OASAS Honors Women In The Addictions Field

March is Women’s History Month in New York

ALBANY, NY (03/28/2008)(readMedia)-- State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today recognized the contributions made by women in the addictions field of New York State in honor of Women’s History Month.

The 10 women honored by OASAS are members of the provider community, individuals in recovery and OASAS employees. Their service and life experiences enrich the addictions field, while their skills and dedication help countless individuals overcome their addictions.

“During Women’s History Month, it is fitting that we honor women who truly represent personal growth and integrity, leadership and strength, and have an integral role in the field of addiction,” said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. “These women and their achievements in prevention, treatment and recovery are an inspiration to all New Yorkers.”

There are approximately 50 treatment programs specialized for women in New York State. OASAS services for women include prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, child care education, prenatal care, vocational and academic support, recovery management, and partnering with other systems to address other serious issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, HIV/AIDS, and foster care.

OASAS efforts also include a new 108-bed initiative that will enable New York to strengthen chemical dependence treatment services for adolescents and women with children. In addition, because it is estimated that alcohol or substance abuse contributes to 60- to 80 percent of child abuse and neglect cases, OASAS and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) have jointly developed a program in which Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC) and preventive workers collaborate with local social services districts on child abuse and neglect investigations.

OASAS oversees one of the nation’s largest addictions services system, with more than 1,500 programs which treat 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day. Of the more than 10,000 substance abuse professionals credentialed by OASAS, 60 percent are female. For information about the addictions field, or help regarding an addiction problem, resources are available on the OASAS Web site, www.OASAS.state.ny.us.

Women of Distinction:

Betty Currier: Ms. Currier has been in long-term recovery from alcoholism for over 32 years. This led to her career in alcohol and other drug prevention and early intervention beginning in 1982. Ms. Currier has touched many lives in the addictions field through her work as the Executive Director of the LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions, an organization she co-founded in 1982. Ms. Currier has since retired from that position. Ms. Currier also served as President of the New York State Association of Council Directors from 1993-1999 where she now serves as a consultant. She currently works as the Northeast Regional Board Member and Secretary of the Board with Faces and Voices of Recovery. In addition, Ms. Currier is President of the Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties where she was instrumental in the opening of the Turning Point, a Recovery Center in Oneonta which offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals and families. Ms. Currie is a Certified Prevention Professional and a CASAC.

Judy Ekman: Ms. Ekman is the Executive Director of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council of Saratoga County, Inc. She has worked for the Prevention Council since its inception in 1979. Ms. Ekman oversees programs that include pre K – grade 12 school-based prevention programs and services; Student Assistance Program; Family Assistance Program for Head Start; Youth Court; underage drinking and DWI prevention and intervention; community mobilization; a regional tobacco-free coalition; parenting and family education; and a gambling prevention program. Judy is also a training associate in the 13 state Northeast region for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. She has received numerous awards throughout her career including, the U.S. Department of Education’s Youth Against Drugs Award, NYS Legislature’s Outstanding Citizen Award and Saratoga Center for the Family’s Child Advocate of the Year Award. She has also published “Together Growing up Drug Free” a prevention curriculum for faith communities.

Dr. Anne R. Elliott: Dr. Anne Rebecca Elliott is an ordained elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and served as Minister to Women for five years at Bridge Street AWME Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. She has taught at both Union Theological and New York Theological Seminaries. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Greenhope Services for Women, Inc, a criminal justice community-based residential and outpatient program for parolees and women referred as an alternative to incarceration. Since joining Greenhope, Dr. Elliott has quadrupled the residential population from 14 to 62 women, increased the ambulatory capacity from 25 to over 200 women; raised over $3.3 million in operating funds and $14 million in capital dollars for a new 38,000-square-foot residential treatment center for women and children in East Harlem. She is currently working on her book: African American Women’s Understandings of the Spirit: A Black Womanist Pneumatology.

Denise Fulkerson: Ms. Fulkerson, is a CASAC and Addictions Program Specialist II for OASAS, working in the Western New York Field Office. She began her career in the addictions field in 1970. Ms. Fulkerson is recognized as the Regional Prevention Program expert amongst both Field Office staff and local providers with whom she maintains a close working relationship. In addition to her leadership and outstanding commitment to the field, she also invests in regular self education regarding prevention strategies and programs recognized and promoted by Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and other national organizations promoting prevention. Ms. Fulkerson is a member of the Western NY Women’s Substance Abuse Services Network which is an informal group that meets quarterly to explore the breadth and variety of women’s programming in Western New York.

Pauline Gray: Ms. Gray was the featured speaker for the OASAS Women’s History Month celebration and is the author of "Sober for the Health of It," a self-help/recovery book which examines the disease of alcoholism and addresses the total person: mental, physical and emotional. Her introduction to a holistic modality began in 1965 when she enrolled in a series of Hatha Yoga classes. From 1972 until her retirement in April 2000, she practiced holistically. During those 28 years, she received her degree in nutrition and certification in nutritional consulting from the American Association of Nutritional Consultants. She designed and authored a Comprehensive Iridology/Herbology course which was approved in 1992 by the New York State Nurses Association for continuing credits. This course was taught to nurses and chiropractors in the states of Florida, Georgia and New York. In December 1993, Ms. Gray received her license from the Pastoral Care Licensing Commission.

Valeria Haynes: Ms. Haynes, now an honors graduate student at the University at Albany, is marking her fifth year in recovery from alcoholism. Her journey of recovery began with a residency at Hope House, a long-term treatment facility in Albany, N.Y. In the earlier days of her journey of recovery, Ms. Haynes began taking classes at Hudson Valley Community College and worked part time as a writer, tutor and library staff person. Following graduation with a 4.0 from HVCC, she enrolled in the State University of New York at Albany, graduating summa cum laude with a major in English in May 2007. She will graduate in December with a grade point average of 3.9. Ms. Haynes is also an accomplished singer and songwriter with numerous music awards. Ms. Haynes knows first hand the challenges and issues of recovery and her story offers strength and hope to others facing addiction.

Bea Marrone: Ms. Marrone is an Addictions Counselor 3 at the Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center overseeing the women’s program. Ms. Marrone has worked at Van Dyke for over 28 years. She continues to exemplify amazing ability to connect and direct the women’s program with compassion and tremendous organizational skills. Ms. Marrone often brings in outside groups to enhance the women’s stay at the program and benefit their recovery. In addition, she is a supervisor, member of the Van Dyke management team, and relied upon heavily by staff for her technical expertise. Ms. Marrone works efficiently to keep the women’s program running smoothly and contributes greatly to maintaining Van Dyke’s quality of care.

Patricia Neuman: Ms. Neuman has been employed at the Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center for the past 10 years. Ms. Neuman started her career as a registered nurse in 1975. She became a Social Worker in 1990 and began her second career in the chemical dependency field. She became a CASAC in 1992. She still holds all three certifications and licenses. Ms. Neuman has established herself as a true leader. She carries herself with a dignity and honesty that elevates her in the eyes of patients and staff alike. The patients have no stronger advocate and voice, and she is always helping staff to improve their skills and understanding of the patients. Ms Neuman spearheaded Creedmoor ATC’s efforts to introduce acupuncture as a service where they are well known locally for this program and became a training site.

Rev. Dr. Judy Murphy-Jack: Rev. Dr. Jack has been with the state for 37 years. She began working with OASAS in 1982 and has held responsibilities as the EAP coordinator and administrative support for several bureaus in OASAS. Most recently, she has worked for the Bureau of Recovery, where she contributes daily to the development and support of the Recovery Movement of New York State. The Rev. Dr. is a Life Skills Facilitator who educates and empowers individuals who are trying to better their lives, as well as the lives of their family. She utilizes various modalities in her teachings, such as skits, plays, and music. She offers counseling in the areas of employment, personal, anger management, and domestic violence. She also provides educational enrichment and spiritual development.

Dr. Barbara Warren: Dr. Warren is the Director for Organizational Development, Planning and Research for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. Under Dr. Warren’s direction, mental health and human services came to life 20 years ago for the first time at the Center. As founding director of project Connect, the first substance abuse prevention program in New York targeted to the LGBT communities, Dr. Warren also developed the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Service’s Training for Counselors on working effectively with LGBT persons in need of the substance abuse services. Dr. Warren holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology's School of Psychology and is also a CASAC and CPP. She has over 30 years of experience in the development and implementation of mental health, substance abuse, HIV and social service programs in community based settings. Most recently she was appointed to the Steering Committee for the Cochrane Consumers Global Network, the consumer advisory group to the international Cochrane Collaboration, the leading worldwide organization for evidence-based healthcare.

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