Prevention

"M, pre-teen aged, has been a member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Bellport Area (BGCBA) for three years. She has struggled with depression, but while attending BGCBA, she has formed meaningful relationships and found a safe space to share her feelings. Through these relationships and the support of our clinical staff, M and her mother were connected to therapeutic services in the community. In addition to receiving wraparound support at the Club, M actively engages in group sessions, participates in dance, and takes part in activities that foster positive coping skills. Her mother also receives ongoing bridge support from our team, ensuring that their family has continued access to the resources they need."*

*personal information like names have been removed

Harm Reduction

“This month, one of our new Peers (R) hired on this contract in April was waiting in line at a motel to check in for the night. While he was waiting, someone ran through the front door of the motel asking the front desk staff if they had Narcan because their friend was overdosing in the car outside. The front desk employee did not have Narcan or seem to know what it is. R had Narcan in his pocket, so he ran outside and saved the person in the car. He then enrolled the person in our program and gave them supplies. CASJ staff subsequently returned to the motel and provided training and Narcan kits for the front desk staff."*

*personal information like names have been removed

Treatment

“The patient was enrolled in the MAT Program and recently celebrated 30 days of sobriety from heroin use. After struggling with substance use for nearly a decade, the patient attempted to withdraw at home but required hospitalization at St. Charles for detox. From there, the patient began attending AA/NA meetings and enrolled in the Sun River MAT program. The patient is grateful for the support received and is dedicated to maintaining abstinence by attending self-help meetings daily and keeping all appointments.

The patient's spouse, who also stopped using substances at the same time, accompanied them to their MAT intake appointment and decided to enroll in the program as well. The spouse attended their initial MAT appointment and has been working hard to maintain abstinence and focus on health. With 30 days clean from heroin use, the spouse feels the best they have felt in the past decade. Both patients are committed to attending all appointments and self-help groups to support their recovery journey, even with the long travel distances from their home.”*

“My journey to becoming a CASAC began in 2020 when I was a resident of the Outreach women's residence, one of the first five girls it had just opened. I was a complete mess with no direction for life. When it was time to leave outreach, I had a job and a good grip on my sobriety. I went from feeling completely hopeless to having hope that I believed I would never feel again. Walking into my first apartment is when I knew that I wanted others to feel the same hope I did. I had looked into programs but just could not afford them so I put my dream on the back burner. Then one day, I was online, and it was then I saw that Outreach was giving away scholarships, and I just knew that it was meant for me. I immediately emailed my outpatient counselor at Outreach and said I needed this and asked what I'd have to do; yes, I'm still in outpatient at Outreach five years later, and relapse is not a part of my journey. The scholarship has offered me to literally fill a void I felt for not being able to help the community of people that need it the most. I am now interning where my new life began and look forward to working in the women's residence when school is over.”*

*personal information like names have been removed

Recovery

“J was a participant in Sound Justice Initiative, committed to breaking free from opioid addiction and rebuilding his future. With our support, he enrolled in Suffolk Community College’s CASAC program, taking meaningful steps toward a new beginning. His journey didn’t just change his life—it brought hope to his family as well. His aunt was so proud of his progress that she insisted on accompanying him to the Department of Labor, where we met with Dr. Russo to help him pick out suits for job interviews. Her excitement and unwavering support were a testament to the power of second chances and the profound impact that education, opportunity, and family encouragement can have on a person’s path forward.”*

*personal information like names have been removed