About Pivot
Our Mission
Fostering healthy individuals, families, schools, and the community through prevention and recovery services.
Our Goals
The Board and Staff of Pivot are convinced that alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and problem gambling are preventable. In conjunction with New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) our goals are to:
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Reduce the prevalence of substance use and abuse and problem gambling in Jefferson County.
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Delay first use of alcohol, nicotine and other drugs and gambling behavior among youth for as long as possible.
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Decrease the negative health, social, and economic consequences and costs associated with substance use and problem gambling.
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Prevent, through early identification and brief intervention and referral, the escalation of substance use and gambling behaviors to levels requiring treatment.
Our Story
One winter night, many years ago, a small group of concerned Jefferson County citizens traveled to Syracuse, New York to hear a talk by Margaret “Marty” Mann, the first woman to achieve long term sobriety in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Mrs. Mann spoke of the need to spread the word that help was available for the suffering alcoholic and that recovery was possible. She believed the most effective way to spread this message was through a local grass roots organization made up of recovered alcoholics, friends, family members and concerned citizens.
Following their return from Ms. Mann’s impassioned talk, the individuals who attended formed the Jefferson County Committee on Alcoholism. The goals of this early group were to raise the level of public awareness to the problem of alcoholism, provide information and education, and reduce the stigma associated with this disease.
Today, all these years later, this organization, now known as Pivot, has evolved from that small group of empowered individuals into a professional organization that continues to have a powerful impact on the entire North Country community. And although the original goals of the organization are as valid as they were at its conception, the organization provides a wide range of evidence-based, research driven prevention programs to all age and demographic groups in Jefferson County.