$500k Dollar Grant to Fight Opioid Abuse

NEW CITY – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County has received a $450,000 federal grant to fight opioid abuse in Rockland County. As an innovative community anchor in the County, BBBS’ program R.A.M.P. (Rockland Alive Mentoring Program) will help battle the opioid epidemic that has hit approximately 5,000 Rockland County youth ages 17 and younger. These youth have either used, or, are at a higher risk for using opioids. In addition, this also includes children seriously impacted by their parents’ or family members’ struggles with opioid addiction.

BBBS of Rockland County will provide mentoring and community-based intervention and recovery services via its partnering with the Rockland Council on Alcoholism & Other Drug Dependence, Inc. (RCADD) and Lexington Center for Recovery. With these strategic collaborations, BBBS of Rockland County will be able to provide both its mentors (Bigs) and its mentees (Littles) with specialized training and supportive guidance. As executive director Gillian Ballard states, “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County agrees with the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child. Along with R.A.M.P., through our various community programs, our agency does extremely important work, one child at a time.”

For more information on R.A.M.P., and/or becoming a mentor or a mentee with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County, please contact Sarah Arras, Program Supervisor at 845 634-2199 x4, or, Jonette O’Kelley Miller, Communications Coordinator at 845 634-2199 x1.