CLMHD Advocacy Results in Funding for Jail-Based Services

Co-Chairs of Senate Opioid & Heroin Task Force Announce Recipients of Funding for Addiction Treatment and Transition Services 

Pictured from L: Senator George Amedore, Senator Fred Akshar, Kelly Hansen (CLMHD), Senator Chris Jacobs, Senator James Tedisco

Senators George Amedore, Fred Akshar and Chris Jacobs, co-Chairs of the Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, this week announced funding

for 17 County jails throughout New York State in order to fund substance use disorder treatment and transition services.

Kelly A. Hansen, CLMHD Executive Director, stated, "The County Mental Health Commissioners knew that providing addiction treatment during incarceration could reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars and most importantly, save lives. That is why the Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors commissioned the study which provides the data that confirmed our assumptions and quantified the benefits of jail-based SUD services. The Conference is grateful for the support from the Senate and Executive, as counties will be able to develop or expand SUD treatment and transition services prior to re-entry. This funding will not only help to reduce recidivism and improve public safety - most importantly, it will allow individuals struggling with addiction find lasting recovery."

The Task Force advocated and secured $3.75 million in the 2018-19 state budget to help implement, support and expand these vital services in County jails throughout the state. For more information and to view a list of awardees, click here.

CLMHD Welcomes New Chair to Children & Families Committee

The Conference is pleased to announce the new chair of the Children & Families Committee, Michael Orth, MSW, Commissioner for the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health.

 

Michael has worked in the human services sector for 30 years and joined the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) in 1993.  He was appointed Commissioner in January 2018 after serving as Acting-Commissioner from August 2017-December 2017, Deputy Commissioner from February 2015-August 2017 and 2nd Deputy Commissioner from 2009-2015. Michael graduated from the Iona College BSW program and the MSW program at Fordham's Graduate School of Social Service. 

 

Michael has previously held several positions in Children's Mental Health Services at DCMH since 1993 assisting in the development of Westchester County's System of Care for children with emotional,  social and behavioral challenges, and their families. This includes working collaboratively with other child-serving systems, including child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and family/youth advocacy organizations at a federal, state and county level. Additionally,  Michael leads Westchester's Coordinated Children's Services Initiative (CCSI) planning committee and is the

county lead for Westchester's NYS System of Care SAMHSA Grant. 

 

We are pleased that Michael has accepted this appointment, as he will contribute a great deal to the Children & Families Committee and its work to address the major issues affecting children and youth in need of mental hygiene services in New York. Welcome, Michael!

NYS DOH Announces Results of Medicaid Redesign Efforts, Yielding Measurable Reductions in Avoidable Hospital Use

SAMHSA Announces $930 Million Funding Opportunity to Combat the Opioid Crisis

Building Community-Based Behavioral Health and Long-Term Care Provider Readiness for Payment Reform

Payment and delivery system reforms are critical to achieve the Triple Aim of improved health, improved patient experience and quality, and reduced cost. While involvement in payment reform grows, participation remains challenging for many community-based behavioral health and long-term services and supports (LTSS) providers.

This new CHCS brief examines the competencies necessary for community-based behavioral health and LTSS providers to successfully participate in alternative payment models, discusses the barriers they face, and explores how states, the federal government, and private organizations can increase community-based providers' readiness to participate in payment reform activities.

Rural Areas Have The Highest Suicide Rates And Fewest Mental Health Workers

Pew Charitable Trust: Many Recommend Teaching Mental Health in Schools. Now Two States Will Require It.

Amid sharply rising rates of teen suicide and adolescent mental illness, two states have enacted laws that for the first time require public schools to include mental health education in their basic curriculum.

Most states require health education in all public schools, and state laws have been enacted in many states to require health teachers to include lessons on tobacco, drugs and alcohol, cancer detection and safe sex.

Two states are going further: New York's new law adds mental health instruction to the list in kindergarten through 12th grade; Virginia requires it in ninth and 10th grades.

Nationwide, cities and states have been adopting a variety of initiatives over the past decade to address the rising need for mental health care in schools. Read more here.

After Opioid Overdose, Only 30 Percent Get Medicine To Treat Addiction