Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grant to Focus on Screening, Treatment, and Mentoring of Young New Yorkers with Substance Use Disorders.
NEW YORK, NY – Educational Alliance’s Center for Recovery and Wellness is proud to announce it has been awarded a five-year, $2.71 million grant from the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the development and implementation of Project ENTER (Engaging in Needed Treatment and Empowering Recovery) based on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The program, which the federal government has recognized as a project of regional and national significance, will break down silos, remove barriers, and innovate the way New York City’s most vulnerable youth are identified and connected to effective substance use disorders (SUD) services and supports. The Center for Recovery and Wellness is the only organization in Lower Manhattan to receive this federal grant.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for this recognition,†said Robert Anderson, Executive Director of Educational Alliance’s Center for Recovery and Wellness. “This grant will enable the Center for Recovery and Wellness and our partners to expand our holistic approach to healing, empowerment, and lasting change for vulnerable youth facing the daunting challenges of substance use disorders.â€
Project ENTER will provide a comprehensive network of care for young New Yorkers involved with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and their families. Project ENTER will leverage this grant to establish this network, hiring practitioners to offer age-appropriate screenings, provide brief interventions, deliver evidence-based treatment, and serve as mentors to more than 450 youth in recovery across the five boroughs.
“The tireless efforts of the Center for Recovery and Wellness in aiding vulnerable youth with substance use disorders is nothing short of extraordinary,†said Richard Baum, President and CEO of Educational Alliance. “With this federal grant, their reach will expand, empowering even more young New Yorkers to reclaim their future and embrace a path of recovery.”
The motivation behind Project ENTER stems from the urgent need to address the disproportionate impact of substance use on the most vulnerable youth in New York City—specifically those with families involved in child welfare investigations, entering foster care, or who are juvenile justice-involved and in detention. 95 percent of these youth come from communities of color. Project ENTER recognizes the importance of engaging caregivers in supporting their children’s journey towards recovery. Caregivers will be actively involved in screening processes and, if necessary, provided with services to support their own well-being.
The five-year federal grant from SAMHSA begins immediately, and service delivery will start this fall in partnership with the Center for Behavioral Health Integration, New York City Administration for Children’s Services, and several New York City treatment partners. For more information on the Center for Recovery and Wellness, visit edalliance.org/crw.
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About Educational Alliance
Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well- being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization, and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming – now across 15 sites – focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement.
About the Center for Recovery and Wellness
A part of Educational Alliance, the Center for Recovery and Wellness is committed to serving whole individuals, whole families, and whole communities. Our dedicated staff take a holistic, strengths-based approach to recovery and wellness that responds to the distinct needs of each individual. Our programs include residential and outpatient addiction treatment, recovery services, prevention education, and community programming such as our free Community Food Program, ReStart Academy High School, and employment and housing services. We believe integrated, inclusive approaches that connect individuals with their families and communities lead to more effective interventions and long-term success. We offer culturally-competent, evidence-based programs and services that strengthen individuals and communities, enhance resiliency, and foster lasting recovery.