Cassandra Sheets

The Center for Family Life and Recovery (“CFLR”), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Utica that supports individuals struggling with mental health and behavioral issues, announced an award from the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund.

The fund was launched as a joint effort between the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and United Way of the Mohawk Valley as a way to rapidly deploy funds to nonprofits meeting COVID-related needs in the community.

The award will provide much needed support for an innovative new pilot program for individuals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic as they recover.

CFLR would like to thank the community and especially the generous donors that contributed to the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund. It is because of them that this pilot project can start to make a difference in the lives of those on the front lines.

“Taking care of the helpers in our community is critical to healing from this crisis,” CFLR Director Sara Haag stated. “We saw the incredible sacrifices made by our hometown first responders and healthcare workers and all wanted to do more to help.”

The work of helping others in a multi-year pandemic is not short-term in nature. Over time as many as 1 in 4 individuals may struggle with mental health concerns annually. This is commonly due to stress and strain during these abnormal times. These workers are especially susceptible to a variety of chronic health concerns stemming from these stressors, including increased suicide risk.

The initial pilot counseling support groups will form starting this September with advance online registration required and starting in August. The group sessions will be provided at no charge to those qualified as front line staff working or residing in the Mohawk Valley area.

Center for Family Life and Recovery supports individuals 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 NY – The Center for Family Life and Recovery (“CFLR”), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Utica that supports individuals and families struggling with mental health and behavioral issues is celebrating their 10-year anniversary this year.

The organization is committed to providing resources and leadership to improve our community’s understanding and awareness of mental and substance use disorders.

The agency was formed in 2011 when the Family Services of the Mohawk Valley and the Mohawk Valley Council on Alcoholism and Addictions (MVCA/A) merged to form Center for Family Life and Recovery.

“As we celebrate 10 years, the entire team at CFLR is proud to be the area’s leading resource provider for advocacy, prevention, counseling, and training. Together, we are assisting those who need help, receive the best care possible,” says Cassandra Sheets, CEO of Center for Family Life & Recovery. “As a community partner, it is important to us that we continue spreading the message of hope to our area; especially, to those who are suffering from alcohol and/or drug addiction, as well as mental illness.”

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 or call (315) 733-1709.

Utica NY- The Center for Family Life and Recovery (“CFLR”), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Utica that supports individuals and families struggling with mental health and behavioral issues is celebrating their 10-year anniversary this year.

In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, CFLR will host a community Recovery Field Day on July 12^th, 2021 from 7-9pm at Our Saviour Lutheran Church: 1640 Genesee St. Utica, NY. All are encouraged to attend and participate in games such as Can Jam, Corn Hole, Giant Jenga, Potato Sack Races and other races. There will be activities such as Face Painting, Soak-a-peer, snacks, and more. Prizes for activities will be handed out. This is a family-friendly event.

The organization is committed to providing resources and leadership to improve our community’s understanding and awareness of mental and substance use disorders.

“As we celebrate 10 years, the entire team at CFLR is proud to be the area’s leading resource provider for advocacy, prevention, counseling, and training. Together, we are assisting those who need help, receive the best care possible,” says Cassandra Sheets, CEO of Center for Family Life & Recovery. “As a community partner, it is important to us that we continue spreading the message of hope to our area; especially, to those who are suffering from alcohol and/or drug addiction, as well as mental illness.”

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.

For further details on the Recovery Field Day, call Sarah Jaczynski or Katie Burns at (315) 733-1709. To learn more about CFLR’s history and resources, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com

Center for Family Life and Recovery is partnering up with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office to expand awareness of the “No Empty Chair” campaign. Launched by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee in April, this initiative is a teen driving safety education and enforcement campaign that raises awareness of highway dangers in the hope there will be no empty chairs during graduation season.

“Now that we are approaching graduation season, we want to make sure there are no empty chairs at a graduation ceremony because someone made a destructive decision, or someone decided to drink and drive or was distracted,” said Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol.

Center for Family Life and Recovery will be supporting the campaign by running their award-winning tv commercial, “One Decision,” which emphasizes one decision can lead to tragic consequences.

Maciol will be featured on the CFLR’s “Hopeful Minute” segment found on their website, https://www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com/hopeful-minute/  this month, where he discusses the campaign with CFLR CEO, Cassandra Sheets.

Center for Family Life and Recovery supports individuals 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 NY – Center for Family Life & Recovery is in need of Volunteers for their compeer program. Compeer Utica is a mentoring program by the serving both children and adults, throughout Oneida and Herkimer counties, who are affected by mental health and substance abuse disorders. The Compeer program matches community volunteers to serve as supportive friends to those youths and adults, with the goal being to empower and support them in their journey towards recovery. Our programs include:

• One-to-One Youth Program: volunteers are matched with youths that are either at risk or affected by a mental health disorder.
• One-to-One Adult Friendship Program: volunteers are matched with adults suffering from a mental health disorder.
• Vet-to-Vet: veteran volunteers are matched with other veterans who are either receiving mental health services and/or are in need of a supportive friend.
• GrandPeer Program: volunteers are matched with adults living in nursing homes or independent living facilities
• Compeer Calling/E-buddies: volunteers are connected to their friend via phone/text or via email

Being in quarantine is hard on everyone, especially on those affected with mental health disorders. Liza M. Wiemer once said that “One HELLO? can change a life. One HELLO? can save a life.” Here, at Compeer Utica, we also believe in the power of friendship! We only ask for FOUR hours monthly. Join Compeer Utica, today! It only takes one hour a week to make an impact in somebody’s life!”

Center for Family Life and Recovery supports individuals and/or 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.