The Alliance for Rights and Recovery

02/20/2026

New York’s children are dying because they can’t get the mental health and addiction care they urgently need. Youth su***de rates are rising, families are left waiting in crisis, and lives are being lost, while insurance companies profit. This is unacceptable. New York must stop lining insurers' pockets and start spending every dollar directly on the care that saves lives. Our kids can’t wait.

02/19/2026

Congratulations to Alliance Peer Bridger Kristin Copeland on receiving the prestigious Code of Conduct Award from the Justice Center at Rockland State Psychiatric Center.

For years, Kristin has provided exceptional Peer Bridger services, showing individuals through her commitment, compassion, and lived experience that recovery is real and possible. She exemplifies the powerful impact Peer Bridgers have in advancing lives and partnering with hospitals to transform how they support people taking their first steps toward recovery.

We are proud to celebrate Kristin and the meaningful difference she makes every day.

02/19/2026

Decades of mass incarceration have separated families. We need to bring our people home where they belong. Call your state legislator NOW to eliminate mandatory minimums, grant a second look, and support transformation: bit.ly/CNC_action

02/18/2026

Are you ready to tackle the tough questions facing behavioral health today? On April 16th, we are bringing together the brightest minds in the field to discuss "The Future of Recovery."

From updates on the latest State budget with Joe Katagiri to crisis system developments with Sarah Kuriakose, this day is designed to provide you with the "real-world" tools needed to lead through technological disruption and workforce strain.

Workshop Tracks:
Workforce Innovation & Sustainability
Artificial Intelligence & Behavioral Health
Population Health Across the Lifespan

Don’t miss this defining moment for leadership.

Register today at https://buff.ly/qs516j5

02/13/2026

Are you ready to tackle the tough questions facing behavioral health today? On April 16th, we are bringing together the brightest minds in the field to discuss "The Future of Recovery."

From updates on the latest State budget with Joe Katagiri to crisis system developments with Sarah Kuriakose, this day is designed to provide you with the "real-world" tools needed to lead through technological disruption and workforce strain.

Workshop Tracks:
Workforce Innovation & Sustainability
Artificial Intelligence & Behavioral Health
Population Health Across the Lifespan

Don’t miss this defining moment for leadership.

Register today at

02/11/2026

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-alliance-for-rights-and-recovery-executive-seminar-tickets-1982433342493?aff=oddtdtcreator

2026 Alliance for Rights and Recovery Executive Seminar

02/10/2026

What an incredible turnout in Albany today! The halls are filled with the voices of hundreds of advocates, peers, and providers all sending a clear message to our lawmakers: Invest in people, not just systems.
Our speakers have been sharing powerful testimony all morning, emphasizing that:
• Trust is the foundation of care: When we lose staff due to underfunding, we lose the life-saving relationships that make recovery possible.
• Community over Clinics: It’s time to shift resources away from institutionalization and toward the community-based services that keep New Yorkers well and out of crisis.
• The 2.7% is the Minimum: A 1.7% increase isn't enough to keep the lights on or the doors open for those in need.
Next up: Our VP of Public Policy, Luke Sikinyi, is heading to the microphones to speak directly to the press. He’ll be driving home our demand for a budget that reflects the real cost of care and protects the dignity of every individual in recovery.

02/10/2026

The moment is here, Albany! We are officially kicking off Alliance Legislative Day 2026 at The Egg. Today, we raise our collective voice to protect and strengthen mental health and recovery services across New York.

From funding a 2.7% targeted inflationary increase to passing Daniel’s Law and expanding Self-Directed Care, we are fighting for the resources our community deserves.

Follow along in our stories today as we meet with legislators and share why these issues can't wait.

02/09/2026

Albany, the moment is here. Tomorrow, February 10th, hundreds of advocates from across the state are descending on the Capitol for the Alliance Legislative Day.

With workforce instability and rising unmet needs, our presence tomorrow is critical. We aren’t just visiting; we are turning our shared experiences into policy change. We are standing together to demand:

✅ A 2.7% COLA Increase: To stabilize our workforce and save our programs.
✅ Daniel’s Law: To ensure compassionate, peer-led crisis response for all New Yorkers.
✅ Rights and Recovery: For every individual and community in our state.

Our voices are stronger when we speak as one. Whether you’re on a bus from Buffalo, NYC, or Rochester—bring that energy!

GET PREPARED: 📢 Don’t go into your meetings without the playbook. Get the full breakdown of our data, priorities, and talking points in the official book below.

📖 Read the Full 2026 Legislative Day Book here: https://rightsandrecovery.org/e-news-bulletins/2026/02/09/tomorrow-join-us-to-fight-for-2-7-daniels-law-and-other-issues-at-tuesdays-alliance-legislative-day/

02/06/2026

We’re grateful to Ohio Peer Recovery Organization and to Michael Krause for trusting the Alliance with the second cohort of leadership training in Ohio. It’s an honor to support leaders with lived experience who are building the future of recovery services in their communities! Check out more photos from the Ohio Leadership Institute Summit last week.

02/06/2026

ACTION ALERT:
Ask your New York State legislators to sign on to the Medicaid behavioral health carve-out legislation now.

Behavioral health services should not be trapped in a system that limits access and accountability. A Medicaid carve-out would strengthen care for people with mental health and substance use needs across New York.

Call today:
Senate switchboard: 518-455-2800
Assembly switchboard: 518-455-4100

Tell your legislators to sign on to the budget letters supporting the carve-out before the deadlines.

Take action and learn more here:

ACTION ALERT We are writing with a very important request.  Please call your Senators this week and Assemblymembers next Monday/Tuesday with the following request for their support regarding our behavioral health carve out of Medicaid managed care request: THIS WEEK:  Call your State Senator (...

02/06/2026

The Alliance for Rights and Recovery has released the full 2026 Legislative Day book and prep session video to help advocates prepare for Annual Legislative Day in Albany on Tuesday, February 10.

Find the video and materials you need to join the fight for:
• a 2.7% targeted inflationary increase (COLA) for behavioral health services,
• Daniel’s Law and expanded non-police crisis response pilots,
• and additional key policy priorities in this year’s advocacy agenda.

Watch the prep session video and access the full Legislative Day book here:
http://rightsandrecovery.org/e-news-bulletins/2026/02/06/alliance-releases-full-legislative-day-book-prep-session-video-join-us-to-fight-for-2-7-daniels-law-and-other-issues-next-tuesday/