On June 22 New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Staten Island to sign a package of bills fighting heroin and opiate addiction. Thanks to the guidance of the TYSA Steering Committee and workgroups, Adrienne Abbate, Executive Director of the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness and Project Director of TYSA, served on the Governor's Heroin and Opioid Task Force, and shared Staten Island's unique challenges and recommendations. Adrienne joined Gov. Cuomo for the historic signing at the Staten Island JCC. Here are a few highlights of the package:
- Removes insurance barriers to treatment, allowing patients to receive treatment prior to insurance approval
- Expands the availability of the life-saving treatment, naloxone
- Adds 270 treatment beds and 2,335 substance abuse program slots
Read the full announcement for more detailed information.
[Photo: Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel]
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TYSA Workgroup Highlights
TYSA workgroups meet monthly to address specific topics and initiatives to help eradicate substance abuse on Staten Island. For more information or to join a workgroup, email tysa@sipcw.org.
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Alcohol
Did you know there is a link between alcohol advertising and adolescent drinking? TYSA is supporting Building Alcohol Ad-Free Transit (BAAFT), which held a rally at City Hall in June. On August 18, TYSA volunteers will speak to councilmen about the impact of alcohol on MTA ads at City Hall. Email Anna Bledsoe for more information.
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Opioid
Numerous overdoses have happened in Staten Island restrooms recently, so TYSA is preparing signage for restroom doors, instructional flyers for business owners, and checklist posters for staff break areas to help business owners decrease the potential for potential opioid overdoses and deaths in their establishments.
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Continuum of Care
In an effort to increase the number of recovery coaches and peer advocates on Staten Island, TYSA is assisting Carl's House volunteers in getting certified. In this group, TYSA partners are also coming together to support and build upon Governor Cuomo's opioid legislation and assist with implementation.
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Policy & Advocacy
Through our partnerships with local community boards and government officials, we have the ability to report our findings and share our needs. Recently, Adrienne Abbate and Jacqueline Filis shared their thoughts and recommendations during Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's roundtable on opioid prescribing for acute pain at St. John's University.
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Data
Data, studies and statistics help build TYSA's evidence-based strategies. Recently, the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene released data on overdose deaths. In 2015, Staten Island saw 69 fatal drug overdoses. The borough's death rate due to drugs and alcohol fell by 8 percent between 2014 and 2015.
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Social Norms
In time for the new school year, TYSA is training volunteers to deliver its "Parents You Matter" workshop. In the spring, 650 teachers and DOE personnel were trained. With the intent of expanding this program, we are training volunteers on August 22 from 12-3pm at Staten Island PPS. RSVP to Anna Bledsoe.
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Teens4Change Staten Island
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Teen4Change is continuing its "Sticker Shock" campaign and visited Holiday Beverage to place stickers on packs of beer, reminding consumers of the consequences of purchasing alcohol for underage kids. Additionally, members of Teens4Change attended the Reality Check Youth Summit in July.
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Partner Spotlight - Heroes of Hope
Mark your calendars! On September 24, Heroes of Hope is holding a rally and festival at the Church at the Gateway.
This event follows a successful march on July 16. Hundreds of Staten Islanders walked from Our Lady Star of the Sea in Huguenot to Calvary Assembly of God in Eltingville. The Staten Island Association of Evangelicals, including TYSA coalition member Rev. Joseph Chevere, arranged the event to show support for the families and victims of heroin addiction.
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TYSA Accepts Project Hospitality's
Outstanding Civic Leadership Award
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In June Project Hospitality honored TYSA with its Outstanding Civic Leadership award at the Giving Thanks Luncheon. We are grateful to work together on important initiatives with such terrific organizations, and for Project Hospitality's commitment to tackling youth substance abuse on Staten Island.
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TYSA Attends CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute
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In July the TYSA project team attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Mid-Year Training Institute in Las Vegas. The team learned new strategies to power through the most difficult substance abuse challenges in the community.
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Island-Wide Primary Care Education Event
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In July Borough President James S. Oddo, the Staten Island Performing Provider System and the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness co-sponsored an event inviting healthcare providers to become a part of the solution and help combat the substance abuse crisis on Staten Island. Physicians in attendance received CME credits, dinner, and most importantly, the tools to help treat and refer individuals fighting substance abuse. The Island-Wide Education event will be a part of an ongoing series of trainings.
[Photo Credit: Staten Island Performing Provider System]
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We hope you enjoyed our first TYSA Newsletter and that this becomes a valuable resource for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Rosanne Mottola, Communications Specialist at SIPCW.
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