(HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislature Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé (D – Freeport) joined community leaders, service providers and her colleagues in local government to commemorate the grand opening of the National Association on Drug Abuse Problems (NADAP)’s Workforce Initiative Nassau (WIN) in Hempstead Village on Wednesday, June 18.
The WIN program will provide career counseling, skills training and education programs and job placement services for Nassau County individuals and families that have been impacted by substance abuse. It is funded by resources from Nassau County’s opioid settlement fund.
To date, the fund has accrued nearly $100 million in settlement funds, but to date, only $5.3 million has been released to agencies by administration of Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman. The members of the Legislature’s Democratic Minority delegation have repeatedly pushed for expediting the release of these funds to agencies like NADAP that are on the front lines of the addressing the crisis through the delivery of treatment, prevention, and recovery resources.
“The WIN program will be the first of its kind Nassau County to provide essential employment readiness resources for community members as they navigate their recovery journey – helping them to create stability in their lives,” Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Mulé said. “I am hopeful that the administration will greatly improve the rate at which opioid funds are released to agencies so that they can quickly launch many more life-enriching program across the County.”
PHOTO CREDIT – Office of Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé