Cassandra Sheets

Rome, New York (January 2024) – Center for Family Life and Recovery, together with the City of Rome, will host “Winter Bash” at Kennedy Arena, 500 W. Embargo St. in Rome, NY, on February 22^nd from 11am-2:30pm.

This fun youth event will include many free activities for local youth and their families, including crafts and a DJ on site. There will also be free open ice skating from 1-2:30pm. Families can enjoy free hot chocolate and popcorn, concessions will be available for purchase.

 “The City of Rome is excited to partner with the Center for Family Life and Recovery for their second annual Winter Bash. Last year’s event was a lot of fun and we hope this becomes a mainstay for families during midwinter break,” says Sarah Lokker, Marketing & Special Events Coordinator, City of Rome – Department of Community & Economic Development. “Mental health is something that should be more widely discussed and exposing families to the fantastic resources CFLR and their partners can provide makes for an easier conversation. The Winter Bash allows for families to ice skate, partake in crafts and other activities, making for a fun day at Kennedy Arena!”

“This event is something fun for area kids and their families to do during the February mid-winter break,” said Cassandra Sheets, CEO of CFLR. “Youth in Oneida County need more opportunities to get out in the community, have fun, and build positive memories, and we think this event will do just that!”

“Winter Bash” is a result of a grant received by the Oneida Country Suicide Prevention Program and utilized by the Center for Family Life and Recovery to provide outreach to youth and their families. For more information on the grant, visit

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 2024) – 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 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 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 – In 2022, the Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR) launched 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. One story that sticks out, is Jim’s story, in fact you might have seen his commercial/testimonial he helped us create this fall. Jim is part of our Peer Alliance program, a program we are so proud to offer to the recovery community. Peer Alliance is a series of training courses that help both, those already in recovery along with those trying to get into recovery. Jim’s video is attached below for reference. It truly is about paying it forward. To date, our program has a 100% graduation rate, in fact, many of our trained peers have received and accepted jobs in other community agencies as Peer Advocates.

Unfortunately, the funding for this lifesaving program is at risk for the coming year. As you contemplate your year-end giving, please consider providing Help and Hope with a year-end gift to CFLR. Your gift will provide valuable support for Recovery and Prevention programming. Join with other givers to empower people to achieve recovery!

With a pledge of $25.00 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:

• $25.00 – Help us spread awareness and resource materials with 5 HOPE bags
• $50.00 – Help us offer engagement opportunities for those in recovery
• $100.00 – Provides family support groups to help families during the recovery process
• $250.00 – Provides training, mentorship, wellness, and support to grow our peer alliance
• $1,000.00 – Help provide suicide prevention programming to local high schools

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

Utica, New York (November 2023) – For the entire month of December, store leadership at Hannaford’s 1122 Mohawk Street, Utica NY location has selected Center of Family Life & Recovery to receive a $1 donation from every purchase of the $2.50 Hannaford Community Bag.

The Community Bag Program facilitates community support with the goal of making a difference in the vicinities where shoppers live and work. More than $1.2 million has been donated to over 5,000 local nonprofits since the Program launched in October 2015.

“We are thrilled to be selected as the beneficiary of the Community Bag Program,” said Cassandra Sheets, CEO of Center for Family Life and Recovery. “Community programs such as this help us to offer community events and resources to those in recovery, creating a community and opportunities to engage with others that have been on the same journey. They also help reduce the stigma around recovery and offer hope.”

For more information on the Hannaford Community Bag Program, visit hannaford.2givelocal.com

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