Harm Reduction Core

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.

Deploys mobile Outreach and Public Safety Teams across East Harlem, Washington Heights, and the Bronx to distribute food, clothing, and safer-use supplies; conduct hazardous waste cleanup; respond to syringe litter via a dedicated hotline; and divert public drug use through intervention and education.

Provides year-round access to donated clothing and hot meals to support safety, comfort, dignity, and nutritional needs for community members through drop-in centers and outreach teams.

Hosts daily recreational and creative groups including open mic nights, comedy, art therapy, gardening, and beekeeping to foster community, expression, and holistic well-being.

Provides confidential counseling, psychiatric care referrals, medication support, psychosocial assessments, and MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) support groups at drop-in centers to promote mental health and recovery.

Runs the first government-sanctioned Overdose Prevention Centers in the U.S., launched in 2021, staffed by trained professionals to prevent overdoses and provide immediate response to health crises. These centers have reversed 2,004 overdoses and served 7,011 individuals since opening.

Provides hot meals, coffee, showers, bathrooms, laundry services, hygiene essentials, and safe respite in a no-barrier environment at drop-in centers in East Harlem and Washington Heights. These centers also offer access to computers, phones, printers, and fax machines to support communication and appointments.

Delivers health education, referrals for psychiatric care and medications, and case management to reduce risks associated with drug use, including HIV and viral hepatitis, through integrated clinical and outreach services.