VIRTUAL TRAX program PARTNERS

ROAD RECOVERY AWARDED TWO GRANTS FROM US DEPT OF JUSTICE / OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION (OJJDP): 2020 – 2023

Grant #1: Category V: Statewide and Regional Mentoring Initiative for Youth Impacted by Opioids and Drug Addiction

Grant #2: Opioid Affected Youth Initiative To Provide VirtualTrax and in-person Trax Program Services at Youth Clubhouses with NYS-OASAS from 2021 – 2023

The Office of Justice Programs awarded Road Recovery (among organizations based in 25 states and the District of Columbia under OJJDP’s ‘Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative’) a 3-year grant to support the implementation and delivery of mentoring services to youth populations that are at risk for juvenile delinquency, drug abuse (especially opioid abuse), victimization, and problem and high-risk behaviors. 

OJJDP additionally awarded Road Recovery a second 3-year ‘Opioid Affected Youth Initiative’ grant to support a key Department of Justice priority — to provide programs and services to youth and families impacted by opioid addiction. Through this program, OJJDP is helping states and communities develop a data-driven, coordinated response to opioid abuse-related challenges that impact youth and community safety.

Arograms and in-person Trax Programs (post pandemic) to community-based Youth Clubhouses working with at-risk youth (ages 17 years old and younger).

Created and operated by OASAS within 10 Empire regions in New York State, Youth Clubhouses are safe facilities for young people in recovery or at risk of addiction to develop social skills that promote long-term health, wellness and a drug-free lifestyle. Young participants meet weekly with Road Recovery’s Creative Staff Mentors from the entertainment industry, all who have faced similar struggles, to help them create, plan and execute their own creative projects, live events and video/recordings. 

Seasonal VIRTUALTRAX Programs launched in January 2021 for 14 statewide Youth Clubhouses and continued through September 2021, then transitioning to in-person TRAXPROGRAMS presented at up to 17 statewide Youth Clubhouses for seasonal after-school programming through September 2023. Each seasonal/cyclical program culminates in a Performance Finale celebrating the creative works and voices of participating youth. Road Recovery’s goal is to continue partnering with OASAS’s Youth Clubhouses to provide programs and services to at-risk youth impacted by opioid addiction and youth in recovery on a path to living fulfilling, productive lives, while helping to combat the negative impacts of opioid use disorder.s a Peer Group Specialist, Road Recovery is again partnering with the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to provide peer support and music workshops in after-school Trax Programs.

UFT VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP - UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (UFT)/MEMBER’S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – LET’S TALK ABOUT IT VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

Presenting: Road Recovery’s VirtualTrax Program youth, Darryl DMC McDaniels (of the music group RUN DMC), Youth Voices Matter, Dr. Stephen Dewey, UFT President, Michael Mulgrew, and Robert Ferrell, U.S. Army Lieutenant General, VP World Wide Technology (WWT)

Location: live streamed through Cisco WebEx & YouTube

Capacity: 150 New York City middle and high schools reaching more than 1,100 students & their families

Sponsored & Supported by: UFT Member Assistance Program, Road Recovery, World Wide Technology (WWT), NYC Department of Education

Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists, UFT Positive Learning Collaborative, UFT United Community Schools, and Seafield Treatment Center.

“Thanks, Road Recovery. Your VirtualTrax Program made it possible for the United Federation of Teachers to end this challenging school year with our ‘Let’s Talk About It’ Virtual Field Trip. The on-line event taught children coping techniques for this crisis. Together we reached more than 1,100 middle and high school students from 150 schools across New York City. We hope to work with Road Recovery and our partners at the NYC Department of Education on more of these ground-breaking events.”  – Michael Mulgrew, President, UFT

Camp Felix At Home Program – The Felix Organization, The New York Foundling, & Road Recovery 

The Camp Felix At Home summer program included live, interactive and engaging camp-themed programming led by veteran Camp Felix staff members and partners like Road Recovery’s music industry professionals and other supporters via online platforms. Activities included fitness/yoga/dance classes, arts and crafts activities, musical performances, talent shows, trivia and other games, sing-alongs, and other opportunities for campers to connect and communicate with each other in small virtual groups and enjoy a unique summer camp experience at home together.

“Thank you Road Recovery’s music industry team – you guys are fantastic! Our teens and staff loved spending Tuesday mornings with you all these past 4 weeks, especially Rodney! You have certainly made an impression, that’s for sure. This summer was not without its (many) challenges, but I’m so glad you joined us on this adventure! Thank you all so very much.” – Jane Feyder-Siegel, LMSW, The New York Foundling – Program Director, Camp Felix

“Road Recovery, we can’t thank you and your creative team enough for all of your hard work and dedication to bringing light and joy to our kids in such a tough time. It’s hard to remain positive when so much is uncertain and scary right now. You gave our kids the chance to express themselves and channel their emotions in a constructive and fulfilling way. No value can be placed on that… we are so grateful. We better cross paths again! We’ll make sure of it. Warm regards.” – Amanda Ricken Simonetta – Executive Director, and all of us at The Felix Organization

 

The Manhattan School of Cultural Development and PS/IS-48 (Staten Island)

Road Recovery and IlluminArt Productions partnered during the Covid-19 pandemic to present Virtual Write-A-Play/Music Programs for youth in two New York City public schools: The Manhattan School of Career Development (Lower East Side, Manhattan) and PS/IS-48 (Staten Island). The overall goal of the Virtual Write-A-Play/Music was to individually and collectively engage young participants (middle school students) in the process of collaborative learning, planning, creating and completing goals of creativity, with the incentive that if participants meet their creative deadlines, their creations, artwork and voice was presented across Road Recovery and IlluminArt social media platforms. For each session, Road Recovery and IlluminArt Virtual Creative Staff Mentors conducted “check-in” meetings with the students to see how each young participant was feeling and doing in their lives followed by a discussion about what creative projects will be addressed during their Virtual Write-A-Play/Music session. Creative Staff Mentors then paired up with BOTH youth participants and school staff for the remainder of the virtual program where activities take place for remote ‘creative’ learning.