COALITION MEMBERS: Larry Calkins, Becca Ames, Chelsea Dodd, Bill Bowman, Heather Rich, Kelly Wright, Bud Ziolokowski, Carolyn White, Melerena Back, Rachel Milone, Jake Coulombe, Cassie Forbus-Robbins, Tracy Leonard, Jennifer Elliott, Jay Ulrich, Connie Thompson, Denis King, Sheena Smith, John Wilson, Emily Marquart, Emma Bracket, John Coppola, Jennifer Haggerty, Tina Buckley, Ken Provost, Nichole Langley, Traci Ploufe, Lisa Lawrence-Boyer, Tracy Gravell, Marialice Ryan, MJ Mattiaccio, Bill Doyle, Emily Moore,

 

 

AGENCIES PRESENT: Seaway Valley Prevention Council, Credo Community Center, Champlain Valley Family Center, Citizens Advocates, Mountain View Prevention Services, St. Joseph’s, St. Regis Mohawk Health Services, Pivot, Prevention Team, Grace House, Anchor Recovery Center, OASAS, Prevention Network of CNY, ASAPNY, North Country Freedom Homes, St. Lawrence County Addiction Services, St. Lawrence Health System

1.     Call to Order

·       Meeting called to order by Bill Bowman at 10:05 am.

 

2.     A motion was made by Bud Ziolkowski seconded by Tina Buckley to approve the March 2023 minutes.

 

3.   Treasures Report

•        Treasure Updates: $10,612.34

•        A motion was made by Tina Buckley, seconded by Tracy Leonard to remove Margret Dickinson and add William Bowman to the coalition’s signature card.

 

4.     Action Items:

•        

 

5.     Old Business:

•       Hiring continues to be challenging

•       11.15 waiver still in negotiation, Medicaid reform continues, potential good opportunities

•       Harm Reduction continues to be on the rise

 

6.     New Business:

•        SOR III Discussion

°        Chelsea Dodd informs that she will be sending out emails regarding SOR III.

 

7.     Updates

•       North Country Regional Network of Care

°        Care Coordination Grant – Bud Ziolkowski & Rachel Milone – Website

                                           i.         Rachel Milone and Bud Ziolkowski have been working on the resource directory website. Rachel goes over the website with the Coalition. If any agency would like Rachel and Bud to come to their agency just reach out to them to schedule a day.

•       Committee Updates:

°        Wellness

                                           i.         Wellness committee drafted a letter with ideas to help all agencies for the Commissioner. (Handed out at the meeting)

                                         ii.         Discussion of the letter with the Coalition.

                                        iii.         Suggestions were made to revise the letter to discuss concerns about being able to retract and retain employees in the wellness area.

                                         iv.         Suggestion that the wellness committee come up with standards

°        Education

                                           i.         Working on speaker recruitment for the Conference

°        Advocacy

                                           i.         COLA increase of 4% was passed

                                         ii.         Billion dollars in funding to mental health services over the next few years, bringing 800 psychiatric beds back online and 150 new psychiatric beds, also 26 additional full CCBHC back in the state.

                                        iii.         Work-wide concern about insurance parity with telehealth

°        Sustainability

                                           i.         Working on Charter

                                         ii.         John Coppola suggests committee reach out to ASAP for assistance

•       Conference:

°        November 7-9, High Peaks Resort, Lake Placid, NY

°        Looking for sponsors/vendors/award nominations. http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejr7tpyk250d6e55&llr=lhnyz4oab

•       OASAS:

°        If you need anything feel free to reach out to Jennifer Haggerty

°        Working on the revolving Peer role

°        Updating Peer integration website

•       ASAP Update:

°        John Coppola goes over some details on the merger going on at ASAP

°        Working on getting a name

•       Providers:

°        Champlain Valley

                                           i.          

°        Credo Community Center

                                           i.         Merging with Transitional Living Services will be rebranding and getting a new name.

                                         ii.         Converting women’s and children’s programs to reintegration.

                                        iii.         Tracy Leonard’s title will be changing from Director of Operations to Director of Cooperate Strategy once the merger is complete it will change to Chief Director of Cooperate Strategy.

°        St. Lawrence County Addiction Services

                                           i.          

°        St. Lawrence Health System

                                           i.         Doing Mental Health Fair in Potsdam, Gouverneur, and Massena on May 26th

                                         ii.         Received a grant from OASAS to add to Peer services.

                                        iii.         Applying for another grant through OASAS “Connections to Care” with plans to help with services to clients in need of essential living

                                        iv.         Applied for LGBTQ+ Endorsment, waiting to hear back on that.

°        North Country Freedom Homes

                                           i.          

°        St. Joseph’s

                                           i.         Rose Hill – submitted for LGBTQ+ endorsement and were approved about a month ago

                                         ii.         Getting a lot of refers from the NYC/Metro area.

°        St. Regis Mohawk Health Services

                                           i.          

°        Citizens Advocates

                                           i.          

°        Prevention Team

                                           i.          

°        Seaway Valley Prevention Council

                                           i.          

°        Pivot

                                           i.          

°        Mountain View Prevention Servies

                                           i.          

°        Grace House

                                           i.          

°        Prevention Network of CNY

                                           i.          

 

8.     Adjournment

Text Box: Membership Dues Paid: Carolyn White, Credo Community Center for Treatment of Addictions, Inc., Janet Price-Kurta, Joyce Nebush, Mountain View Prevention Services, Seaway Valley Prevention Services, St. Lawrence Health, Substance Abuse Prevention Team of Essex County, Inc., Pivot, St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center, North Country Freedom Homes, Champlain Valley Family Center adjourn at 11:58 am.