New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today announced $3.85 million in funding to support the state’s ongoing effort to combat heroin and prescription opioid misuse across New York. This funding will expand current addiction support initiatives to ensure two Family Support Navigators and two Peer Engagement Specialists are available in each of the state’s ten economic development regions. Funding is also available to support community coalitions to help stem the addiction epidemic in local communities across the state.

The funding will be made available through a Request for Applications administered by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Family Support Navigators - $1.2 million

Up to $100,000 is available annually to support two Family Support Navigators in each of the state’s 10 economic development regions and establish the program for the first time in New York City and on Long Island. Family Support Navigator services are currently available in the Finger Lakes, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Central New York, Western New York, Capital Region, and the Mid-Hudson region. Total annual funding available for these twelve programs is $1.2 million.

Peer Engagement Specialists - $1.65 million

Up to $150,000 is available annually to support two Peer Engagement Specialist programs in each of the 10 economic development regions and establish the program for the first time on Long Island. The Peer Engagement Specialist program is currently available in the Finger Lakes, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Central New York, Western New York, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson region and in New York City. Total annual funding available for these 11 new programs is $1.65 million.

New Community Coalitions - $1 million

Up to $100,000 is available to support coalitions in each of the 10 economic development regions for a total of $1 million annually. Awards will support or establish community coalitions and partnerships designed to help coordinate community resources to address substance use prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, respond to community-specific concerns, and increase cross-sector collaboration.

The Community Coalitions RFA is due December 15, 2016, the Peer Engagement Services RFA is due December 7, 2016 and the Family Support Navigator application is due February 28, 2017. The Request for Applications is available on the NYS OASAS Procurements website. (https://oasas.ny.gov/procurements/index.cfm)

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 Access Treatment page on the NYS OASAS website. Visit the #CombatAddiction web pages 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