Jewish Family Services receives $400K for opioid use support program

Niagara County and New York State have awarded Jewish Family Services $400,000 to provide services to those impacted by opioid use.
The county awarded a $350,000 two-year grant to JFS for a comprehensive career support and care management recovery program at its Niagara Falls office. The state Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services awarded $50,000 to develop a community resource room for families served by care coordination and health home programs and for new American families.
Both plan to start later this year.
'From addressing behavioral health and wellness needs to help prevent relapse and post-lasting recovery, to providing a safe space for families to work toward securing self-sustainability, JFS staff is committed to empowering individuals with the resources needed for long-term success,' said Jewish Family Services CEO Molly Carr in a statement.
Around 12% of clients enrolled in JFS's Niagara County-based health home program have suffered from opioid use disorder, substance abuse, and other mental health conditions. It helped between 250 and 300 clients in the county in 2023.
'While those in recovery are faced with many challenges, one of the biggest can be getting back into the workforce,' said County Legislator Jesse Gooch, chair of the Community Services Committee. 'The JFS program has a focus on employment services, something that is sorely needed, which is why we were happy to award them grant funding through the opioid settlement fund.'
The community resource room will have laptops, internet access, printers, scanners, and noise-cancelling headphones on hand. Case managers will be available by appointment for job application help and technology and interpretation services.
JFS opened its Niagara Falls office on Third Street last August, with case workers there working on career services and refugee resettlement programming. It has operated in Buffalo since 1862, starting Niagara County services in 2021.
It was one of many area nonprofits that had to cut positions earlier this year after the Trump administration froze funds meant for agencies that help new refugee arrivals. It partnered with four other Buffalo agencies to raise $1.5 million in February and March to cover funding shortfalls.

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