Antonette Whyte-Etere

The Statewide Listening Tour featured discussions on workforce development challenges in substance use and mental health services, including the need for higher staff salaries, loan repayment programs, and improved training designations for mental health support. Participants advocated for better support for recovery centers, including brick-and-mortar and mobile units, and addressed the need for youth clubhouses as non-clinical community spaces. Additionally, the Commissioner provided updates on the allocation of opioid settlement funds to support workforce investment and establish new youth clubhouses.

The meeting focused on the evolution of regional abatement reporting requirements and strategies for reporting on opioid settlement funding. Participants discussed the differences between regional abatement and direct share reporting, provided updates on expenditure tracking, and shared insights on how different counties are monitoring and auditing the use of settlement dollars to ensure sustainable service transformation. The discussion emphasized the need for consistent communication of accomplishments and challenges, and encouraged active participation in future advisory board meetings.

The meeting focused on regional abatement reporting procedures and requirements for local government units, including the implementation of new statutes regarding the reporting of direct share funding. Discussions included the transition of reporting requirements for calendar year 2025, public access to direct share information via the Oasis web page, and the status of appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Furthermore, the meeting addressed jail-based substance use disorder treatment services, with particular emphasis on medication-assisted treatment programs, the availability of different medication forms, and the logistical challenges faced by facilities regarding staff resources and drug diversion prevention.

This document provides an overview of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports' (OASAS) impact monitoring and reporting for the Opioid Settlement Fund. The report details a multi-faceted approach to address the opioid crisis through key initiatives focused on strengthening the addiction workforce and infrastructure, expanding equitable access to treatment, enhancing prevention efforts, promoting harm reduction services, and bolstering recovery support. The overarching aim is to reduce overdose deaths, particularly among priority populations, and ensure the effective and transparent utilization of settlement funds across New York State.

This document outlines a prevention strategy, 'Reimagining Prevention: Stopping Addiction Before It Starts,' championed by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. This multi-year program, implemented in the Wanch School District from pre-kindergarten through high school, focuses on early social-emotional learning, teaching critical decision-making skills, goal setting, conflict resolution, and empathy. Building on this foundation, later stages incorporate substance use prevention with a harm reduction lens, aiming to equip young people with tools to prevent addiction through healthy behaviors and open discussions.