UB-based opioid recovery program awarded funding from Mother Cabrini Foundation

BUFFALO, N.Y. — People fighting addiction to heroin, fentanyl and prescription pain medications are among the most marginalized people in the country and statistical indicators suggest that the picture is grimmer in New York State than elsewhere in the nation.

In addition to the basic physical challenges of dealing with opioid dependence, recovering addicts face negative stereotypes and misperceptions that prevent them from having access to medical care and other resources they need to lead successful lives.

A program based within the Department of Family Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo has received a $140,000 grant to help address the opioid crisis in Western New York.

The Mother Cabrini Foundation awarded the funds to the New York State Area Health Education Center System (AHECS) Statewide Office, which operates out of the Department of Family Medicine.  

The AHEC System is a tenured workforce development initiative committed to bridging the gap of disconnected services and resources for underserved communities and people of need, according to its director, Leishia B. Smallwood, MPA.

“Opioid Use Peer Recovery Network Development (WNY Certified Peer Recovery Advocate Training Program),” as the program is called, has three primary goals:

• Develop and grow a network of certified peer recovery advocates to support recovery for individuals with opioid use disorder
• Recruit individuals to become certified as peer advocates
• Create a network among employers of the certified peer advocates to help individuals impacted by opioids

The program, which runs from January through December, targets people who have been in recovery for at least one year and who are looking to be gainfully employed, and to support others battling addiction. Participants will be given the tools and structure they need to gain active employment, while helping to expand the capacity and infrastructure of the substance use recovery system throughout the region.

The program will be rolled out in three phases. In Phase 1, at least five people will be identified and trained as Certified Recovery Peer Advocate Trainers. They will make up the “school hub.”

In Phase 2, at least 75 additional people will be recruited and trained to serve as Recovery Peer Advocates. In Phase 3, peers will be connected with employment opportunities and participate in peer-focused trainings for health care providers to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

“The NYS AHEC System is beyond excited to receive this grant, as this will allow us to further expand our efforts to combat the opioid crisis throughout Western New York,” Smallwood said.

The Mother Cabrini Foundation funding complements  the AHEC System’s recently awarded federal RCORP (Rural Communities Opioid Response Program) and RESTORE (Re-Employment, Support, and Training for the Opioid Related Epidemic) grants, which focus on opioid use education and employment support for women, respectively.

“The additional funds from Mother Cabrini will directly support those with opioid crisis experience through the development and expansion of a peer recovery community,” Smallwood said.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation provides grants to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable New York State residents, bolster the health outcomes of diverse communities, eliminate barriers to care and bridge gaps in health services.

It seeks to promote, sponsor and support activities, programs and initiatives that enhance access to affordable quality health care and health care-related services across the state.

It is one of the largest foundations in the United States and the largest focused exclusively on New York State. It estimates awarding up to $150 million annually.

The foundation was established after the sale of Fidelis Care, a non-profit insurer started and operated by the Bishops of the Catholic Dioceses of New York. It is located in New York City.