Queensborough Receives $430K to Advance Behavior Healthcare and Train New Adult Learners
New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul toured Queensborough Community College today (July 28) and announced the College’s receipt of $430,000 from New York State’s Workforce Development Initiative Fund for Queensborough’s Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) program.
The program, established in 2016 and replicated by several CUNY colleges, provides people who are seeking or sustaining recovery from substance addiction, the supports they need to regain their health, and the tools they need to enter New York’s workforce.
Under the new funding, up to 50 adult learners from culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged communities will be trained to enter CRPA careers in NYC Healthcare institutions. The Advocates, who have lived experience with a substance use diagnosis and are actively in recovery will benefit from Intensive Career Readiness education, internships, and counseling.
“Healing and care professionals such as these Advocates save lives. The work they do is quite profound. And there is an extreme shortage of professionals in this area,” said the Lieutenant Governor.
New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announces $430,000 from New York State’s Workforce Development Initiative Fund for Queensborough’s Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) program.
“I cannot think of more sensitive individuals who will be able to help those who still need guidance to get out of the darkness,” said Ms. Hochul, who toured Queensborough facilities and met with College faculty and administrators.
The success of Queensborough's CRPA Program is dependent upon the strong partnerships the College has with health care industry partners. They include the New York State Office of Addiction Services, NYC Health + Hospitals, Emblem Health, Northwell, the NYC Peer and CHW Workforce Consortium, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Department of Small Business Service, Mount Sinai Health System, Howie the Harp Advocacy Center (a nationally recognized leader in peer training), and community-based organizations, such as Anchor House, Samaritan Village, and Odyssey House.
“Queensborough would not be able to provide access to life-changing education and lift low-income students into the middle class, and beyond, without our partners,” said Queensborough President Dr. Christine Mangino.
“Lieutenant Governor Hochul recognizes that the state’s road to recovery [from COVID] runs through the City University of New York and Queensborough Community College. Our courses, programs, services, and workplace-based applied learning opportunities continue to strengthen the communities we live in and serve,” Dr. Mangino added.
Queensborough, arguably one of the most diverse colleges in the country, serves the needs of 13,000 students in degree programs. The College also provides access and opportunity to an additional 10,000 New Yorkers through our Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) programs.
Those programs include credentials in Cloud Computing, in association with Amazon Web Services, and a Software Engineering qualification through CUNY’s partnership with the New York City Jobs CEO Council.
“These programs and partnerships bring businesses, educators, and the community together to create meaningful, local economic opportunities. We prepare people to think critically, take ownership of their learning, plan for their careers, and give back to our community,” added Dr. Mangino.
New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, left, tours Queensborough’s Advanced Manufacturing and 3-D Printing Lab with Queensborough Professor Hamid Namdar, Chair and Professor of Engineering Technology (center), and Queensborough President Dr. Christine Mangino (right).
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul also announced that an additional round of statewide Workforce Development Initiative Funding worth $48 million will be released on Monday, August 2nd.
“We are increasing workforce development across the state [by doing] everything we can to support programs like these in community colleges. We want more people to be able to find quality well-paid jobs and help employees with their long-term and short-term workforce needs,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
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Michael Donahue or Alice Doyle
