Ibero to use state funding to expand SMART Recovery Program for Spanish speakers

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A local program that supports Spanish-speaking individuals recovering from addiction, has been awarded $50,000 from the state.

New York State Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55), who’s the chair of the State Senate Mental Health Committe, joined the Ibero-American Action League Friday afternoon in Rochester to announce the funding. It goes toward Ibero’s SMART Recovery Program .

“Think about it, you are training people in our communities who have gone through some of the toughest times, and you are going to be sending them through rigorous training to then go out and actually support your own neighbors,” said Brouk.

This is the only program in Rochester that provides mutual peer support in the Spanish language for those recovering from addiction. It also offers other mental health support.

The Ibero-American Action League is a dual language, multi-service group that advocates for Latin Americans in the Greater Rochester community.

“Being able to have a curriculum and a model that is in Spanish really empowers our community to be able to continue in our customs of being able to support ourselves,” said Angelica Perez-Delgado, the President & CEO of Ibero. “So, this funding will continue to allow us to pilot that and continue to build partnerships.”

The program promotes independence and matches people in recovery with a peer who can work with them one-on-one and help them meet their most basic needs.

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