Outreach Recovery Center Hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Facility

On Friday, June 3, the Outreach Recovery Center – located at 400 Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood – welcomed its newest endeavor. Among those present were elected officials, the Executive Committee of Outreach along with its Board of Directors. The program will welcome a
25-bed young adult treatment facility. This campus addition will service those ranging from 18-25 years old.

The ceremony began in the Residential Building’s Dining Area, and commenced with opening remarks from Outreach President and CEO Debra Pantin.

“The Outreach recovery program was founded over 40 years ago in Queens. Its goal is to help build healthy lives. Its mission is to inspire individuals and families to achieve a life of unlimited potential by developing and delivering the highest quality evidence-based behavioral health services and training,” Pantin stated. “Today marks a new beginning for our youth battling addiction on Long Island. We are proud to be in a position to offer them a safe alternative to life on the streets. One that is supportive and celebrates them to become who they want to be.”

Pantin went on to introduce Doctor Chinazo Cunningham, the Commissioner of the Office of Addiction Services and Support. Cunningham works at the facility to promote evidence-based strategies for recovery. During her appearance, she took the time to “commend the unwavering commitment that Outreach has for saving lives.”

Other speakers included Outreach Vice President and COO Christine Casiano; guest speaker Denys A.; and New York State Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport) of District 12. Arguably the most moving of these speakers was Denys A., who immigrated to the United
States from El Salvador when he was 11 years old after his grandmother was murdered by the MS-13. Denys went on to share his heartbreaking struggle with substance abuse. After succumbing to a life on the streets, Denys battled addiction and “also the things that came with the lifestyle. I became selfish and only cared about money and myself. I became an addict and a womanizer,” Denys continued. “Eventually, I decided that I had had enough and checked myself into treatment which eventually led me to Outreach after my fourth relapse.”

Denys credits his focus on his long term and short-term goals to the Outreach recovery program and honors the facility by speaking to the hope it grants its patients. He states the motivation he has today is “like no other time in my life. I am motivated to do better because I want to be healthy, please my family and I also want to be wealthy. I am motivated by the simple thought that I can do better and will be better.”

Another heartwarming address was delivered by Assemblyman Brown, who lost his nephew to substance abuse. He was more than excited to be a part of the process for the new facility because “we need more options here on Long Island. Families don’t need to send their kids to
Connecticut, or Wisconsin, or California, or Florida. We need these services here and Outreach is doing such an amazing job.”

Since 1979, the program has been steadily expanding to not only meet the needs of the community, but to also support each individual as he or she navigates their way through the process. Its newest program, known as the “Inspire Academy,” was created last year in
partnership with Western Suffolk BOCES. Inspire Academy offers recovery support to high school students in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Currently, the campus consists of two residential programs. One program is strictly for women, while the other is for teens ages 12-18.

Additionally, Outreach also has an off-campus site on the grounds of Pilgrim State, which is an outpatient facility for men.
Contracted by Racanelli Construction, the new young adult treatment facility will debut in the Spring of 2023.

The Outreach Recovery Center will be located at 400 Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood.