Crouse Health to use $16M state grant to pursue bigger space for drug-treatment program

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Crouse Health will use a state grant of more than $16 million to expand its drug-treatment program in a bigger space that the organization is still pursuing.

Due to “increased demand,” Crouse has “outgrown” its current location at 410 South Crouse Ave., a site that is “over 100 years old,” the organization said in a news release sent to BJNN on Thursday.

Its current wait list is 125 patients, Crouse Health said.

Crouse submitted a funding request last year to expand access to treatment and increase outpatient capacity by re-locating existing services from the current 34,000-square-foot facility to a larger site within the City of Syracuse.

Working with OASAS, Crouse has “evaluated a number of potential locations but have not yet selected one.”

OASAS is short for the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

The New York State Department of Health’s statewide healthcare-facility transformation program provided the funding, Crouse Health said.

The award enables Crouse to “move forward with plans” to expand access “with much needed and expanded services available.”

Crouse will use the funding to expand access to substance-abuse treatment and recovery services “based on regional need.”

Project planning and associated activities will continue “over the coming weeks and months,” Crouse Health said.

Crouse is one of seven Central New York organizations awarded this type of state funding. The state also awarded Crouse’s affiliate hospital, Community Memorial in Hamilton, a $10 million grant.

Crouse describes its chemical-dependency treatment services (CDTS) as “Central New York’s only hospital-based and longest operating substance-abuse provider, providing treatment and recovery services since 1962.”

A bigger space will enable CDTS to “expand” treatment, counseling and primary-care services for an additional 350 patients annually.

In its news release, Crouse Health listed several local and state officials who the organization says have expressed support for the project and its application for funding.

They include members of the Onondaga County Legislature; Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney; Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick; Syracuse City Court Judge James Cecile; U.S. Representative John Katko (R–Camillus); Syracuse City Common Councilor Khalid Bey; New York State Assembly members William Magnarelli (D–Syracuse), Al Stirpe (D–Cicero), and Pam Hunter (D–Syracuse); New York State Sens. John DeFrancisco (R–Syracuse) and David Valesky (D–Oneida); Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner; and 1199SEIU.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com