Odyssey House Manor Family Center Graduation November 29, 2011

Welcoming remarks and introduction of Commissioner Arlene Gonzlez-Snchez of New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), by Dr. Peter Provet, President and CEO.
Commissioner Gonzlez-Snchez brings more than 30 years experience to the field of behavioral health administration, policy development, medical research, and expertise integrating accessible systems of care for New Yorkers. Currently, the Commissioner oversees a premier addiction services system with more than 1500 programs and 35,000 paid and volunteer professionals which serve 110,000 New Yorkers daily and is one of the nation's largest prevention, treatment and recovery systems. She is committed under her executive leadership to providing 2.5 million New Yorkers in need of addiction services access to these services. It is no small task, and Commissioner Gonzlez-Snchez has already begun implementing several priorities focused on high-quality care and services for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. These priorities include: establishing an effective, science-based system, which integrates prevention, treatment and recovery; developing a "Gold Standard" system of service provision; being the state resource on addiction and lead the nation in the field of chemical dependence and problem gambling prevention, treatment and recovery; becoming a "Profession of choice" for attracting, selecting and developing system-wide talent; and, ensuring a system with strong return on taxpayer investment and stewardship of resources. Commissioner, we are with you in these critical tasks and Odyssey House is proud to work alongside you. We are especially proud to welcome you to share in a special night at Odyssey House. Graduation is about achievement. Achievement for the individual who has overcome so much, to change and improve his or her life: achievement for a family who has a loved one back; and achievement for all of us who live in New York City and believe in second chances. For many of you graduates here tonight and those in treatment at the Manor Family Center and our other centers, residential treatment saved their lives. With national healthcare reform well underway, all forms of substance abuse treatment are under review and discussion. Cost containment and clinical efficacy are, and should be, guiding forces as clinical models become refined. However, there must always be a place for the type of intensive residential treatment which Odyssey House has evolved over 45 years. You here today are living examples of its lifesaving value.

Substance abuse saps the soul and damages much of what is good in a person. It causes untold harm and leaves a person hollowed out, but it does not have to destroy. All of you are proof of the great human capacity to conquer demons and flourish. Our role at Odyssey House is to give you the tools your need to wage this battle the rest is up to you. But those tools relapse prevention strategies, goal-setting, consequential thinking, consideration and empathy for others, pride in a job well done, supporting each other are tools you will use the rest of your life. It is always a great pleasure for me to welcome our graduates back to the Odyssey House program where their restorative experience began. You are now a member of our family and we of yours. And because of your commitment to prevention, treatment, and recovery, Commissioner we are honored to call you a member of the family.