Save the Michaels of the World

Save the Michaels of the World (stm) offered education resources for families and individuals affected by substance use and mental health disorders. Free groups and informational forums were held across western new york to educate communities about the disease of addiction, and what can be done to help individuals and families recover. We provide linkage to treament, medical and non-medical transportation, peer and family peer coaching ny ny state certified recovery peer advocates (crpa), and case management wrap-around services. Stm operates a drop-in recovery center and a drop-in center for unsheltered individuals offering peer and community led groups each month as well as private 1:1 coaching sessions. Stm is ny state licensed to operate a residential reintegration facility to accommodate 12 male residents. Stm is a registered opiate overdose prevention program (oopp) distributing lifesaving naloxone and fentanyl/xylazine test strips with free vending machines strategically placed in the community and in a "boot on the ground" outreach effort into various communities. Stm also runs peer recovery groups in conjunction with the erie county sheriff departments inside the erie county correctional facility and the erie county jail. In addition, stm worked with the judicial court system in ny to help individuals struggling with substance abuse find their way to treatment, rather than spend time in jail. Stm worked to transport these individuals from the jail system to treatment all over the ny state.