Outreach Receives $1.25 Million in Opioid Settlement Funds from Suffolk County for Workforce Development Project

Outreach, an agency known for its life-saving treatment, recovery and professional education for alcohol and drug addiction, was selected from over 100 applications for a two-year, $1.25 million grant from Suffolk County’s first round of opioid settlement funds. . To address the urgent need for a workforce for Certified Addiction and Substance Abuse Counselors, these funds will provide the Suffolk County Workforce Development Scholarships (SCWDS) to 200 Suffolk County residents who will attend Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC) Information Learning Institute (OTI). education.

This new free community training opportunity will lead to immediate training and employment and will help fill workforce gaps across the county. OTI has been in business since 1997 and is licensed by the New York State Alcohol and Drug Administration (OASAS) to provide the 350 hours of training required by CASAC. OTI is one of the largest and most well established CASAC education and training centers in New York State.

Scholarships will be distributed over the next two years and will include the cost of all coursework for recipients in the amount of $5,950 per person. In addition, 40 students will complete paid internships at Outreach and other Suffolk County hospitals, each receiving a $1,500 stipend. The scholarships offered will create a channel to attract new workforce to the Suffolk County community.

“As a member of the Opioid Regulatory Committee, I am pleased to announce that Outreach was selected as the recipient of this grant because the organization has a track record of providing quality addiction treatment services and comprehensive care to the community. By creating behavioral health jobs, this workforce development project will enable Outreach to move forward and fulfill its mission to inspire individuals and families to achieve a life of unlimited potential,” said Gregson H. Pigott, MD, MPH, Commissioner Suffolk County Department of Health. Services. “We are incredibly grateful to Suffolk County for providing funding. The county will serve as a model for the rest of the country, allowing the program to be rolled out to reach as many people as possible. We are committed to using all of our resources to work on the recruitment process to provide us with a wide range of candidates from all walks of life,” added Crystal Montagu, Chief Strategy Officer.

The Suffolk County Workforce Development Program (SCWDS) Scholarships are for individuals seeking CASAC certification who have shown an interest and commitment to helping people in the Suffolk County community. These people may be those who work for Office of Addictions and Support Services (OASAS) and Office of Mental Health (OMH) programs, social and social service agencies, or health care facilities. They may have been involved in volunteer work in their communities and/or religious, civic or cultural institutions. They may be people who are recovering and want to provide support to others. For more information about OTI, visit opiny.org/about-oti/. Scholarship applications will be published as soon as grant funds are released.