In the news: Peer mentoring for parolees

"I'm only looking forward," - Michael Everett

The Bronx Free Press covered our new peer mentoring program for parolees in its January 21st edition. Reporter Gregg McQueen visited our outpatient clinic in the Bronx to speak with Mary Callahan, senior manager, director of Outpatient Services, and Michael Everett, a certified recovery coach, about this innovative program and how it will help reduce recidivism in participants. Check out the full article here.

In the news: Recovery services for older adults

News 12 Bronx interviewed Mary Callahan, program director of Odyssey House Outpatient Services, as well as clients about the $445,000 grant we just received from the NYS Department of Health. The grant will allow us to implement a peer mentoring track for older adults (Serving Older Adults Recovery System, or SOARS), providing case management services and improving access to community-based recovery resources for up to 90 ElderCare clients over 14-16 months. 

Check out the press release to learn more about this innovative program (pdf).

Odyssey House wins award to provide recovery services for older adults

Odyssey House has received a $445,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health to implement a peer mentoring track for older adults (Serving Older Adults Recovery System, or SOARS), based out of the Bronx-based Outpatient Services program. SOARS will allow Odyssey House to provide case management services and improve access to community-based recovery resources for up to 90 ElderCare clients over 14-16 months. The grant was awarded through the New York State Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) Innovation Fund.

There are growing demands for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for older adults.  Emergency Department (ED) admissions for illicit drugs and alcohol have been steadily increasing for the last several years among this population. From 2004 to 2010, the number of ED visits for drug use and misuse has grown 187% for adults ages 55-64 and 104% for those ages 65 and older. These data, coupled with national surveys that show older adults suffer the most from depression, isolation, and chronic medical conditions, point to the need for a program which addresses SUD recovery in the context of overall physical and mental health.

The SOARS program will deliver a continuum of support services for older adults utilizing both intensive case management and peer-based recovery coaching. Odyssey House Case Managers will work one-on-one with clients as they transition out of residential treatment, connecting them to community-based services to help them remain out of institutional care. In addition, clients will be paired with a volunteer Recovery Coach, who will serve as a peer mentor to assist in identifying and engaging in community-based recovery supports. The SOARS program will strengthen the continuum of care, complementing the current ElderCare substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program operated by Odyssey House and serving to expand Odyssey House Recovery Oriented Care System (OH ROCS).

Dr. Peter Provet, president of Odyssey House, said, “We're pleased to be able to build on the success of our OH ROCS program and extend our peer-based recovery services to older adults where they need them most – in their own community.” 

Read the full press release (pdf) to learn more about this innovative program.

Preventing heroin overdoses

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is spearheading an effort to equip more law enforcement officers with the heroin antidote Narcan. It takes just three minutes to revive a person overdosing on heroin or prescription pain medication by pushing the drug out of their system.

Mary Callahan, senior manager, director of Odyssey House Outpatient Services, was featured in a News 12 segment about the initiative. "By doing this, they're saving an immeasurable amount of people from overdose," she said.

Download our new brochures!

Learn more about Odyssey House's programs and services in our new brochures. You can download them from our Admissions page or email us at admissions@odysseyhouseinc.org to order a hard copy set. Give us your feedback in the comments or on our Facebook page.

New program to enhance adolescent treatment in the Bronx

Odyssey House Outpatient Services is introducing a new evidence-based program for adolescent boys (12-17 years) with substance use disorders. Called the Seven Challenges, the program will be incorporated into our existing BUY-In program, which was recently awarded a three-year, $1.3 million contract by the NYS Office of Alcoholism & SubstanceAbuse Services (OASAS).

The Seven Challenges program is designed to motivate a decision and commitment to change – and to support success in implementing the desired changes. The program helps young adults address their drug problems as well as their co-occurring life skill deficits, situational problems, and psychological problems.

Odyssey House kicked off the program with a community meeting to introduce the program to referral sources. Attendees included representatives from OASAS, the Bronx Borough President’s office, Bronx Futures, and Bronx Community Services.

Seven Challenges is intended to avoid power struggles between the client and counselor, instead focusing on encouraging honesty. Richard Barr, director of training and support for Seven Challenges, said, “It is an empowering model – designed to help adolescents make thoughtful decisions: internally motivated and committed. We want clients to take charge of their own lives.”

Robert Anderson, director of adolescent, outpatient and admissions services for Odyssey House, said, “We are very excited about this opportunity to implement yet another evidence-based practice of the quality that Seven Challenges exhibits. The training was very valuable and we look forward to providing to great services to the youth we serve.”

Odyssey House wins grant to expand adolescent outpatient services

The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) announced Odyssey House as the downstate recipient of a three-year, federally funded grant to expand adolescent services. Odyssey House President Dr. Peter Provet said: "We are proud to fulfill our mission of treating vulnerable populations of adolescents with substance use disorders and their families by expanding our Bronx-based outpatient programs, and are grateful to NYS OASAS and SAMHSA for their support in helping to meet the needs of a community we are dedicated to serving."

In selecting Odyssey House, Commissioner Gonzalez-Sanchez, commented on the high needs of the adolescents in our Bronx outpatient program and their involvement in "multiple systems that include juvenile justice, child welfare, or mental health." 

For more information, please read the OASAS press release here.

The Spring 2012 newsletter is now available

The Spring 2012 edition of Odyssey House News is now available online! Read about our new housing programs, get an update on OHROCS (Odyssey House Recovery Oriented Care System), and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Cross-agency collaboration provides coordinated care to Bronx families

A new program with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has allowed Odyssey House to expand its outpatient services to additional families and children in the Bronx. The partnership places a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) from Odyssey House into the ACS facility.

This cutting edge service approach integrates coordinated care to the children and families affected by substance abuse in the child welfare system. The benefits of such a partnership include seamless care and safety coordination as well as the elimination of barriers in accessing substance abuse treatment.

The enhanced services were introduced at a joint meeting of regional managers and key staff from ACS, Odyssey House, and New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) on July 18th.


Pictured from left to right: Ronald Bridges, Deputy Director, Bronx Division of Child Protection (DCP); Ranji Lachmansingh, Clinical Supervisor, Odyssey House Outpatient Services; Dr. Gary Harmon, Vice President & Director of Research and Grants, Odyssey House; Charita Thomas, Acting Borough Commissioner, Bronx DCP; John Tavolacci, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, Odyssey House; Frances Carrero, Deputy Director of Administration, ACS; Lisa Bolling, Deputy Director, FSU; Ana Garcia, Child Welfare Coordinator, Odyssey House Outpatient Services; Monette Sachs, Director, Division of Substance Abuse Policy and Planning, ACS; Sharon Cadiz, Director, Clinical Consultation Program, ACS; Robert Anderson, Director of Adolescent, Outpatient and Admissions Services, Odyssey House; and Lureen McNeil, Deputy Director of NYC Operations and Director of NYS Recovery Services, OASAS

Local schoolchildren offer encouragement to Outpatient clients

Clients at Outpatient Services received a special gift yesterday – encouragement bracelets from elementary schoolchildren in the Bronx. Talya Moncrease’s first-grade class at P.S. 130 participated in a lesson on appreciating differences and overcoming obstacles. The students then made beaded bracelets as symbols of peace and hope for our clients. Each bracelet came with a note and drawing reflecting the students’ wishes for the recipients. The project was organized by Children for Children, an organization that encourages young people to get involved in service and volunteering.