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Albany County to pass through $535,000 in state aid to Second Chance Opportunities for recovery services
Summary
The county authorized a state-aid pass-through to Second Chance Opportunities to fund recovery and support services. Staff said the $535,000 is state-identified aid and the county will provide oversight and monitor aggregate outcomes.
The Albany County Health Committee authorized a state-aid pass-through of $535,000 to Second Chance Opportunities to support substance-abuse recovery and addiction services at its January meeting.
County staff told the committee the funding comes from state aid administered by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASIS) and that Second Chance Opportunities is a community recovery and support program rather than a clinical treatment provider.
"This is $535,000 that the state has identified for Second Chance Opportunities, and it comes in our state aid every year," the presenting staff member said, explaining that the county will act as a pass-through and retain oversight responsibilities. Staff said the county and the state will monitor the program; state licensing and certification apply.
Staff described Second Chance Opportunities as an established community recovery center on Cole Avenue that runs employment-readiness efforts, a housing program and hiring programs for people in recovery (including a janitorial service). The county noted the program previously received state funding directly; OASIS now routes the money through the county.
On data, staff said the state-provided figures show the agency served about 3,500 unique individuals last year with roughly 8,000 contacts and delivered 66 programs, averaging about 362 people a month. Staff cautioned those figures are regional and likely include people from outside Albany County; historically about 80% of services for comparable programs have served Albany County residents and 20% were regional.
Committee members asked whether the county would receive individual-level participant information. Staff said the county will receive aggregate program data and that individual participant data remain protected; the county's oversight will rely on the program's aggregate reporting and state licensure and inspections.
A motion to authorize the agreement passed by voice vote; the transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies. Staff said the change increases county oversight of how the state aid is used, without altering program operations at Second Chance Opportunities.
