[Enews] Task Force for local hospital care

[NAMI-NYS Enews]

Taskforce to Preserve Access to Behavioral Health Services
 

Because of its concern that the recommendations of the NYS Commission on Health Care Facilities for the 21st Century could inadvertently result in the loss of essential mental health and substance abuse services, The Center for Policy and Advocacy of the Mental Health Associations of NYC and Westchester has convened a Taskforce to insure that critical services are protected.  The taskforce consists of over 29 umbrella organizations representing providers, professionals, families, consumers, and counties.  

In 2005, the Governor, with the support of the New York State Legislature, established the Commission.  The Governor has characterized its goal as "rightsizing" the hospital and nursing home systems.  

General hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services to tens of thousands of New Yorkers each year and run close to full capacity.  Hospital closures that may make sense from the standpoint of the underutilization of medical services could result in a disastrous loss of psychiatric services if the Commission neglects to develop plans for preserving them.

The new Taskforce is funded with a grant from the New York Community Trust.  Its goal is to educate the public and the Commission on the importance of general hospitals to the public mental health system and advocate for the State to develop plans to preserve essential behavioral health services or institute viable alternatives.  

Its goal is not to oppose all proposed hospital closures.  Nor is it to preserve current hospital-based resources unchanged.  The goal is to assure that needed behavioral health services are not lost as the Commission decides which hospitals and nursing homes will be closed.  

The taskforce is chaired by Michael Friedman, Director of the Center for Policy and Advocacy.  This project is directed by Gary Weiskopf, former Director of the New York State Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors.  More information on this project is available at www.mhawestchester.org/advocates/bhstaskforce.asp.  You can reach Michael Friedman at (212) 614-5753 or center at mhaofnyc.org and Gary Weiskopf at (518) 339-6990 or gweiskopf at verizon.net.              

      Taskforce Members
     Organization
     
      Peter
     Ashenden
     Mental Health Empowerment Project
     
      Marcela
     Bonafina-Caracciol
     Association of Hispanic Mental Health Professionals
     
      Wendy
     Brennan
     NAMI-NYC
     
      Reinaldo
     Cardona
     NASW-NYS
     
      Lauri
     Cole
     NYS Council For Community Behavioral Health Care
     
      John
     Coppola
     Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State
     
      Marcia
     Feuar
     MHA of Nassua County
     
      Michael
     Friedman
     Mental Health Associations of NYC and Westchester
     
      Richard
     Gallo
     NYS Psychiatric Association
     
      Glenn
     Gravino
     Coordinated Care Services Inc (CCSI)
     
      Art
     Johnson
     NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors
     
      Joshua
     Koerner
     CHOICE: Consumers Helping Others In a Caring Environment
     
      Toni
     Lasicki
     Association for Community Living
     
      Cindy
     Levernois
     Healthcare Association of New York State  (HANYS)
     
      Geoff
     Lieberman
     Coalition for the Institutionalized Aged and Disabled
     
      Glenn
     Liebman
     MHANYS
     
      Steve
     Miccio
     People Inc.  Project to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled
     
      Gayle
     Nayowith
     Citizens' Committee for Children
     
      Shelly
     Nortz
     Coalition for the Homeless
     
      Paige
     Pierce
     Families Together
     
      Harvey
     Rosenthal
     NYAPRS
     
      Phillip
     Saperia
     Coalition of Voluntary MH Agencies
     
      Jennifer
     Schaffer
     Westchester County Department of Mental Health
     
      Karen
     Schimke
     SCAA
     
      David
     Seay
     NAMI-NYS
     
      Ron
     Soloway
     UJA Federation
     
      Jill
     Stevens
     The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
     
      Joyce
     Wale
     NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation
     
      Jeff
     Wise
     NYS Rehabilitation Association
     

 
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