The Peru Gazette

Initiative Aims To Provide Stable Employment Opportunities for New Yorkers in Recovery From Addiction 

• Champlain Valley Family Center for Drug Treatment and Youth Services, Inc.: $1,750,000
• Behavioral Health Services North, Inc: $1,456,360

Albany, February, 20, 2026. News Release – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced awards totaling $42.9 million to fund job training and placement efforts across New York State for individuals impacted by addiction, who are ready to join the workforce. This includes more than $35.6 million for the hiring and retention of vocational rehabilitation counselors at addiction services providers, as well as an additional $7.3 million for two organizations that will provide regional support services for the counselors hired through this program and the organizations providing services. Research shows stable employment for someone in recovery can have several key benefits, including financial stability, as well as providing structure and purpose, and social connections which can help prevent isolation.

“Supporting individuals struggling with addiction is the initial step, but it’s equally important to empower these New Yorkers to secure stable employment,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will be distributed to every region across the state, reinforcing our commitment to support New Yorkers who have been impacted by addiction in starting a new chapter, while simultaneously bolstering critical workforces statewide.” 

This initiative will help to improve employment outcomes for individuals in treatment and recovery for substance use disorders by offering employment training and job placement assistance. Funding provided allows each recipient to hire or retain two counselors. Each of the following providers was awarded a five-year contract for the amount listed, for a total of $35,620,085: 

Capital District

• Behavioral Health Services North, Inc: $1,456,360

Central NY

• Farnham Family Services: $1,278,805

Finger Lakes

• Finger Lakes Area Counseling Recovery Agency, Inc.: $1,750,000

Long Island

• Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services, Inc.: $1,587,895
• Long Island Home (The) d/b/a South Oaks Hospital at Northwell Health: $1,177,000

Mid-Hudson

• Access Supports for Living Inc.: $1,736,855

Mohawk Valley

• Helio Health, Inc.: $1,616,185
• Helio Health, Inc.: $1,616,185

New York City

• Samaritan Daytop Village (Bronx): $1,750,000
• Samaritan Daytop Village (Queens): $1,750,000
• Community Health Action of Staten Island, Inc.: $1,750,000
• StartCare, Inc. (Brooklyn): $1,750,000
• StartCare, Inc. (Manhattan): $1,750,000
• Housing Works Health Services III: $1,750,000
• Educational Alliance, Inc.: $1,652,250
• Montefiore Medical Center: $1,749,995

North Country

• Champlain Valley Family Center for Drug Treatment and Youth Services, Inc.: $1,750,000
• Behavioral Health Services North, Inc: $1,456,360

Southern Tier

• Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston: $1,745,395
• St. John’s Community Services: $1,750,000

Western NY

• Horizon Village: $1,739,375
• Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.: $1,057,425

Additionally, $7.3 million is being awarded to one upstate organization (NADAP) and one downstate organization (Easter Seals) to support the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors initiative. These organizations are working with counselors to help generate job leads and connect those seeking employment to opportunities, and will assist with referrals, tracking outcomes from the program, and supporting the success of those seeking jobs. They will also work to ensure that services are delivered equitably between urban, suburban, and rural areas, in order to maximize access to the program for anyone seeking assistance.

OASAS has several programs to facilitate employment connections for those in recovery, including a program that provides tax credits to employers that hire people in recovery, as well as an Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to individuals seeking a certification or degree in the addiction services field. Many of those receiving these scholarships are in recovery.