Innovative Intensive Respite and Comprehensive Recovery Model Receives Foundation Support

Recovery Options Made Easy (Recovery Options) is pleased to announce The Patrick P. Lee Foundation grant award of $300,000 towards the development of the Kirsten A. Vincent Respite & Recovery Center (Respite & Recovery Center) at 111 Maple St., Buffalo, NY slated to open in the Fall of 2022.  The Patrick P. Lee Foundation grant will compliment funding from the John R. Oishei Foundation, Erie County Department of Mental Health and Erie County Legislature.

The Respite & Recovery Center is the first-of-its-kind intensive respite and comprehensive recovery model in New York State designed to support crisis stabilization and continued recovery.  The Respite & Recovery Center will divert those with mental illness away from hospitals or the street and to a safe, supported environment. 

“Recovery Options is thrilled to be partnering with the Patrick Lee Foundation to offer accessible, peer-focused, and community-oriented programs that will contribute to the transformation of mental health crisis service delivery in Erie County.  Without the commitment of community partners like the Lee Foundation to fund innovative and high-quality mental health services, individuals in crisis would have limited options to receive vital crisis support within their community,” said Shannon Higbee, CEO of Recovery Options.

Located in the Fruit Belt, the Recovery Options’ Respite & Recovery Center will provide community access to much needed intensive respite and immediate care services, as well as job opportunities.

“The Lee Foundation is committed to ensuring our community has access to innovative and comprehensive mental health services,” stated Jane Mogavero, Executive Director of the Lee Foundation. “The Respite and Recovery Center creates a new model of care and will address a current gap in services between community-based and hospital-based services. By bringing together these four programs under one roof, Recovery Options and its partners will be able to provide the most appropriate level of care to support an individual’s recovery.”

The Center will include a Short-Term Crisis Respite (Refreshing Waters), an Intensive Crisis Respite (Restful Rivers), a Renewal Center in collaboration with Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL) and a Mental Health Urgent Care, a Spectrum Health & Human Services satellite.  This innovative model of recovery allows individuals a safe space of calm to regroup and recover.

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation, established in 2007, is a private family foundation with two core funding areas - education and mental health. The Foundation’s primary investments in education are through its scholarship programs in technology and engineering. In mental health, the Foundation’s investments focus on strengthening the mental health workforce, supporting community programs and services, advocating for increased public funding, and building the mental health literacy of the community. 

Recovery Options is a nonprofit peer run organization. Recovery Options was developed and is operated by those who have lived experience through the recovery process. Programs and services benefit participants in mental health services in 20 counties in Western New York and Finger Lake regions. The organization is committed to decreasing stigma by increasing awareness of mental health and substance use through information, education, and advocacy.