Four OASAS Providers Named "Best Companies to Work for in New York" 2011

ALBANY, NY (03/14/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez today announced that four OASAS providers have each been named as one of 50 employers to achieve "Best Companies to Work for in New York" for 2011. This fourth annual statewide survey and awards program identifies and recognizes the best places of employment in New York State.

Horizon Health Services of Buffalo, New York; Outreach of Richmond Hill, New York; St. Joseph's Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers, Inc. of Saranac Lake, New York; and Credo Community Center for the Treatment of Addictions, Inc. of Watertown, New York each recently received the award.

"This achievement demonstrates that our providers realize the correlation between overall organizational performance, excellent human resource practices and content employees," said Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. "The ability to recruit, hire and retain the best and brightest staff will continue to enable our providers to effectively perform the mission critical work required in the mental health and addictions field."

Three of this year's four winners were also previous recipients of the award: Horizon Health Services, a three-time recipient, received the award for 2011, 2010 and 2009; Outreach, a two-time recipient, received the award for 2011 and 2010; and St. Joseph's Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers, Inc., also a two-time recipient, received the award for 2011 and 2009.

"Effectively meeting and exceeding the needs of employees has a lasting influence on patient care and outcomes, as well as a direct impact on organizational business results," continued Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. "Organizations that want to provide the best services and maintain a competitive advantage realize this and make every effort to achieve and maintain high employee satisfaction levels as well as excellent ongoing employee relations."

The Best Companies to work for in New York is an annual statewide survey and awards program designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in New York, benefitting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. The 2011 list includes 50 companies consisting of two groups: 27 small/medium-sized companies with 15-249 employees and 23 large-sized companies with 250 or more employees. As part of the submission process, eligible companies from across the state were evaluated and ranked as part of a two-part process to determine the best employers in the state based on employee satisfaction and engagement, as well as workplace practices and policies.

This year's winners will be honored at the Best Companies to Work for in New York awards dinner on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at the Albany Marriott. For more information on the Best Companies to Work for in New York awards program, visit www.bestcompaniesNY.com

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.

To get help for someone in need, call the toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day a week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. For more information, please visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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