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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Hope Not Handcuffs receives $23K in grants
Continued from page 1
will help propel its program forward. Our
work does not stop here- I’m committed to
continuing to fight as hard as I can to end
this tragic opioid epidemic in our Hudson
Valley.”
Dominick Blasko, Vice President of
the Police Chiefs Association of Orange
County, said HNH is an invaluable tool
in police departments’ toolboxes as they
fight the epidemic that effects every
community. The program contributes
to law enforcement’s three-pronged
approach of education, enforcement and
treatment.
Sergeant Guy Farina, of the Town of
Montgomery Police Department and
Liaison to Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson
Valley Program, said HNH not only saves
lives, it prevents crime as well. It cuts
down on drug arrests and prevents petty
crime that some might turn to support
their addiction.
Currently, there are 10 Orange County
Police Departments participating in the
HNH program including: the Town of
Wallkill, City of Middletown, Town of
Crawford, Town of Montgomery, Village
of Maybrook, Village of Walden, Town
of Mount Hope, and the Town of Goshen.
The Town of New Windsor and City
of Port Jervis are expected to launch
programs in the near future. Police
Departments in Rockland, Dutchess, and
Putnam Counties also participate in the
program.
Following the announcement, Metzger
and Skoufis and their staff joined
community members for a Narcan training
and information session delivered by the
opioid overdose prevention program,
Keep It Moving (K-I-M), which educates
the public about the life-saving overdose
reversal agent through formal and on-the-
spot training.
Orange County Executive Steven M.
Neuhaus and District Attorney David M.
Hoovler joined the County Legislature on
Thursday, August 1 to announce that the
County has provided $10,000 in funding
to the Orange County Police Chief’s
Association for training, promotional
materials and marketing efforts for the
program
“I’m pleased to join the Police Chief’s
Association and the Legislature in
supporting this valuable program,”
Neuhaus said. “We in County government
are doing all that we can to assist people
who suffer from addiction and to help
their loved ones as well. It’s the County’s
goal to be a part of the solution to
this national issue. Working together,
we can help protect our children and
(From left to right) Annette Kahrs, President of the Tri-County Partnership coalition and
Director of Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson Valley, Legislator Rob Sassi, Orange County Executive
Steven M. Neuhaus and District Attorney David M. Hoovler at the Legislative meeting on
Thursday, August 1. In the background are members of the Orange County Legislature.
our communities from the dangers of
addiction.”
To fill out an angel volunteer form,
find more information for the next angel
training, seek help through the program,
or find a list of participating police stations,
visit tricountycommunitypartnership.
org. The Hope Not Handcuffs program
can also be contacted at angel@
tccpartnership.org or 833-428-4673.
Hope Not Handcuffs was launched in
February of 2017 by Families Against
Narcotics (FAN) and is aimed at bringing
law enforcement and community
organizations together in an effort to find
viable treatment options for individuals
seeking assistance. Hope Not Handcuffs
has worked with approximately 79 law
enforcement agencies nationwide, helping
more than 2,800 men and women connect
to treatment.
Hope Not Handcuffs was introduced in
Orange County in January of 2019. Ten
Orange County police departments are
now part of the program.
“We expect this program to be utilized
across the state in the coming years under
the Governor’s diversion program,” said
Orange County Legislator Rob Sassi,
Chairman of the Human Services and
the Opioid Addiction Committees. “The
Orange County Legislature, along with
the County Executive and Department
of Mental Health Commissioner Darcie
Miller will remain on the forefront of
this important issue. We look forward to
collaborating with local law enforcement
on this initiative.”
If you or someone you know is
struggling with opioid addiction, here are
some of the resources available:
Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson Valley:
833-428-4673 (HOPE), tccpartnership@
gmail.com
Orange County Department of Mental
Health: 845-291-2600 or opioidresources@
orangecountygov.com
Orange County Crisis Call Center:
1-800-832-1200, 24 hours a day
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council
(ADAC) of Orange County: 845-294-9000,
www.adacinfo.com.
Mental Health Association of Orange
County: 1-800-832-1200 (24 hours/7 days a
week), www.mhorangeny.com.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-TALK
For more information about the
signs and symptoms of abuse, go to
combatheroin.ny.gov.
Free Narcan training is available in
Orange County. Narcan, also known
as Naloxone, is a medication that can
potentially save someone’s life. It reverses
the effects of opioid medication, including
extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or
loss of consciousness. For information
about Narcan training, contact the
County’s Department of Mental Health
at 291-2600.
The State Department of Health’s
N-CAP program assists with Narcan
co-payments, making the drug available
low or no cost at local pharmacies. For
more information about N-CAP, call 800-
542-2437 or log onto www.health.ny.gov/
overdose.
Vacation Bible School
(VBS)
begins at
FIRST REFORMED
CHURCH
Sunday, August 11th
and runs through
Friday, August 16th
from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
each day
Registration is available online at vbspro.events/p/walden
or you may arrive early and register in person at
First Reformed Church, 70 Scofi eld Street, Walden, NY
VBS is available to all kids in preschool through the 5th grade
This year’s VBS theme is “Roar”
At Roar, children explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them
through this wild life. Kids will participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing songs,
play games, and enjoy the great snacks that are provided