The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc., the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and Local Police Departments are working together in collaboration to “Take Back” unused/or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, including pet medications by offering drive-through events.
Utica, New York (February 2022) – Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is launching a virtual event for individuals, family members, community members, and professionals in the Recovery Field on March 5th from 1-3pm. Three of the developers, Lureen McNeil, Kristopher Moses, and Ambi Daniel, Family Support Navigator at Center for Family Life & Recovery, will be hosting a guided tour of the resources available on oasas.ny.gov/30-in-30 and how to best use the site as an active resource. The 30 in 30 focuses on multiple pathways to recovery, video journal entries about real challenges and successes, written resources families can use, and information from some of the most influential subject matter experts in the field.
30 in 30 is a statewide effort. Addiction remains a serious threat to public health and well-being. Overdose deaths exceeded 100,000 in the 12 -month period ending in April 2021. This represents a 28 percent increase from the prior year. 1 Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 95,000 deaths each year or 261 deaths per day. 2 Additionally, it is estimated that only 11 percent of people who needed treatment in 2018, sought and received treatment. 3 The Change Theory, 4 is one way to understand substance use disorder. The theory says that people change through predictable stages that include Precontemplation, Contemplation, Decision, Action, and Maintenance. Especially for individuals in precontemplation or contemplation where it is important to inform, inspire and motivate individuals.
The Commission/Institute project elevates 30 voices of those in recovery every 30 days to help initiate recovery in those people in the pre-contemplative and contemplative phases by providing hope, information, resources, and support from real people who have all come about recovery in their own way.
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. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com or call (315) 733-1709.
I am Cassandra Sheets and honored to be the CEO of Center for Family Life and Recovery. I have had this honor since the inception of this Agency and truly believe that we all have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery! I started out as a case manager many years ago and received my Masters in Social Work with a passion for working with Employee Assistance Programs. This passion landed me at the Mohawk Valley Council on Alcoholism/Addictions and the rest is history of prevention, EAP and leadership growth but mostly embracing my family history of recovery and learning to appreciate it so much that we just needed to create an agency to help others find this joy in their lives. When I am not at work, I certainly keep busy with my family, husband, Bob of 26 years and our boys, Michael and Nicholas. We love to hike, and ski.
My name is Michele Kohl. I am still considered new here at CFLR. I worked in Healthcare for 28 years and a friend saw the CFLR COO position advertised and told me this would be perfect for me. I do feel this was truly meant to be as I love all the wonderful work CFLR does every day. I am very inspired by our CEO Cassandra Sheets who has taught me so very much in a short time. I feel very blessed everyday with all the inspiring stories of people who have been helped by the amazing staff at CFLR.
Hello, my name is George J Nassar, I have my Bachelors in Business Administration and my Masters in Economic Crime and Fraud Management. I have worked in a couple different industries including: hospitality, banking, nursing care facilities, and academics. I have learned from the best in all those industries and thrived from my own personal experiences. I have found a passion for Human Resources, Payroll and Training and Development; due to the fact these fields are progressive and constantly moving/advancing and is consider to be the foundation to many companies’ success.
When I am not at work I am typically at the gym but I also enjoy hiking, camping, nutritional training, soccer, solving puzzles and drinking coffee.
Hi everyone, I am Jodi Warren the Director of Prevention Services. I am a Midwest gal born and raised in North Dakota, yes that is right, go UND Hockey and NDSU Bison Football. Growing up playing sports and coaching the majority of my life has provided me with many opportunities and experiences in my life of leadership, team building, strategic planning and being a team player. I have been able to take those skills and put them into professional practice. I am a devoted to my family (that includes my tribe of friends too) as they all are so very important in my life.
As the Director of Prevention I oversee all of the prevention programming and services in our agency. I am involved in many local, regional, and state coalitions. My educational background and over 20 years of experience in Psychology, Human Services, Behavioral Analysis, Chemical Dependency and Trauma Informed Care has built a solid foundation for me to do what I love the most and that is to support, help, educate, and offer encouragement and HOPE to those that are struggling. The great joy I get in my profession is seeing and/or hearing that I helped make a difference in someone’s life, that is why I do what I do! I must also do shout out to my entire team of Prevention Specialists, Compeer Specialist, IDP Coordinator and Instructors, thank you for all you do each and every day!!!!!!!
“GO VIKINGS, YANKEES, RANGERS, and LAKERS,” I just had to get that in
Hello, my name is Wendy. I live in Ilion with my husband, Jim. We’ve been married for almost 38 years. He is a retired Air Force Staff Sergeant, and we spent a few years moving around New York State and then finally retiring from Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska. We have two daughters and four grandchildren. I have spent most of my working career in digital marketing, creating websites, working on various social media platforms and a host of other technical duties. I am a fluid art painter, using techniques such a Dutch pours on canvases of many sizes. I hope to one day sell my art to local businesses.
Sara Haag, MSW, recently joined the team at Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) as EAP/Clinical Services Director. As a social worker, she is very passionate about providing hope to those who struggle. She enjoys designing and administering high-quality services for everyone, especially for highly vulnerable populations such as those struggling with mental health concerns, who are in active use and those in recovery, survivors of abuse, and the food insecure/poverty (to name a few). Over the past 15 years, Sara has held a variety of very diverse administrative roles at Central New York area nonprofits. Sara also loves to teach online as an instructor with Cazenovia College. She specializes in coursework relating to human services, continuing education, and credentialed alcoholism and substance use counselor (CASAC).
Sara re-joins CFLR having previously worked here back in 2009 when it was "The Mohawk Valley Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse". She is thrilled to return in 2021 to the agency and has always felt that the mission and vision of CFLR really resonated for her personally and aligned with her work passions. Sara will coordinate and Co-Lead the agency’s Clinical and Employee Assistance Programs.”
Hello Everyone! I’m Ambi, the Director of Family Support Navigation Services. “They” say that you don’t choose this field, it chooses you, and I don’t think that sentiment could be truer about my life. I never realized the impact that substance use of those I loved, through many years of my life, impacted me the way that it did. I didn’t know how much I would learn about myself or how many amazing people would shape the way I see the world, because of the journey of Recovery. I never said or knew I wanted to be in this field, until I was led there. I didn’t know the passion and fierce love I’d have for making a difference and the people I’ve met, or even believing I could make a difference, would become a part of who I am. I feel so lucky to be a part of a work family that shares this passion and joy of our community members and each other. When I’m not playing hard with our CFLR team, I’m a yoga/pilates loving, puppy snuggling, ballroom dancing, nature loving, jump roping, book worm, photographer, health food nut, student of life, introvert who loves the people in my life fiercely and finds joy in each day in the little ways.
Bonnie Carr joined the team at CFLR a little over 2 months ago as Director of Recovery Services. She is a Licensed Master Social worker in New York State and a Credentialed Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor. Bonnie is also a MINT trainer (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) trained by Miller & Rollnick. She has almost 39 years working in the field of behavioral health care as a clinician, supervisor and an administrator. Bonnie has worked in child welfare and both the addiction and mental health treatment settings. She has seen the behavioral health care field evolve over the years and she continues to promote and believe in the resilience and well-being of the individuals who seek our assistance. She is an animal lover owning two cats & a dog, loves her garden, watching it grow, feeding the birds and taking in beautiful sunsets. Her belief is that “Just a drop of kindness could make a difference in a person’s life”. [anonymous author]
My name is Richard Rinko. I am the Director of Finance at Center for Family Life and Recovery. I started at CFLR in August of 2015. I was born and raised in the Valley and moved to New York City to attend College and after school I started working in non-profit accounting and decided to stay in the city. I relocated to upstate New York back in December of 2014 to care for my Mom which was a big decision to make after living downstate and New Jersey for over 30 years. It’s one of the best choices I made for her at the time and won’t regret it.
My passion when I was younger was to go into childcare/teaching I always had a desire to help and work with children. I guess I made the right choice with a change of heart and was able to get my first job in the central New York area when I relocated. CFLR is my first job in this area and it’s such a pleasure to work with such a great team. Later in years my dream came true with the option to be able to adopt my son back in 2002 and he will turn 18 this year.
My name is Melissa Kleek. I am the Administrative Assistant at Center for Family Life and Recovery. I started at CFLR as a part time program assistant in the front office in June of 2018. I was told to find a new line of work after I had injured my back working in health care. While this was a scary transition as heath care was all I had known I found a job I liked, I found a way to help people in a less physical way and a work family who supported me in through this change. Four months into my employment with CFLR I accepted a full time hybrid position working still as a Program Assistant but also a Finance Assistant. I worked in this position for about 6 months before transitioning to my current role as an Administrative Assistant working closely with Finance and Human Resources which I have been in for a year and three months. I am very thankful to have been offered the opportunity to grow in an agency that makes such a positive impact on our community.
In my free time you can find me spending time with my animals and my family. I look forward in continuing to learn and grow within the agency. I would like to continue and complete my education in Human Services so I could be more of an asset to my team.
I am Heather Youda, a little over 4 years ago, I was looking for a career change from the corporate world and found CFLR. My heart always seems to feel best working at non for profits and this has been home since I walked through the door. I am currently the Executive Assistant for the CEO and help with Human Resources and Fundraising, I love to facilitate events and meeting and engaging out in our community.
I have recently just enrolled back in school to complete my bachelor’s in social work and hope to concentrate on helping families be able to overcome their past and live a happy healthy life. After having gone through some humbling experiences in my life, finding through CFLR and my family I have found that you can heal and live from all forms of damage to find a truly, happy, healthy life. I hope to show other people that they can be a survivor from anything they have gone through.
I am the single mother of 3 beautiful children Jake, Martina and Salyscia , and have a fur-doggie Trooper. I love to travel and see my family when possible, if there is a baby around I am usually trying to cuddle them up. When I am not at work you can find me by the water, standing somewhere in the sand, soaking up the sun, listening to music, or reading a book or watching sports by a fire outside. I am an avid sports lover Go Bills! Sabers Hockey and SU College Basketball and usually try to enjoy as many live games as possible with my friends, smiling and enjoying life is the best self-care.
Recovery advocates across New York State gathered virtually on February 8th to call on the Governor and Legislature to address the ongoing need for additional resources to promote and support recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions.
The day began with a network session followed by a rally, with over 1000 people streaming, during which leaders of the recovery movement, individuals and family members living in recovery, were joined by local, state, and national governmental officials.
Center for Family Life and Recovery hosted the event on a local level sharing recovery stories posted on the CFLR Facebook page.
Center for Family Life and Recovery 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. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com or call (315) 733-1709
Utica, New York (February 2022) – The suicide of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst is shining a light on the stigma of suicide and mental health in the Black community. In the United States (U.S.), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all ages and the 2nd leading cause of death for youth and young adults between the ages of 10-34 (CDC 2021)
The pandemic has played a huge factor in people experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders and it has been harder for minorities to access mental health and substance-abuse services. Suicide rates have increased among Black adolescents in recent years. Black girls in grades ninth through twelfth grade were 60% more likely to attempt suicide compared to white girls the same age.
The Center for Family Life & Recovery, director of Prevention Services, Jodi Klostreich urges “Let’s talk about it, ask the questions, get involved, be supportive, and lessen the stigma surrounding mental health. Everyone struggles in their life with something, no one is immune to life’s challenges and there is no discrimination regarding mental illness or addiction. What is critical to saving a life is recognizing someone is struggling and really having a difficult time and asking them questions while being supportive. When someone is having an increased risk of mental health challenges this can increase the risk of suicide.”
If you know or feel you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health condition, there is something you can do. If you or your loved one needs immediate help, call: 911, MCAT at (315) 732-6228 or (844) 732-6228, or the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255; Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 or Text 838255. The hotlines are free and confidential and available 24/7.
The Center for Family life & Recovery is there for you or loved ones. The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is the lead agency for the Oneida County Suicide Prevention Program (OCSPP). Our mission is to prevent suicide in our community by strengthening the coordination and accessibility of services; providing awareness of suicide prevention, facilitating intervention and post-prevention services, enhancing support to those affected by suicide, and providing awareness of mental health. We work to accomplish these goals in our schools, with our families, and in the community. For more information on the many services and program we offer please visit whenthereishelpthereishope.com or call (315) 733-1709.
