Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced that the County has distributed $2,433,080 in federal Community Development Block Grant-COVID (CDBG-COVID) funding to 12 non-profit partners and 9 municipalities across Nassau County to provide mental health and substance abuse services, youth and senior services, and health, safety, and accessibility upgrades for local community centers.
County Executive Curran made the announcement at the site of the Center for Transformative Change at the INN, which will receive $672,580 funding for mental health care services and improvements and expansion of community facilities, including a soup kitchen and family shelter.
“This funding is a vital boost for programs that will help keep our most vulnerable residents healthy, safe, and independent as we continue to confront COVID-19’s devastating impact for so many families. Whether it’s delivering meals, ensuring safe transitions home following hospitalizations, or providing other essential services to residents during this challenging time, Nassau County will continue supporting our residents and community partners throughout this crisis,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
Community Center Improvements – $962,580 Allocated
Partners
- The Interfaith Nutrition Network, Inc. (“INN”)
Municipalities
- Glen Cove City – PPE Equipment – Youth Bureau, Senior Center, Parks
- North Hempstead Town – Community Center Health Upgrades
- Long Beach City – Community Center Health Upgrades
- Rockville Centre Village – MLK Center
Activities
- Funding for improvements and expansion of community facilities, including soup kitchen and family shelter (Mary Brennan INN and Edna Moran INN)
- Senior/Community Center Improvements for health, safety, and accessibility (YES Community Center, Roslyn Community Center, and Landmark on Main Street)
- Community facility enhancements including HVAC system repair, and additional health, safety, and accessibility improvements
- Social Distancing Barriers for Public Spaces
- Social Distancing Signage for Public Spaces
- Glen Cove and Rockville Center Community Center PPE
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services – $625,500 Allocated
Partners
- North Shore Child and Family Guidance Association
- Long Beach Reach, Inc.
- COPAY, Inc.
- Mental Health Association of Nassau County
- The Interfaith Nutrition Network, Inc. (“INN”)
- Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services
- Hispanic Counseling Center Inc.
- LI LGBT Health and Human Services Network, Inc. (LGBT)
Municipalities
- Oyster Bay Town –YES community Counseling Center, Inc.
- Glen Cove City – Glen Cove SAFE Community Walk-In Program
Activities
- Chemical Dependency and Mental Health Outpatient Treatment
- Continuation of Critical Mental Health Services
- Guidance and Counseling Services
- Keeping residents with multiple mental disorders healthy and informed of COVID risks.
Health Services – $543,000 Allocated
Partners
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
- Family and Children’s Association (“FCA”)
Activities
- FCA COVID-19 Linkage Project will offer in-home counseling services delivered via telephone or computer to isolated, home-bound seniors 60+.
- Community clinic health services for poor and disadvantaged residents impacted by COVID-19
Other Public Service – $302,000 Allocated
Partners
- Circulo de la Hispanidad
- Hofstra University
Municipalities
- Hofstra University – On-line Summer Program for Disadvantaged Youth
- Oyster Bay Town – Doubleday Babcock Senior Center, Inc; Greenville Baker Boys and Girls Club;
- Boys and Girls Club of East Norwich;
- Glen Cove City – GC Boys and Girls Club Lincoln House;
- Project Beacon Senior Counseling Program; EOC;
- Youth Bureau
- Freeport Village – Our Holy Redeemer (Parish Outreach)
- Long Beach City – LB Public Library
- Rockville Centre – Sandel Senior Center
- Hempstead Town – FTCC Center for Adult Life Enrichment (CALE)
- Mineola Village – Social Distancing Signage; Senior Center Health Protection
- Sea Cliff Village – Mutual Concerns Committee Inc.
Activities
- Youth Services
- Mental Health and Job Search Counseling
- Senior Services
- Food distribution and PPE for individuals and families affected by COVID-19 (Circulo – Project Comfort)
- On-line Education
“The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue years after the virus surge is a distant memory. With rapidly rising unemployment rates, nearly 1,000 new individuals have already sought out The INN’s services since March. The generous funds from the CDBG will allow us to continue to serve all those in need but will also afford us the opportunity to solidify the future of The INN as we upgrade and improve our soup kitchen and shelter facilities, and expand our programs in the resource center to continue enhanced access to mental health and substance abuse services. We are truly grateful and excited that Nassau County has made such a very generous commitment of support to its community members. From what we are seeing, we shall all need to be there for each other in the months and years to come,” said Jean Kelly, Executive Director of The INN.
“During this most troubling and stressful time for so many families of all backgrounds, we are grateful to Nassau County for awarding North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center a Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) grant. It could not have come at a better time. We are seeing an increase in young people who are experiencing depression and anxiety, are at risk for suicide and other self-harming behaviors, and cannot afford to be placed on a waiting list. This CDBG-CV funding supports our ability to offer a rapid response and quality mental health care for all families who need us regardless of their ability to pay,” said Andrew Malekoff, Executive Director and CEO, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center.
“This critical funding will help to ensure that the vulnerable population of low to moderate income residents of Nassau County will have access to outpatient Chemical Dependency and Mental Health Treatment services at this time of unprecedented need as a result of the convergence of the COVID -19 pandemic and Opioid epidemic. We, as in many areas of the State and Country, are seeing a dramatic rise in Opioid overdoses and suicides as a result of the increased anxiety, stress, social isolation and sense of helplessness and despair experienced by many of our neighbors, family and friends. Now more than ever, we need to rally our resources to address the critical need experienced by our most vulnerable residents. This funding will allow for the expansion of our outpatient community based treatment services at our three locations in Long Beach, Port Washington and Franklin Square, literally translating to saved lives,” Dr. Joseph Smith, Executive Director Long Beach Reach, Inc.
