Cassandra Sheets

Utica, New York (January 2023) – January was declared National Mentoring Month in 2002 to highlight the importance of mentoring and the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (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 path to mental wellness!

The Compeer mentoring program is in need of 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, Mentorship Support Specialist at CFLR.  “We currently have 22 adults and 10 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 of time a month as a mentor to your friend for a 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 https://www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com/services/prevention-services/compeer/. Neuschel will answer volunteer candidates questions and help with the volunteer application process.

The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. CFLR supports individuals and families struggling with addiction, mental health, and behavioral issues by inspiring hope, providing help, promoting wellness, and transforming lives.

Compeer participants, Alyssa and her mentor Kristie, before the 2022 junior prom.

Utica, New York – In conjunction with Giving Tuesday on November 29^th, the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) announces a new initiative: The CFLR Circle of HOPE. This initiative provides a means for individuals to become involved in supporting the programs of the Center for Family Life and Recovery by committing to a small monthly gift. With a pledge of $5.00 a month, or more, people become part of an exclusive group dedicated to providing sustaining support all year in easy to manage, automatic gifts. Select the monthly amount you can give, and it will be automatically charged to your account monthly on the day you select.

Your monthly support can help in so many ways:

– $5 a month can help provide funding for one HOPE event

-$10 a month can help provide funding for a family support group

-$20 a month can help provide prevention education programming to high school students

As CFLR launches the Circle of HOPE, we are excited to announce that when we reach 100 participants, we will be giving away $500 in gas and groceries to a randomly selected lucky supporter. In addition, all supporters that sign up will receive a thank you gift from CFLR & Edible Arrangements of New Hartford and Rome.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and training. As a community partner, it is important to us that we continue spreading the message of help and hope to our area and with those whom we work.

Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction, mental health and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness and transform lives. The vision of CFLR is to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. asked the community to help make the holiday a little brighter for families in our area. The not-for-profit organization collected monetary donations which were used to purchase food for over 40 area families to help stretch the holiday food budget. “Providing the means for families to enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday without the financial pressure was our goal and we are grateful to the community for the support we have received.”, said Cassandra Sheets, CEO of CFLR. “Our community is very generous in providing assistance.”, Sheets observed.

Businesses and organizations that helped with food collection and donations for the Food Drive were The Philip S. McDonald Police Benevolent Association, Utica Police Department, Scalzo, Zogby and Wittig, New Hartford Hannaford and many other supporters, board members and staff that donated. Food collection sites were Whitesboro Fit Body Boot Camp and PJ Green.

The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and training. As a community partner, it is important to us that we continue spreading the message of help and hope to our area and with those whom we work. Offering services such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) supports CFLR in achieving these goals.

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. The vision of CFLR is to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com