Dear Recovery Advocates,

I am writing at the end of 2018 to share gratitude for the work you have done and continue to do to support recovery in New York State.  Friends of Recovery – New York is supported by the efforts of advocates throughout the state.  Before we jump into the new year, I want to take a moment to appreciate all that we accomplished this year, including:

  • Joining together for Stand Up For Recovery Day with over 1000 fellow recovery supporters, successfully advocating  for passage of important legislation including: ​
    • The $100 million Opioid Stewardship Fee
    • Creation of the Independent Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Ombuds Program
    • $3.75 Million for Jail Based Substance Use Disorder Services
    • Passage of Insurance Parity Reporting Legislation
    • And Passage of legislation to deter patient brokering
  • We collaborated to host our third and most successful recovery conference yet, bringing together nearly 500 People in Recovery, Recovery Peer Advocates, family members and allies from throughout the state to celebrate recovery, learn together and continue to grow the peer support profession.
  • We continued to grow the Youth Voices Matter – New York Movement giving voice to young people throughout NYS.
  • We worked with local advocates to create the FOR-NY Emergency Room Survival Guide.
  • We shared hundreds of events and local resources happening throughout the state to build recovery capital in local communities.
  • We have trained hundreds of people in Our Stories Have Power, the Science of Addiction and Recovery, Peer Professional Supervision, Community Asset Mapping, Building Your RCO from the Ground Up, the 45 Second Elevator Pitch, Fundraising and Grant writing, and Social Media and Event Marketing.
  • We have worked strategically to create a system to be launched in early 2019 to provide scholarships to those seeking to become Certified Recovery Peer Advocates.
  • And our greatest achievement is that we are communicating daily with over thirty Recovery Community Organizations throughout the state reaching over 40 counties in this state and this reach is only growing!

If we continue to build local recovery capital and bring all our skills and resources together, nothing can stop us!

There is no denying that we have suffered losses within our community this year.  As Mary Harris “Mother” Jones said (we must) “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!”

I know we will come together in strength and hope to advocate for more robust resources for the recovery community in 2019.  And I cannot wait to do it hand in hand with all of you.

Warm holiday greetings and wishes for a happy, healthy and successful 2019!

Allison Weingarten

Interim Executive Director

Friends of Recovery – New York