OASAS Services Coordinator Allison O'Dell.

AIM's new Family Support Navigator Program, which helps individuals and families who are struggling with addiction, began serving the community on March 1.  

The program provides addiction education, and connects people with treatment programs and recovery supports. 

 

It will also help people with h ealth insurance, finding housing and transportation, and applying for benefits such as food and heating assistance.

The free program is funded by a five-year, $500,000 grant from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. It focuses on Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties.

 

Allison O'Dell, the program coordinator, explains further in a Q&A:

Q: Tell us about the program.

 

A: This program focuses on supporting individuals with addictions and their families, friends and other supporters. We're really focused on helping people understand addiction and learn about what treatments and other supports are out there. Basically, we'll meet with families and give referrals to services they're interested in, and we're planning to host a series of educational/support groups.

 

Q: Why do you feel this program will meet a need in the community?

 

A: What I love about this program is that it focuses on serving the entire family. Addiction doesn't just affect one person, it affects the entire family.  This will help ensure that not only do people living with addictions get the help they need but that their families also get the help and support they need.

 

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

 

A: I started with AIM three years ago as the TRAID Coordinator (AIM's assistive technology loan program) while I was getting my Bachelor's in Social Work. I was drawn to AIM's mission of inclusion and I wanted to be able to help people. Right now, I'm working on my Master's in Social Work and when I saw this opportunity I knew I had to take it. Like our consumers, my family has been touched by addiction, and getting the opportunity to help other families navigate addiction and treatment is something I'm really honored to be part of.

AIM will offer social skills classes in March and April for youths ages 14-21 with developmental disabilities.

 

Participants must live at home and have eligibility with the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. OPWDD Family Support Services provides funding for these programs.

To register, contact OPWDD Youth Specialist Amanda Gitchell at [email protected] or (607) 962-8225, ext. 210.

	Director of Independent Living Programs Erin Morseman.

Erin Morseman was honored as AIM's Employee of the Month for February.

 

Morseman has been with AIM for 12 years and is the agency's director of independent living programs. She supervises our general advocates, community advocate, veterans advocate, Social Security benefits advisors, and Olmstead Housing Subsidy specialist. 

 

She also oversees AIM's Supported Employment Program, which helps people with disabilities enter the workforce; our Transition Program, which prepares high school students with disabilities for college or employment; and our Deaf Services program.  

 

Congratulations, Erin!

AIM welcomed new staff to several programs in February.

- Jessica Smith is the home care services manager. She oversees the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS) and Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly (EISEP) programs, which provide personal care attendants for people with disabilities and seniors. 

- Haley Youngs is the OPWDD fiscal intermediary coordinator. She oversees fiscal intermediary and brokerage services for people with developmental disabilities. This involves helping consumers plan and budget for the services they would like to receive, and helping consumers hire and pay staff to assist them.

- Julie Partridge-Hitman is a benefits advisor, helping people with Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income and related programs such as Social Security work incentives.