OASAS announces $1 million funding to support addiction prevention workforce in NYS
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports has announced the availability of up to $1 million in funding for OASAS certified and funded Prevention providers to establish and support paid internship positions.
While disclosing this in a statement, OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham stated that funding will allow providers to establish paid internship positions to strengthen the prevention workforce with emphasis on diversity in New York State
He said that providers can receive up to $21,000 under this initiative, which is focused on attracting diverse individuals into the prevention field and providing them a pathway towards a professional credential.
“Prevention is a vital part of the OASAS continuum of care, and it is important that we support the providers who deliver these services,” the statement reads.
“This initiative will strengthen the prevention workforce and make it easier to recruit qualified and dedicated people to this rewarding field, while also providing them with a comprehensive learning and development program,” it adds.
The Paid Prevention Internship Opportunity (PPIO) program is intended to recruit talented, skilled, knowledgeable, and diverse staff to the field.
This allows the providers to gain dedicated workers, allows the workers to receive valuable job experience and development, and provides an entry-level path towards a professional credential such as a Certified Prevention Professional (CPP) or Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS).
A key objective of this program is for providers to recruit interns to meet the needs of the populations and communities they serve.
Applications that identify efforts to recruit Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ, refugee and other minority groups will receive additional points in scoring.
This program will also foster collaboration between our Prevention Provider system and College/University diversity programs, and employment training programs like SUNY EOC’s.
This funding will be awarded through a Request for Applications administered by OASAS, which is available to view here. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2022.
Assemblymember Phil Steck said, “OASAS has recognized the need for workforce development in the treatment field.
“Working directly with colleges and universities has not been the traditional manner in which treatment providers have sourced employees.
“A paid internship program will allow providers to work with these institutions, while also creating opportunity and a pathway forward to credentialing.”
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