Dominick Gets a Vaccine!

Dominick Mattina started as Director of Chance for Change in February 2020, only weeks before New York City was shut down. His big plans to expand the outpatient, substance-use treatment program were put on hold as the program switched to an entirely remote model.

Over the past ten months, drug use and overdoses have increased as social support systems have been unavailable for many people who need them. Recognizing the risk, Dominick and his team reached out early to clients, helped them set up virtual appointments for individual counseling sessions, and prevented setbacks.

In normal times, Chance for Change operates with a clubhouse model, encouraging clients to come for individual and group counseling and also spend time in a welcoming drug-free environment for much of the day. While individual sessions continued remotely, group sessions and other in-person activities had to be suspended. Weekly in-person group therapy sessions resumed in September, but the “clubhouse” remains closed.

At the end of December, it was announced that beginning January 4th staff at out-patient substance-use treatment programs like Chance for Change would be eligible for the vaccine in New York State.

Dominick got his first shot on January 9th!

“I encourage everyone to get vaccinated,” he shared. “Not only because it will keep you safe but so that we can reach herd immunity in New York City and can fully reopen services for our Chance for Change clients. This vaccine and reaching herd immunity, being able to reopen Chance for Change the way it was, it will allow us to realize all that Chance for Change can be. I will be able to finally get to work on all the big plans I had when I started here a year ago!”