Check back from time to time for news about new happenings at
Outreach Project.
16TH ANNUAL OUTREACH LONG ISLAND LUNCHEON: A RECORD $150,000 IS
RAISED AS ORGANIZATION MARKS 30 YEARS BUILDING HEALTHY LIVES
Outreach
will held its 16th annual Long Island Luncheon on
Thursday, May 20 at noon, honoring three prominent leaders in
the local business community - Thomas Gesualdi,
President, Building Material Teamsters, Local 282; Edward J. Blaskey,
Market President, Suburban NY/Long Island, TD Bank, and; John J. Molloy, P.E.,
President and CEO, H2M.
(Left to Right): Neil Sheehan, Executive Vice
President of Outreach; New York State Senator Brian X.
Foley; John J. Molloy; Edward J. Blaskey; Jessica, a
graduate of Outreach House who spoke at the luncheon;
Kathleen Riddle, president of Outreach; Thomas Gesualdi;
Rev. Edwin Reed, and Brian Edwards, Senior Vice President of
Marketing, Astoria Federal Savings, who was luncheon
chairman.
This year marks Outreach’s 30th year designing and
operating specialized programs for individuals and families
struggling with addiction, programs that change lives and
rebuild families. On Long Island, services include
comprehensive residential an outpatient substance abuse
treatment for adolescents, 12-17, and their families; after
school outpatient substance abuse treatment for adolescents
(with two locations); intensive daytime treatment for women
and women with children; adult outpatient substance abuse
treatment, and the Outreach Training Institute (OTI), an
alcohol and substance abuse counselor training program
certified by New York State.
Outreach House in Brentwood featured
in News 12 LI "Drug Abuse Trends" segment
News 12 Correspondent interviews the
adolescents at Outreach House in Brentwood, Long Island about
their experiences with substance abuse. Outreach's John Venza,
VP of Adolescent Residential Services discusses national trends
in abuse. Several teenagers were asked to comment about the
growing trends in teenage drug and alcohol abuse. Originally
aired on March 2nd, 2010
Footage provided by News 12 Long Island.
Announcing Outreach Training Institute
Summer Training Series: Courses offered End of July and August
2010!
Take advantage of our summer
courses! Open to current students, alumni, Outreach staff, and
general public where appropriate. For more information:
OUTREACH'S ANNUAL METROPOLITAN
LUNCHEON HONORS BUSINESS LEADERS
Three top
real estate and union leaders were honored at the Outreach
metropolitan fundraising luncheon which set a record for
donations. More than 600 people gathered at Cipriani in midtown
Manhattan. Honored at the event were: Robert Barriero, Senior
Director, Global Operations Management, Pfizer, Kuba J. Brown,
President & Business Manager of IUOE Local 94-94A-94B, and Jean
Savitsky, Managing Director, Project & Development Services of
Jones Lang LaSalle. Funds will help the organization provide
drug and alcohol treatment services and to achieve
its mission of “building healthy lives."
Pictured (left to right) are Ray Ortiz, a manager at Outreach
House; Robert Barriero; Kathleen Riddle, president of Outreach;
Jean Savitsky; Randi Gustitus, an Outreach House graduate; and
Kuba J. Brown. The luncheon chairman was Paul O'Brien, managing
director of the Building Contractors Association and Outreach
Project, Inc. Board Chair.
OTI in Brentwood is
currently not scheduled to hold Open Houses in August. For
those interested in the Long Island program, please don't
hesitate to call.
The class will cover the structure of the CASAC exam, the
strategies to correctly answer questions, the studying
guidelines unique to test takers strengths and knowledge gaps,
and numerous practice questions. Students can expect to leave
the class with a clear sense of what to expect on the exam as
well as what they need to do to successfully prepare for it.
This class is designed to utilize the study guide, "Getting
Ready to Test
(#M404): A Review & Preparation Manual for Drug & Alcohol
Credentialing Exams". We strongly suggest that you buy this book
in advance of the class & bring it with you. It can be purchased
from: Getting Ready to Test (#404): A Review and Preparation
Manual for Drug and Alcohol Credentialing Exams or (http://dlcllc.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page1.html).
The cost of the Prep Class will be $100.00 for alumni/$125.00
for non-alum. Seats are limited & must be reserved by
pre-payment no later than August 9th, 2010. To reserve your
seat, mail your interest, contact info and money order to the
Richmond Hill, Queens Training location
Questions? Please call Tatiana at 718.847.9233 x309
*The next class will
be held in November; date to be decided.
A
New Cycle of Department of Health Funding to support CASAC
training will be starting May 2010!
A limited amount of
seats are available immediately with additional seats available
in the fall for Outreach Training Institute's 350 Hour CASAC
Diploma Program!
OTI is offering full CASAC training scholarships to applicants
who are currently employed in, at risk of lay off, or laid off
from the Healthcare field. To qualify, applicants cannot have a
credential or other certification that qualifies them as a
Qualified Health Professional (QHP).
Applicants must have a
minumum of a High School Diploma or GED equivalent, work full
time or part time (or recently bene laid off) at an OASAS
approved facility within the NY metropolitan area, and meet
various admissions criteria. Fill out an
application today!
For NYC Healthcare workers:
Contact Tatiana Bedoya 718.847.9233 x309
For L.I. Healthcare Workers:
Contact Lorraine Stewart 631.951.2613 x150
NYS OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES (OASAS) HONORS LIFE-SAVING WORK OF ADDICTIONS PROFESSIONALS: OUTREACH’S JOAN LOHNES RECOGNIZED AS 2009-09 ‘ADDICTION NURSE OF
THE YEAR’
To
mark the 20th anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Recovery Month and to acknowledge the hard work and dedication
of addictions professionals in New York State, the Office of
Substance Abuse Service (OASAS) recently designated September
30th as Addictions Professionals Day. In conjunction, OASAS
Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo named the recipients of the
state's annual addictions professionals awards, which included
Outreach Supervisor of Nursing Joan Lohnes, RN, BS, CD, ADS,
LMHC, who was named by an OASAS panel of her peers as Statewide
2008-09 Addiction Nurse of the Year. The judges determined that
Ms. Lohnes is "the nurse who best exemplifies excellence and
quality service to the field." The honor is presented to "an
individual who has earned widespread recognition from his or her
peers and whose work reflects the highest level of professional
conduct and dedication to serving individuals and families
suffering from alcoholism and substance abuse," said OASAS.
Present at the October 1st ceremony at the Outreach offices in
Richmond Hill, Queens, were (pictured left to right): Debbie
Egel, Senior Attorney, OASAS; Kathleen Riddle, president of
Outreach; Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo; Ms. Lohnes; Mark
Armiento, vice president, Outreach Training Institute, and Peggy
Bonneau, Director of Health and Wellness, OASAS.
OUTREACH CONGRATULATES NANCY DIAZ, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
COORDINATOR, HONORED BY QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT
In
association with October 2009 as Domestic Violence Awareness
Month, Nancy J.
Diaz, Outreach’s Domestic Violence Services Coordinator,
and adolescents from
Outreach’s residential program presented a workshop
and performance event on
‘Teen Dating Violence & Substance Abuse’ at the
Domestic Violence Conference sponsored by Queens Borough
President Helen M. Marshall and the Queens Task Force on
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Maltreatment & Elder
Abuse.
In
recognition of her outstanding commitment to the Borough
President’s Task Force, Ms. Diaz was presented a ‘Declaration of Honor’ by Queens Borough President Marshall. Presented at Queens
Borough Hall on October 23rd, the Declaration
acknowledges Nancy in grateful recognition of her outstanding
commitment to the Borough President’s Task Force. Citing
effective coordination of workshops for the domestic violence
conferences and her diligent assistance to victims of domestic
violence, Nancy’s exemplary leadership was credited for
improving awareness and services for domestic violence victims
and their families.
CON EDISON “SUMMER OF SCIENCE” GRANT A GREAT
SUCCESS!
Science Brought to Life for Adolescents at Ridgewood Facility
Con Edison’s award of a “Summer of Science”
grant to Outreach Project successfully concluded in August,
having brought hands-on learning experiences for teens at Outreach
Project's Ridgewood facility.
Through
the “Summer of Science” initiative, a specialized curriculum
touching on a broad array of science related topics was taught
by one of the certified science teachers from PS 318 in
Williamsburg, Brooklyn and included lab work and field
trips.
“This
generous grant from Con Edison provided an exciting opportunity
for these adolescents to learn about science, and to help them
develop a sense of academic accomplishment and higher self
esteem,” said Kathleen Riddle, president of Outreach. “For
teens fighting drug or alcohol addiction, a key component for
long term success is giving them the confidence to remain
substance free. The ‘Summer of Science’ program offered
teens a dynamic, engaging opportunity to see how education leads
to success and achievement later in life.”
“Con Edison knows the
importance of supporting science education for K-12 students,”
said Carol Ann Conslato, Director, Queens Public Affairs, Con
Edison. “Outreach Project’s efforts will help provide a
solid base in science for these students, which will hopefully
expand their opportunities in the future.”
OUTREACH PROJECT
HONORS THREE LEADERS IN BUSINESS AT ANNUAL
LONG ISLAND LUNCHEON
More
than 250 individuals representing businesses from across Long
Island, along with all the residents of Outreach House, were
present at Outreach Project’s 15th Annual Long Island
Luncheon.
A big
success, particularly in light of the challenging economic
conditions, the luncheon grossed $120,000 to support the
enhancement and expansion of drug and alcohol treatment services on
Long Island.
Honored at the event were: James Castellane, president of the Building
and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Tom
Murray, Managing Partner of Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck and Co., PC,
and Peter Frangos, the parent of a graduate of Outreach House, the
agency’s residential program for teens.
Pictured at the event, from left to right, are: James Castellane, John
Maher, C.M., Chairman of the Outreach Development Corporation Board
of Directors, Brian Edwards, Senior Vice President of Marketing at
Astoria Federal Savings, who was luncheon chairman, Tom Murray,
Peter Frangos and Kathleen Riddle, president of Outreach Project.
Big
Apple Circus 2009 Benefit for Outreach Project!
Proceeds from the May 28th
Big Apple Circus benefit for Outreach Project will help
the agency expand and enhance substance abuse treatment
and training services.
The Cunningham Park performance of “Play On”
was a wonderful evening for all who participated!
Pictured below are Queens
Borough President Helen Marshall, who served as honorary
ringmaster (left), Robert A. Taylor of the Walter Kaner
Children’s Foundation, a sponsor of the event, with
Grandma the Clown (top right), and (bottom right),
clockwise from top, Neil Sheehan, Executive Vice
President, Outreach Project; Carol Conslato, Con Edison;
Kelly Mattone, Grandma, Peggy Mattone and Joseph Mattone,
Jr. of the Mattone Group; Albert Pennisi, president,
Queens Chamber of Commerce.
Special thanks to the event sponsors:
Walter Kaner Children’s Foundation, Mattone
Group, LLC, Mutual of America and the Dragone Family.
Newsday
Charities Awards Outreach Project Grant to Expand Long Island
Services
Outreach Project was
honored to be chosen as recipient of a grant in the sum of
$10,000 from Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick
Foundation. The funds will be used to support a project
that provides ongoing education and support services for
graduates of Outreach House and their families.
Pictured (L to R): Tim
Knight, Newsday Publisher; Christine
Casiano, VP, Outreach Project; David
Vizzini, Clinical Coordinator, Outreach House II; Ken
DePaola, Executive VP, Sales and Marketing, Newsday; Deirdre
Parrish Williams, Director, Community Affairs and Media
Relations, Newsday; and Paul
Fleishman, VP Public Affairs, Newsday.
OTI
Announces Good News for Veterans!
The
Outreach Training Institute is pleased to announce that United
States Veterans can now attend the Institute’s 350-Hour
Credentialed Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)
Diploma Program COMPLETELY TUITION FREE! In just 11 short
months, veterans can train for and start a life-long career that
will provider personal satisfaction and have a positive impact
on others and can earn college credits at the same time.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click
here. Read the New
York Daily News article about this training program: Military
veterans can help other veterans beat addiction.
Learn
about the recent visit of Director of the New York State
Division of Veterans’ Affairs Colonel James McDonough, Jr.
(Retired) to this unique training program in the Queens
Chronicle: Richmond Hill vets get certified.
