New Addictions Career Resource Center Launched for NYS

ALBANY, NY (04/21/2010)(readMedia)-- Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kathleen Caggiano-Siino today announced the launch of New York's first-ever Addictions Career Resource Center (www.addictionscareerresources.org), an interactive website that will promote employment in the addictions field and provide career development and support for the profession.

The Addictions Career Resource Center: Your Blueprint for Excellence is designed to recruit individuals into the addictions profession by offering resources and information and support for those who are currently working in the field. The site also provides tools and information to help program administrators attract, retain and develop talent within their organizations.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "As we work to strengthen our economy and job market, the resources of this center will connect New Yorkers with careers that are continuing to grow within the expanding health care system of our country."

"This site is exactly what we need in New York to address the critical shortage of professionals in prevention, treatment and recovery services," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "The sense of accomplishment and job satisfaction that this profession offers individuals is tremendous. Every day there is an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life."

The Addictions Career Resource Center was conceived and developed by an advisory group of 70 experts and professionals from the chemical dependence service delivery system, education and training organizations, professional associations, local government agencies, corporate partners and other major stakeholders.

The Resource Center is operated with $50,000 in state start-up funding by the Institute for Professional Development in the Addictions, the New York Office of the Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center. The Center provides resources for improving skills and competency needed for the addictions profession, and offers information on how to begin a career in the addictions profession, in addition to training resources and a jobs data bank.

IPDA Executive Director Michelle Cleary said, "With this unprecedented collaboration on the most pressing issues of the addictions field, we have combined our resources to develop and support a resource center that can truly address the need for jobs that are rewarding – and in demand."

"With parity and health care reform we anticipate a 30 percent growth for skilled, competent workers at all levels where substance use is being addressed. Oddly much of the waiting talent is searching for how to enter this field. The Addictions Career Resource Center is a completely innovative way for many to find not only a job, but a meaningful profession," said Michael T. Flaherty, Ph.D., Executive Director of the SAMHSA/CSAT Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center serving New York and Pennsylvania. "Many will want to emulate it. I tip my hat to New York and OASAS."

"The addictions profession continues to experience growth and statewide attention as a profession of choice," said Executive Deputy Commissioner Caggiano-Siino. "Today, two of our providers, Horizon Health Services of Buffalo and Outreach, headquartered in Richmond Hill, were honored as Best Companies to Work for in New York in 2010 by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management and Best Companies Group."

Anne D. Constantino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon, said "Our field is expanding. The demand is greater than our resources. We need dedicated and talented individuals that believe in the recovery process to choose addiction treatment as a career and the Resource Center is going to help us meet that need."

Kathleen A. Riddle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Outreach, said "The Addiction Career Resource Center is a vital link for the addiction field to connect New Yorkers to the meaningful and inspiring work that saves lives and families. This website will contain a wide range of resources and linkages to assist organizations to better train, retain and support addictions professionals."

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.

Through efforts such as the Your Story Matters campaign at www.iamrecovery.com, the agency hopes to foster a movement of recovery, one that sheds the stigma and promotes a life of health and wellness.

Addiction is a chronic disease and New Yorkers need to know that help and hope is available. Individuals can find help by calling 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.