FULTON – Eric Bresee, the Executive Director of Farnham Family Services, recently presented to Fulton Sunrise Rotary.
Over the past few years there have been several positive changes in the services available in Oswego County. In 2020 Farnham, the County of Oswego Council on Alcoholism and Addiction and Harbor Lights began to come together under one umbrella.
County residents will benefit as existing services continue and expanded services such as outpatient care, peer support and vocational education will be added. Farnham currently has clinics in Fulton and Oswego while Harbor Lights is in Mexico. Farnham hopes to reopen the Harbor Lights clinic in Pulaski.
The Shineman Foundation is assisting with the financial aspects of the transfer of Harbor Lights into the Farnham Family Services.
Since the pandemic started there has been an increase in substance abuse and overdosing in our area. Farnham has been exceptionally busy providing treatment to people in need during this time. For people with addition Eric noted that their condition requires life-long treatment like many other health issues.
Farnham provides care from prevention, to recovery, to continuing care. One in six of their patients are now receiving continuing care.
Prevention is one of the services necessary in reducing drug and alcohol addiction. Farnham provides counselors and education programs in 8 of the Oswego County School districts. When CITI’s Recovery High School is established, Farnham will provide peer support and treatment intervention for the students.
A site for the school is yet to be determined, but while this is being decided the planning of the program is under way. The long-term goal of the school, which will be able to enroll up to 30 students, is to prevent addiction before it happens. This will greatly improve the life of individuals and their families. Healthy families make our county a more productive, safer, and positive place to live.
Fulton Sunrise Rotary meets on Friday morning at 7 a.m. via Zoom. For information contact Peg Donnelly at (315) 593-3746. You may also visit us on Facebook.
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