April 24th is National Take Back Day.
CFLR will be partnering with Oneida County Opioid Task Force, Oneida County Sheriff Dept. and ACR Health to host a drug take back event at the Oneida County Train Station from 10am – 2pm on April 24th. This drive-through event is CDC compliant with all COVID regulations. Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles and follow signs to drop off their meds and to wear masks at all times. All participants will be given a Hope bag.
With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announces its 20th Take Back Day is scheduled for April 24th. At its last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs. Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.
The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at collection sites which will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations provided lithium batteries are removed.
Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539.
Cortney Kleek - Education MVCC Human Services and Chemical Dependency Dual Major. Following college, I was offered the Prevention Specialist position at CFLR in March of 2019, in 11 months’ time I was promoted to Senior Prevention Specialist (my current position). I have a passion for working with youth who have suffered traumatic experiences and addiction, which is why I love doing prevention programming for the schools and community. In my free time, I enjoy hanging around family and friends. I look forward to growing my career in the field and furthering my education.
Hello, my name is Kerina Herard and I am the Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator for Compeer Utica. I have a bachelor's in Chemistry from SUNY Oswego and am currently pursuing my Masters in Public Health. Since I was little, I always wanted a career in the healthcare field. I especially wanted to work with people affected by mental health disorders, and therefore I am quite excited to be joining the CFLR family!
Joe Passalacqua - Ed. MVCC and Utica college, work history, started at Neighborhood Center as a Case Manager – 2 years. Went on to Oneida Co. Dept of Mental Health, - 5 years. Mohawk Valley Psych. Center Intensive Case Manager – 30 years retired. Started teaching the Impaired driving program for the Council on Alcoholism and Addiction in the mid 80s – present. That agency rolled into our current agency CFLR. After retirement I assumed the roll of coodinator for the IDP program. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and look forward to each season of Syracuse football.
My name is Caryn Schweinsberg and I am a Prevention Specialist at Center for Family Life Recovery. I am originally from Boonville, NY but graduated from Oriskany Jr. Sr. High School. I continued my education at SUNY Polytechnic Institute where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Community and Behavioral Health. Before completing my education, I had the opportunity to gain experience in the areas of direct support, administration and grant writing. Soon after graduating, I was offered the Prevention Specialist position with CFLR. I have a great love for the field of psychology and for contributing in the community and for that reason, I am honored to begin my journey with the agency. I am grateful most for the wonderful team I have the privilege of collaborating with and for the opportunity to make a difference in an ever-changing world. In my free time, I enjoy being around close friends and family especially my husband our dog and two cats.
Lauren Platt - Education - I attended Mohawk Valley Community College, where I graduated in 2013 with my AAS in Human Services. Work history - I worked for a number of years for Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield as a customer care advocate until deciding to stay home to care for my children for a few years. Then in September of 2019 I accepted the position of part time Prevention Specialist at Center for Family Life and Recovery. Just a few short months later I was offered the full time position, which I happily accepted. I really enjoy working for this agency, and am thrilled to be making such a difference in our community. I look forward to growing with this agency, and being able to reach even more people of our community with prevention services, as well as the parenting and family services that I provide through evidence based programming. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my two sons, ages 17 and 12, and my friends and family.
Hello! My name is Fran Esposito and I joined the Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) as a Prevention Service Coordinator in February 2021. From my previous service term with AmeriCorps, I am bringing experience in and passion for working within the community, especially with community members who face struggles with mental health, addiction, and housing insecurities. I graduated from the University of Albany in Summer of 2020 with a degree in Political Science.
David Garrett
Hello my name is Kristina and I’m 22! I graduated from SUNY Cortland with a bachelors in Psychology in 2019. I worked for the Neighborhood Center in the PINS (Person in Need of Supervision) Unit for Oneida County shortly after graduating which focuses on youth with behavioral and mental health issues. I eventually started working for CFLR in the PINS unit for Herkimer County until I was accepted to a masters program in New Jersey to continue my education in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in adolescent/childhood psychology. I hope to get my PhD and own my own practice eventually. Due to COVID-19 my classes were switched to online and CFLR worked with my schedule and allowed me to stay with the agency in the Prevention Dept. as a part time Prevention Specialist specifically for the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program while I start my grad program. I’m so grateful they gave me this opportunity and have helped me grow so much!
My name is Kaitlyn Rose. I am an EAP Counselor at Center for Family Life and Recovery. I started at CFLR as an MSW intern in 2019. I was grateful to become a part of the wonderful CFLR team following the completion of my Master’s in Social Work in 2020 from Keuka College. Prior to working in the counseling field, I worked in the Human Service field for over five years as a Care Manager working in the local community with individuals with severe Mental Health and Medical conditions. CFLR has helped me not only achieve my Master’s in Social Work but pursue my career dreams of assisting others within my community through counseling services. When I am not working, I am enjoying outdoor activities with my new fiancé! I also stay busy as a dog mom to two pit bulls as well as preparing for the arrival of my first child in December!
Bonnie Zweifel, LMSW
Hello! I’m Nadine Zesky, I was born and raised in the Syracuse area and I am thrilled to be the new Part Time EAP Coordinator for the Syracuse area.
Crystal Faria joined the CFLR family in 2019 in the EAP department. She is the EAP coordinator for the Utica office. She has worked in the non-profit sector off and on for most of her career. Working for and within the community is very important to her. One of the things which drew her to working at CFLR is the agencies values of compassion, respect, learning and fun (at CFLR Crystal is known for her positive attitude, creativity and her vast array of obscure trivia so the fun part was significant). She appreciates CFLR’s the supportive atmosphere for personal and professional growth. This support was so welcomed, as Crystal recently earned her CASAC-T and certifications in Meditation, Mindfulness and Life Coaching.
Meet Kelly Wolfe, MSW - Virtual EAP Counselor!
Hi, I'm Brittany Higgins. I strongly believe in the art of joining and meeting each individual that I work with where they are at. I also believe that everyone possesses the answers, qualities and skills to resolve their concern. I see my role in therapy as a guiding support to uncover the solution to each presenting concern. I come with a very diverse background in helping individuals with a wide variety of problems and believe that therapeutic trust and alliance is at the core of the therapy process.