Oceanside, NY – April 3, 2017 – State Senator Todd Kaminsky is proud to announce that NYS Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) has awarded the Oceanside Counseling Center a $149,000 grant to support the Oceanside S.A.F.E. coalition - comprised of schools, police departments, city officials and other vital civic organizations - to combat substance abuse.
"Thank you to Governor Cuomo for this $149,000 grant to help Oceanside fight substance abuse," said Senator Todd Kaminsky. "I am proud to have advocated for and helped secure this funding to advance the great work the Oceanside Counseling Center and all members of the Oceanside S.A.F.E. Coalition are doing to combat substance abuse and support impacted families. I will continue fighting to secure the necessary funding to tackle the growing drug epidemic across Long Island and New York.”
Assemblyman Brian Curran: "I am proud to work with Senator Todd Kaminsky helping to secure this vital funding for combating substance and alcohol abuse, while keeping the community informed, updated, aware and united. Working together, this funding will help our children, and families become 1 step closer to making recovery a priority, and giving residents the tools they need to heal and maximize a real lifestyle change. The Opiate epidemic is killing a generation and I am extremely grateful for this funding to stop this scourge on our society."
Teresa Maguire, Clinical Supervisor at the Oceanside Counseling Center: “This grant will greatly help our efforts to develop our peer engagement program and assist families in our community to find alternative addiction treatment support services. We will be able to expand and further our efforts to help families in crisis and facilitate the treatment process. We are greatly appreciative of Sen. Kaminsky’s efforts on behalf of the Oceanside Counseling Center and our community.”
Sandie Schoell, Oceanside School Board Vice President and Member of Oceanside S.A.F.E. Coalition: "Thank you to Senator Kaminsky, who has been our longtime partner in the fight to combat substance abuse and was invaluable in securing this grant. The Oceanside community is passionate about acting now to support families and individuals affected by addiction, and I am excited we have funding to bring schools, police departments, the Oceanside Counseling Center, and various other sector and community organizations together to fight substance abuse. Bringing this coalition to life has been our dream for some time, and I couldn't be happier."
Senator Kaminsky organized the first meeting of members of the Oceanside coalition and helped connect coalition members with grant opportunities at OASAS. The Oceanside Counseling Center will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant and use funds to support the Oceanside S.A.F.E. Coalition, which includes local school districts, police departments, the City of Oceanside, and other civic organizations.