“In New York State, we believe in people. Nobody is a lost cause. Everyone is worth saving.” And with that, NYS Lieutenant Kathleen Hochul officially opened the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery, and affirmed the State’s commitment to supporting the men and women in need of treatment.
At a press conference on September 6th, Lt. Governor Hochul and Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, co-chairs of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Heroin & Opioid Task Force, announced new initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic. Maria Vullo, the superintendent of the Office of Financial Services, announced new statewide regulations that will reduce barriers to insurance coverage for addiction treatment.
The state officials also recognized the opening of the Recovery Center in the Bronx, a community-based center that promotes long-term recovery through skill building, recreation, wellness education, employment readiness, civic restoration opportunities, and other social activities in a non-clinical setting.
In addition, the officials announced $300,000 in funding to Odyssey House and two other providers to establish the Family Support Navigator program in New York City and on Long Island. Family Support Navigators help families struggling with substance use disorders understand the progression of addiction and how to navigate insurance and treatment systems. Odyssey House received $100,000 to establish the program in New York City. New Horizons Counseling Center and Family and Children’s Association each received $100,000 to open programs on Long Island.
Learn more about the new initiatives and regulations in the press release. Below is the press coverage from the announcement:
- DNAinfo: $25M In-Patient Drug Treatment Center Opens in Wards Island, by Gustavo Solis
- New York Daily News: State opens $25M drug treatment center on Wards Island as it battles opioid epidemic, by Glenn Blain
- Associated Press: New $26M Addiction Treatment Center Opens in NYC
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