Cassandra Sheets

Utica, New York (March 2025) – Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. will hold its Annual Awareness Breakfast – “Breaking the Silence: Stories that Defy Stigma” on Tuesday, April 8^th at 8:15 am at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro, and is open to the public. This signature event, which coincides with Alcohol Awareness Month, also recognizes the contributions of the community in helping support our agency’s vision to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. There will also be informational booths from service providers from all over Mohawk Valley and Central NY, providing information on recovery and prevention services.

This year, the Amethyst Award and the Paul Dunn Advocacy Award will be presented to two members of our community who have helped others by inspiring them with the message of hope and recovery in the fields of mental health and substance use disorders.

The Paul Dunn Advocacy Award is named after long-time CFLR Board member Paul Dunn as a tribute to his unending commitment to advocacy and recovery efforts in our community. Dr. Marianne Buttenschon, recipient of the Paul Dunn Advocacy Award and Assemblywoman for New York’s 119th District, brings over 30 years of experience in education and public service. Prior to her election in 2018, she served as Dean of Public Service and Emergency Preparedness at Mohawk Valley Community College. A lifelong educator, Marianne earned degrees from Mohawk Valley Community College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Binghamton University, and Northeastern University. Marianne’s work focuses on community development, education, public safety, and fighting hunger, as seen in her role with the Utica Community Food Pantry and her efforts to improve local food distribution. Marianne played a pivotal role in passing Erin’s Law, which mandates public facilities to carry lifesaving opioid antagonists like Naloxone/Narcan. This law honors Erin, a young woman who tragically lost her life to an overdose, and is a testament to Marianne’s dedication to public health and safety. She is also a member of various caucuses and organizations working to ensure transparency, fairness, and opportunities for all her constituents in the diverse 119th District.

Ernest (Ernie) Lowenkopf will receive the Amethyst Award. Mr. Lowenkopf received multiple nominations this year. One of his nominators said, “Ernie is deserving of the Amethyst Award because of his outstanding contributions to the field of addiction and mental health. At Helio Health, Ernie consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment going above and beyond to individuals get the services/support they need.” Ernie has spent nearly five years in the human services and behavioral health field, focusing on supporting individuals in recovery. A person with lived experience in substance use, mental health disorders, and justice involvement, he blends personal insight with professional expertise. Starting as an RA at the Rescue Mission of Utica, he developed a passion for helping vulnerable populations and continues working there part-time. Ernie completed CRPA training in 2020 and became a Recovery Peer Advocate with CFLR in 2021. He worked with Insights of Helio Health in various roles, eventually becoming a Counselor 1 Clinic Assessor in February of this year. Ernie also works part-time for CNY Youth Connections and is a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor-Trainee (CASAC-T), holding multiple certifications in recovery coaching. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, making people laugh, and spending time with family.

Tickets to this signature event are $40 and are still available for purchase. The last day to register as a sponsor is March 17^th, and tickets/sponsorships can be purchased by clicking here.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and employee assistance programs. Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

Rome, NY (January 2025) — The Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) is proud to announce its ongoing commitment to improving community health and well-being through the vital role of its Community Educator. With a primary focus on prevention, education, and outreach, CFLR is dedicated to equipping individuals and communities with the tools and knowledge needed to address and prevent various health and wellness challenges.

As our Prevention Community Educator, Ashley Neuschel works diligently to develop and implement comprehensive community prevention programs. The role involves close collaboration with schools, local organizations, and agencies to drive awareness and provide educational resources on important topics such as vaping, mental health, and NARCAN use. Ashley expresses, “I am dedicated to fostering a healthier and safer environment by providing education on critical health topics. My work focuses on building partnerships, creating impactful presentations, and engaging with diverse groups in the community. By helping to coordinate events, provide training, and gather program data, I strive to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our community in meaningful ways.”

In addition to education and events, Ashley is involved in supporting the strategic planning of prevention services, assisting with program data collection, and contributing to marketing efforts that increase awareness of CFLR’s prevention services. In her role, Ashley also assists with community and fundraising events and grant writing, helping to ensure that CFLR continues to expand its capacity to serve the community. Flexibility and adaptability are critical components of this role. “As our Community Educator, Ashley is always willing to take on additional tasks that help strengthen our prevention efforts,” said Francesca Esposito, CFLR’s Prevention Director. “Whether it’s supporting our community-based or school-based services, her contributions have made a significant impact in improving our programs and enhancing our outreach.” For more information on CFLR’s prevention programs, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com/services/prevention-services/ or contact Ashley by calling: 315-733-1709 or emailing: aneuschel@cflrinc.org.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and employee assistance programs. Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

Utica, New York (January 2025) – Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR), January was declared National Mentoring Month in 2002 to highlight the importance of mentoring and CFLR is seeking volunteers to become mentors. The CFLR mentoring program, Compeer, is focused on creating lasting friendships for individuals who have a mental health disorder. The Compeer Program trains community volunteers who are matched to a youth or adult “friend” (a person referred to the program) to make a difference in their lives on their Mental Wellness journey!

The Compeer mentoring program needs caring volunteers as the waitlist grows. “We are seeing a need for positive friends and mentors in individuals’ lives now more than ever,” said Ashley Neuschel, Community Educator at CFLR.  “We currently have 29 adults and 22 youths with unique interests and needs, waiting for their perfect friend.” Volunteer requirements are simple; mentors must be over the age of 18, willing to undergo a background check, attend an orientation training, and able to commit four hours per month as a mentor to your friend for the year.

If you think you have what it takes to be a friend and mentor, call the CFLR offices at (315) 733-1709 or visit the Compeer Program on our website. Neuschel will answer volunteer candidates’ questions and help with the volunteer application process.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and employee assistance programs. Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

Utica, New York (December 2024) – Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) recognizes that many find that the holidays bring as much stress as they do joy. But there are ways to ease through the season. According to a survey by the American Heart Association, holidays are stressful for many, with 79% of people focusing on creating special moments for others at the expense of their own needs. 63% find the holiday season more stressful than tax season, and 71% regret not taking time to relax.

CFLR provides services to help reduce holiday stress:

Grief Recovery Method: Helps individuals process loss during a season that often amplifies grief.

Mental Health First Aid: Teaches how to identify and manage stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges during the holidays.

Talk Saves Lives: Prevention education program covers suicide and what research has found to be relevant risk factors of suicide and strategies that prevent it

Peer Services: Recovery coaches engage with individuals that are in inpatient treatment settings, treatment courts, family courts, hospital settings, live independently, and more.

• O.P.E groups: offers weekly mutual aid groups by engaging individuals socially, with a recovery focus, in activities and enhance the 4 pillars of recovery; home, health, community, and purpose
• Virtual Peer Support: Managing holiday-related challenges like financial pressures or maintaining sobriety can be difficult, but virtual or in-person peer-to-peer support can provide a helpful and compassionate resource.
• New York State’s EPICS (Enhancing Peer Integration and Community Supports) initiative for treatment court systems: initiative integrates peer services into treatment courts by forming a change team to assess local needs, develop tailored protocols, and provide peer support at all stages.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and employee assistance programs. Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com