CFLR Admin

Rome, NY (February 2025) — The Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR), in collaboration with the City of Rome and the Oneida County Suicide Prevention Coalition, will host the Winter Bash on February 20th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Kennedy Arena, located at 500 W. Embargo St. in Rome. This exciting event aims to provide local youth and their families with a day of fun and free activities during the mid-winter break. Families will enjoy a variety of activities, including crafts, giveaways, and live music. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with local agencies to learn about the various services available in the community.

A major highlight of the Winter Bash will be free open ice skating from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, offering families a chance to enjoy the rink together. In addition, there will be complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn available, with additional concessions for sale.

Ryan Hickey, the Recreation Coordinator for the City of Rome, shared his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “The City of Rome is looking forward to working with CFLR again this year. They are an amazing organization. Teamwork isn’t just about work; it’s the heartbeat of every great success story!” Cassandra Sheets, the CEO of CFLR, echoed similar sentiments, adding, “This event is something fun for area kids and their families to do during the February mid-winter break. Youth in Oneida County need more opportunities to get out in the community, have fun and build positive memories, and this event offers all of those things!”

The Winter Bash promises to be a memorable event for families in Rome, providing fun, entertainment, and resources to help build stronger community connections. For more information on this event, contact CFLR’s Prevention Community Educator, Ashley Neuschel, 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. is seeking nominations for the 2025 Amethyst Award. Nominees for the Amethyst Award are 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 chemical dependency, as well as treatment and prevention. The Amethyst Award was inspired by the Amethyst stone which has become a symbol of recovery. If you know someone you feel is worthy of the Amethyst award, please submit a nomination today.

Nominations can be submitted on CFLR, Inc.’s website,www.WhenTheresHelpTheresHope.com using the link at the top or using this link:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AmethystAwardNominationsNominations will be accepted through February 24, 2025. The awards will be presented at Center for Family Life and Recovery’s 2025 April Awareness Breakfast to be held on April 8^th at Hart’s Hill Inn, in Whitesboro and is open to the public. The theme for this year’s breakfast is “Breaking the Silence: Stories that Defy Stigma.” Ticket information is available on CFLR’s website and by calling the Utica office: 315-733-1709.

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 (February 2025) — The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) is proud to announce the hosting of a special Black Balloon Day Reception on March 6th from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the Rome Life Center located at 201 West Dominick Street to commemorate those lost to addiction and raise awareness about the ongoing opioid epidemic. This heartfelt event will be free and open to the public, featuring a unique display of artwork created by local community members and a moving installation of black balloons, each representing a life lost to substance use.

In preparation for the event, CFLR will be hosting three different H.O.P.E events dedicated to encouraging the community to create artwork to be displayed at the reception. H.O.P.E events provide a space for individuals of all backgrounds to come together and express their feelings, memories and support through creative expression. These will be offered on February 10^th from 4:30 pm to 6:00pm and February 13^th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the Rome Life Center in addition to on February 24^th from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Our Saviour Church in Utica. The pieces created during these events will be showcased at the Black Balloon Day reception, allowing attendees to reflect on the impact of addiction and honor the lives of those lost.

Guests at the reception will have the opportunity to purchase black balloons, with all proceeds benefiting the Erin’s Light Fund – a charitable initiative dedicated to providing resources and support to individuals and families impacted by substance use and/or addiction. The black balloons, symbolic of the grief and loss experienced by so many, will also serve as a visual tribute to loved ones lost, allowing attendees to honor those who are no longer with us. For those that cannot make the in-person reception, there will be an opportunity to purchase virtual balloons all day and can be purchased by visiting: centerforfamilylifeandrecoverycflr-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1292201.

“We are excited to host these H.O.P.E events as part of our Black Balloon Day programming,” said Katie Rodriguez, CFLR’s Recovery Coordinator. “Black Balloon Day not only gives us a chance to remember those we have lost but also reminds us that we have the power to make a difference in the fight against addiction. Through these events and the Erin’s Light Fund, we are creating opportunities for healing, support, and collective action.”

Black Balloon Day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing addiction epidemic, offering a chance for anyone in the community to contribute to a collective effort to de-stigmatize addiction, promote healing, and support those affected by substance use disorders. By participating in this event, whether through creating artwork, purchasing a virtual or in-person balloon, or simply attending, you can play a pivotal role in sparking conversations, spreading compassion,n and inspiring positive change in our community.

For more information about the Black Balloon Day reception, H.O.P.E events, and/or the Erin’s Light Fund, please contact Katie Rodriguez, CFLR Recovery Coordinator by calling: 315-733-1709 or e-mailing: krodriguez@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, NY (January 2025) – Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) will participate in next week’s Stand Up for Recovery Day on Tuesday, February 4^th, 2025. Recovery advocates across New York State will gather in Albany to call upon 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 begins at 8:30 am with advocates gathering and then advocacy groups dispersing to meet with legislative representatives. These groups will be comprised of leaders of the recovery movement, individuals and family members living in recovery, and professionals like those from CFLR encouraging local, state, and national governmental officials who are decision-makers about the Recovery Movement.

“Stand Up for Recovery Day reminds us that courage isn’t just about facing adversity, it’s about standing tall together in the pursuit of healing and hope for the recovery community. We utilized our voices when meeting with the constituents to stand up together to speak up for the needs of the community,” said Katie Rodriguez, Recovery Coordinator with CFLR.

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

Camden, New York (January 2025) – The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) is honored to announce it has been awarded an $839,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Foundation. This transformative funding will support the launch of the Community Café Initiative, a collaborative effort between CFLR and The Camden Life Center, aimed at fostering connection, resilience, and well-being for families and individuals in Camden and its surrounding rural communities.

“To receive this prestigious grant on our first try is truly an honor and a total game changer for our community,” said Cassandra Sheets, CEO of the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. This funding will launch the Community Café Initiative which provides:

• A Teaching Kitchen to provide hands-on culinary education and promote healthy eating.
• A Youth Center offering safe, substance-free spaces for mentorship and recreation.
• Recovery Café Meetings, the first in New York State, offering individuals navigating recovery a safe space to build connections, share experiences, and find belonging.

Through this funding, CFLR will hire three key staff members to spearhead the initiative. Operations will begin in January 2025, with the team temporarily working out of the Camden Life Center’s administrative space as efforts continue to secure additional funding to renovate the future café facility.

“The Community Café Initiative is not just a program – It’s a new way to connect in a world that has become increasingly disconnected.” said Jessica Perusse, Director of The Camden Life Center. “These new programs will create meaningful opportunities for connection and growth while supporting the health and well-being of our community.” 

“One of the Foundation’s biggest strengths is that we’re community-driven – by consistently engaging with grantees and their communities and letting them take the lead in identifying their needs, our team is better able to pursue responsive grantmaking and understand the common challenges New York’s nonprofits face. In doing so, we can better empower our tireless grantees to overcome obstacles, deliver for the needs of their communities and build a more equitable New York,” said Kathryn Ruscitto, Chair of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s Regional Grants Committee.

About The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation 

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit cabrinihealth.org.

About the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc.

The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. empowers individuals and families to build healthy, independent lives. CFLR provides services in recovery, mental health, and prevention, with a focus on fostering resilience and creating supportive communities across Central New York.

About The Camden Life Center  

The Camden Life Center works in collaboration with local service agencies to deliver essential programs and services to the Camden community. Together with partners such as CFLR, Come to the Table Counseling, Helio Health, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, and the YWCA, the Center offers high-demand services on Main Street, Camden, empowering the community through connection and innovation.

For more information on the Community Café Initiative or to get involved, please contact Jessica Perusse at jperusse@cflrinc.org or 315-820-2638