CN Guidance & Counseling Services Awarded $400,000 by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to Expand Vital Veterans Services on Long Island

January 18, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Hicksville, NY) Long Island is home to over 150,000 Veterans – a well-admired, but often vulnerable population with higher-than-average rates of mental illness, substance use, and suicide.

CN Guidance & Counseling Services, through funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation (MCHF) in 2022, has been bridging mental health and substance use disorder treatment gaps for military-connected individuals on Long Island by providing connections to local psychiatrists and therapists. This “Bridging the Gap” program has to date reached more than 3100 people.

Announced January 17th, this new award from MCHF will enable CN Guidance to expand the Bridging the Gap program. Through this grant, the agency plans to continue addressing the preventable isolation and disconnection of local Veterans and military-connected individuals on Long Island from urgently needed mental health and substance use treatment services and supports. Many military-connected individuals—especially those who have transitioned from their military service within recent years—are struggling with untreated depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or substance use. Tom Ronayne, Director of the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, reports that, on Long Island, Veterans 5-10 years out of service are at the highest risk of serious mental illness and completing suicide. 

“Unfortunately, there is still often a stigma surrounding mental health, substance use and treatment – especially among many Veterans. This keeps people from recognizing when they need help and from reaching out. This program utilizes people with lived experience and connections to the military to reach out directly to Veterans-to start the conversation about mental health, substance use, available resources – and to make connections to treatment for those who are ready,” said CN Guidance Program Director, Caitlin Roeder.

Through this much-needed funding, CN Guidance will boost the agency’s capacity to deliver free services available in the community or via telehealth, including: outreach to fellow local Veteran-serving organizations to raise awareness of and linkages to available resources for help; mental health and/ or substance-use treatment; peer support; physical health/ primary care; and transportation assistance. 

“We are so grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for continuing to support our ongoing effort to enable Veterans and military-connected individuals to get the help they need,” said CN Guidance CEO, Jeffrey Friedman.

Please visit cnguidance.org to learn more about programs like Bridging the Gap and how to get involved as a potential participant or community partner.

If you or someone you know needs help please dial the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – then press 1 for the Veterans specific line.

About CN Guidance and Counseling Services: Serving children and adults with mental and emotional disorders since 1972, CN Guidance delivers NY-State licensed mental health and substance use treatment services – especially to economically disadvantaged individuals and families, including many communities of color – working in partnership with county government and other community services. With deep, localized knowledge of Nassau County and Suffolk County communities, a mobile fleet, telehealth capabilities, and a NY State Integrated Outpatient Services license, CN Guidance maintains an exemplary track record of delivering outreach and high-quality behavioral healthcare to more than 30,000 individuals per year. For more information, visit https://cnguidance.org/

About Mother Cabrini Health Foundation: The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that provide either direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/