Commissioner Sanchez Announces $8.3 Million Federal Grant

ALBANY, NY (09/29/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez today announced that New York has received a five year Federal grant totaling $8.3 million to provide screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for substance use disorders. The initiative will target the military community and patients seen in New York City community health centers.

The grant was awarded to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)/Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) on August 23, 2011 with a grant period beginning September 1, 2011. OASAS will be working closely with Erich Kleinschmidt from SAMHSA/CSAT as the Government Project Officer assigned to the NYSBIRT.

New York State Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (NYSBIRT) provides the resources to develop and deliver to two historically at risk populations: the 525,000 patients served each year through the New York City STD public community health centers and the 100,000 service members, veterans and their families in the Watertown area of upstate New York where Fort Drum is located. Over the five-year grant period, it is projected that 280,000 individuals will be screened for substance use disorders, 27,000 at risk individuals will receive a brief intervention, and 3,000 individuals will be appropriate for referral to substance abuse treatment.

OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, "This federal funding will expand services to New Yorkers and provide much needed care in a more cost-efficient manner. By integrating services into primary care settings, individuals will have the opportunity to receive screenings and assessments to determine their appropriate level of care and address their substance misuse, before it progresses further."

OASAS is partnering with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) and Jefferson County to implement the grant. OASAS will also work closely with subcontractors to develop the scope of work. The subcontractors include: Jefferson County local government unit, NYC DOHMH/STD clinics, Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions ( IRETA) (training consultant), and Columbia/ National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) (implementation and evaluation consultant).

Dr. Adam Karpati, NYC DOHMH, said, "The New York City Health Department is pleased to receive this grant, which will allow us to continue, expand, and enhance the provision of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment services in our sexually transmitted disease clinics across the City. We look forward to working with our partners to build on our successes in identifying and assisting individuals at risk of or suffering from substance use disorders."

Roger Ambrose, Jefferson County, said, "Jefferson County is very excited with this opportunity to screen and provide intervention services to individuals who might otherwise not engage for chemical dependency treatment. Often, it can take years for someone to seek out treatment, and by that time, have a problem that has become overwhelming. NYSBIRT will give us the chance to work with individuals before it reaches that level. We are excited about our partnership with OASAS, and know that our provider agencies will fulfill the mission this grant addresses. The Jefferson County community, veterans and military families will all benefit from the funding."

A State Policy Steering Committee representing authorities in public health, mental health, substance abuse treatment, veterans and military affairs, health insurance policy and practices, and research and evaluation, will be established to ensure project goals are accomplished. Additionally, this Committee will provide guidance to expand SBIRT statewide through developing and implementing service protocols and financing models.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,550 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day.

For more information, please visit www.oasas.ny.gov