Chronic Disease Model of Addiction

Participates in local initiatives addressing mental health, suicide prevention, housing, and youth substance use to represent client interests and strengthen community partnerships.

Offers the BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) program, an evidence-based harm reduction intervention for college students aged 18 to 24, aimed at reducing alcohol use and improving decision-making. Delivers sessions to students referred due to alcohol violations or self-referrals concerned about their use.

Conducts community outreach through presentations, panel discussions, website and social media content, public service advertising, and tailored educational sessions for diverse audiences. Delivers monthly educational presentations to the Adolescent Behavioral Services Unit at Cayuga Medical Center.

Develops and delivers Drug-Free Workplace presentations for local businesses and supports employers in creating formal drug and alcohol policies.

Provides free Narcan training and distributes free Narcan kits to the community. Offers low-barrier access to health care services as part of an evidence-based harm reduction strategy to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission.

Offers the High-ding Spots interactive room display and presentation to educate parents on identifying signs of teen substance use and guide conversations with their children.

Administers the New York State DMV-sanctioned Impaired Driver Program for individuals charged with impaired driving, providing education and behavioral reflection to prevent repeat offenses.

Operates an outpatient clinic open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm that provides trauma-informed, evidence-based addiction treatment, including individual and group counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and personalized treatment planning. Offers telephone and video health services seven days a week, including assessments and referrals.

Implements evidence-based prevention curricula in K–12 schools, including the Too Good program, which delivers 8 to 10 forty-minute classes focused on life skills, resiliency, and substance use education.

Provides substance use assessments, treatment, case management, and family support services to participants in court-mandated programs including the Alternatives to Incarceration Program, Ithaca City Drug Treatment Court, Felony Drug Treatment Court, and Family Drug Treatment Court. Also provides services at the Community Justice Center.

Delivers the Teen Intervene evidence-based intervention program, consisting of three one-on-one sessions for teens impacted by substance use, focusing on behavioral assessment, goal alignment, and change planning.

Operates a coalition of nearly 30 member organizations across nine counties to coordinate and deliver health and wellness support programs in northern New York.

Offers performance improvement planning, customized training, and support for healthcare staff and tobacco treatment champions to improve the quality and delivery of tobacco cessation services.

Empowers schools and communities to enhance physical activity through initiatives like Walk & Roll to School Day, pedestrian infrastructure improvements, and bike helmet distribution programs, particularly in Franklin County.

Advocates for and facilitates updates and implementation of school wellness policies related to nutrition and physical activity, and supports municipal-level policies and projects that promote active transportation and safe physical activity environments.

Awards grants totaling nearly $20,000 to support local health promotion initiatives across the North Country region.

Designs, develops, and implements evidence-based strategies to reduce the incidence of cardiac disease, stroke, and related chronic illnesses across a seven-county region in northern New York State, focusing on tobacco use, nutrition, and physical activity.

Coordinates and delivers free lifestyle change and health self-management programs targeting chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, arthritis, and chronic pain through the Get Healthy North Country Network.