RELEASE: Nov 1 , 2004

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Commissioner Davy announces $5.2 million for substance abuse services

the 56 agencies that were selected for the competitive contracts and thanked them for joining the Department's efforts to work with county and municipal alliances in preventing and fighting substance abuse.

“No one is immune to substance abuse and the vicious, often violent cycle it causes,” Commissioner Davy said. “When we identify those who are particularly susceptible, we are obligated to try to break the cycle and save lives.”

“Evidence tells us that substance abuse is at the core of at least 80 percent of our DYFS cases,” Commissioner Davy said. “By working with us, you are working to reform our Child Welfare System and protect our most vulnerable residents.”

The “Prevention Unification” contracts provide every county with direct, science-based prevention services for populations that have been assessed as having specified risks. The agencies awarded the contracts will collaborate with all primary prevention efforts in the community.

Categories of risk population include: children of substance abusers, abuse victims, violent or delinquent adolescents, economically disadvantaged, isolated or disengaged youth, school dropouts and academically failing students, and adolescents with mental health problems.

“These are our society's children and many of them have been wounded. We must give these wounds intensive care before they become systemic,” Commissioner Davy said.

The contract for the community-based services total $4,738,193, and $500,000 was awarded for three special projects.

Three special projects will address: older adults in Jersey City identified at at-risk for substance abuse; children of substance abusers residing in Newark housing projects, and youth statewide who are aging-out of DYFS care.

A total of 102 proposals where submitted, and teams of county and state reviewers scored proposals and ranked them. The agencies with the highest average score were awarded funds for a three-year funding cycle.

The contracts were put out to bid after municipal and county needs assessments were conducted and priorities set based on activities supported by the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Municipal Alliance activities and each county's Comprehensive Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) plan.

All awardees agreed to provide services using evidence-based curriculum to employ a certified prevention specialist and participate in local and statewide evaluations.

“We look forward to working with these agencies and are grateful that they

share our same mission,” said Assistant Commissioner Carolann Kane-Cavaiola, who heads the Department's Division of Addiction Services.

Full applications and proposals will be submitted on a staggered timeline based on county assigned dates for 2005.

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Agency Name

Hope House Steve Reavis

SODAT Wayne Copeland

Amy Kiger

Hispanic Family Center Clayton Fitch

Elsa Candelario

Middlesex County Health Dept. Ann Dorocki

David Papi

Center for Prevention and Counseling Barbara Adolphe

Southwest Council Joe Williams

NCADD Middlesex Linda Surks

Dennis Lee

Family Guidance Center Dr. Grossman

Diane Bonelli

CADAB Ellen Rocca

Center for Children &Families @ Rutgers Donna VanAlst

Mary Davidson

Christ Hospital Stephanie Simon

Earl Thomas

Cerebral Palsy Debra Maslansky

Barbara Clancy

Wayne Counseling Tom McArdle

Passaic County Louis Imhof

Bergen County Dept. of Health Ellen Taner

Marge Doremus

St. Barnabas Connie Greene

Debra Tarnoff

Cecelia Triano

Prevention Links Diane Litterer

Samantha Harry

Mercer Council Geetha Arulmohan

Dierdre Brittingham

Camden County Council Naomi Hubbard

Andrea Marshall

Cape Assist Lynn Krukosky

Katie Faldetta

Mary Murphy

Somerset Council on Alc Brenda Elfer

Atlantic Prevention Resources Bob Zlotnick

Burlington County Don Starn

Hudson County Marion Fritsch

NJ Prevention Network Joan Krier

Essex County Lynda Arnold

Catholic Charities of Newark Maria Biancheri

Joseph Marino

Catholic Charities of Trenton Carmen Castro

Institute for Human Development Jane Flipping

Michael Rennick

Hunterdon Prevention Resources Sarah Earley

DAS Staff Carolann Kane-Cavaiola

Fran Miceli

Geralyn Molinari

George Mladenetz

Chris Shearer

Kristin Groenhoff

Tara Feliciano

Robin Blake

Barry Hantman

Michele Jackson