Legislative District 14 Update:
Dear Resident,
This week I joined County Executive Bruce Blakeman in announcing the second round of opioid settlement money, totaling more than $5.2 million dollars being distributed among seven award recipients who provide mental health and substance abuse counseling. The overall plan, which was developed by the administration and a 17-member committee of professionals and community leaders, will be carried out over the next four years.
The funding comes from the multi-million-dollar settlement award received from the lawsuit that the County pursued against the nation’s drug manufacturers and distributors. Legislation previously introduced by the Legislative Majority and passed by the full legislature created a special fund to ensure that every dollar of the settlement fund goes toward prevention, education, and treatment programs.
The new round of funding follows an initial distribution of $2.4 million dollars last September. A third round of funding is expected to be announced by the administration in approximately sixty (60) days and will go to other selected applicants among the sixty-one (61) who submitted proposals through an RFEI process last year.
Below is a list of the organizations receiving funding in the second phase of this program:
- YES (Youth Environmental Services): $556,328
- Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services: $2,999,109
- Catholic Health Services: $93,000
- Family & Children’s Services: $640,365
- LICADD (Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence: $50,000
- Long Beach Reach: $467,734
- LI Jewish Medical Center: $306,951
It is gratifying to know that all of these monies are being fully dedicated for this particular purpose and will go a long way in addressing the needs of those who are suffering from opioid addiction.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you may have with respect to the County or on any particular issue that you think I may be able to assist you with. You may contact me at (516) 571-6214 or by email at LSchaefer@NassauCountyNY.gov .
Sincerely,
Laura M. Schaefer
Legislator, District 14