Addiction Affects the Entire Community

LIVINGSTON MANOR – It fills the pages of our newspapers and social media feeds every day – addiction is significantly impacting our communities. It’s killing our loved ones, breaking up families, and landing others in jail, to name just a few of the consequences. There’s no need to go it alone, however. Working together, community residents can make a difference.

“The Catholic Charities Community Outreach Team is on the front lines in the fight against opioid addiction,” said Amy Kolakowski, LMSW, Director of Behavioral Health Services/Sullivan & Ulster, for Catholic Charities. “Our Outreach team seeks to bring addiction treatment directly to those in need, especially in under-served and hard to reach areas. They work closely with our Recovery Peer Advocates who draw on their own recovery experiences to inspire, support, and connect with individuals struggling with addiction or striving to maintain recovery,” added Kolakowski.

“Catholic Charities is grateful to our community partners at Catskill Regional Medical Center for sharing their space with us and joining us for this important meet and greet,” said Kolakowski. “I encourage our friends and neighbors to join us, get to know the Community Outreach team, and find out what each of us can do make positive changes,” she continued.

The Catholic Charities Community Outreach Team is part of the non-profit agency’s Center of Treatment Innovation, a NYS-funded program targeted at addressing the opioid crisis in Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties. The Center works to increase access to treatment, address unmet need, and reduce overdose-related deaths. Services include community-based assessment and treatment referrals, telepractice, medication-assisted treatment, individual, group, and family therapy, recovery support and peer advocates, care management, and mobile community outreach.

To learn more about the Catholic Charities Center of Treatment Innovation, or for more information about the meet and greet, contact Lisa Beam at 845.794.8080, ext. 190 or lisa.beam@cccsos.org.