Amidst Opioid Epidemic, Long Island Community Foundation Awards $25,000 to Growing Local Nonprofit

Hicksville, NY (January 30, 2018) – Aiming to help stem the tide of opioid deaths and addiction across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island Community Foundation awarded a grant to CN Guidance & Counseling Services—a nonprofit which acts as a safety-net by providing outpatient mental health and addiction services, regardless of an individuals’ ability to pay.

Long Island experienced nearly 500 recorded opioid-related deaths in 2016, across all income levels. More than 10% of the Island’s population face some type of chemical dependency, according to state-conducted surveys of adults and youth. Many people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol also face untreated co-occurring mental health disorders, such as depression and/or anxiety.

The Long Island Community Foundation’s grant to CN Guidance is especially progressive, as it supports technical assistance, system upgrades, and staff training needed as CN Guidance continues its exponential growth in reaching community members. The nonprofit, which counseled or treated 2,220 residents in 2013, served more than 6,300 Long Islanders in the first 11 months of 2017. With a staff of over 320 people, CN Guidance’s team is 50% larger than it was in 2013.

“We are so grateful to Long Island Community Foundation,” said Jeffrey Friedman, CEO of CN Guidance & Counseling Services. “This funding enables us to further build our capacity during a time of great need in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. By supporting improvements in our ability to deliver quality services—including upgrades to our electronic health record system and our training processes—this one-of-a-kind grant will literally help thousands of individuals and their families in the next year alone.”

On July 1, 2017, CN Guidance became the only federally recognized, state-appointed Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to serve Long Island, of the 13 in New York State and 67 CCBHCs nationwide. This designation recognizes a rigorous model that integrates nine (9) core services addressing the needs of vulnerable individuals. Beyond assuring the adequate provision of outpatient mental health and substance use services and 24/7 (mobile) crisis stabilization, CN Guidance additionally provides same-day access to care for the community, including local veterans who may not be accessing VA services.

“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics can transform the delivery of behavioral health services for high-need populations by providing access to a full array of services to address an individual’s mental health and substance use treatment needs, basic primary health care, and other support services,” shares David Okorn, Executive Director of the Long Island Community Foundation. “With the generosity of our donors, like the Greentree Foundation, we are thrilled to fund this innovative program and believe that when implemented successfully, will result in improved health outcomes and greater cost efficiencies.”

About CN Guidance and Counseling Services:

Established in 1972, the purpose of CN Guidance, a nonprofit organization, and the only state Certified Community Behavioral Health Center on Long Island, is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families on Long Island affected by mental health and/or substance use disorders by recognizing and addressing the integration of mental health and physical health. The organization leverages a holistic perspective, driven by its belief in the ability of every individual to recover.

About Long Island Community Foundation:

The Long Island Community Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization that connects donors with a full spectrum of charitable organizations within the Long Island community. The mission of LICF is to enhance the well-being of the people and communities of Long Island.