUR Community: Organize grassroots campaigns and mobilize community members to advocate for recovery initiatives. Host rallies, petition drives, and educational workshops to build momentum and garner support.

5. Advocate for Funding: Advocate for adequate funding and resources to support the recovery community organizations/ Centers. Make the case to policymakers that investing in recovery support services is essential for addressing the needs for individuals and families affected by Substance Use Disorder. Investing in recovery support services is investing in your Community.

6. Monitor Progress: Stay informed about the progress of recovery efforts in your community and hold policymakers accountable to their commitments.

7. Share Personal Stories: Don’t be scared to share your personal Recovery story and experiences to humanize the issue and illustrate how recovery impacted you. Personal stories are powerful tools in building empathy and generating support for recovery initiatives.

Advocacy is an ongoing process, and your efforts can make a real difference in advancing recovery efforts and creating positive change in your community.

In today’s interconnected world, where data is increasingly digitized and exchanged, the importance of data privacy can not be overstated. We must uphold the fundamental right to privacy and take proactive measures to safeguard information!

Attached is a link to a privacy flyer about these treatment and recovery apps – Addiction, Recovery, and Online Privacy

And for more detail, here is the 2022 report Legal Action Center published on this issue:

https://www.lac.org/resource/websites-for-opioid-addiction-treatment-and-recovery-services-datasharing-and-privacy-risks

We continue to urge the Governor to act swiftly and decisively to declare a Public Health Emergency in response to the opioid crisis. Lives are at stake, and we can not afford to delay action any longer. Only leadership and decisive action can make a meaningful difference in saving lives and preventing further devastating from this crisis.

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

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.

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

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

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

SCAN THE CODE ABOVE TO PARTICIPATE!