Syracuse Recovery Community

The Center for Community Alternatives is the facilitating organization for the Recovery Network of New York. The Recovery Network is a peer-led/peer driven service program committed to improving the delivery of substance abuse treatment and to help reduce the stigma associated with addiction and people who have been formerly incarcerated. The Syracuse office was established in 2001 through a previous Syracuse Recovery Community initiative. Additional offices have been established in 2007 in Rochester and Albany.

Recovery Network of New York focuses on three key areas: Education/Employment Services, Civic Restoration, and Social Support Services. The goal of this community-based program is to address and eventually eliminate the standing dual stigma of individuals associated with having an addiction and and criminal involvement. The Recovery Network will exemplify the vision of a "second chance" by addressing the aspirations of people leaving the criminal justice system to live productive, healthy and law abiding lives.

The Recovery Network is funded through the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Employment Services consisting of employment, education, and vocational readiness training and placement
Restoring Citizenship civic restoration through voter registration drives, Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Conduct, and training SRCSP members on cleaning up some of the discrepancies that often appear on "rap sheets"
Reintegration Support including peer-coaching and mentoring to clients currently incarcerated at or recently released from the Onondaga County Correctional Facility and the Onondaga County Justice Center, the recovering community in the greater Syracuse area, and working directly with clients currently in treatment at various primary care treatment providers.
General Pre and Post Treatment Support Services encompassing a Drop-In-Center as a "safe haven" for addicts seeking support, such as opportunities to fellowship with other recovering people, and a place where people in need of immediate treatment services can come to get a free chemical dependency assessment/evaluation and referral to a local treatment facility. The Drop-In-Center also affords service recipients and members an opportunity to use computers for job searches, to check their e-mail, and to construct resumes or fact sheets.