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CLMHD Officers pictured from L-R: 1st Vice-Chair, Michael Orth, MSW, (Westchester County); Treasurer, Pat Fralick, MBA (Lewis County); 2nd Vice-Chair, Suzanne Lavigne, MHA, CASAC-M (Franklin County); Chair, Laura Kelemen, LCSW-R (Niagara County); Secretary, Lynda Battaglia, LCSW-R (Genesee County)
CLMHD Holds 2023 Fall Full Membership Meeting in Watkins Glen
DCSs from across the state recently convened for CLMHD's 2023 Fall Full Membership Meeting, which was held October 25-27 in at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. The beautiful scenery in Schuyler County contributed to the connections and camaraderie which were strengthened over the three days. Members were updated on Conference operations and reviewed the organization's strategic plan. A variety of programmatic initiatives and best practices were discussed, and participants learned about the importance of crafting an effective public narrative to help advance advocacy efforts. We look forward to putting this knowledge into action in the coming months!
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Additionally, the Conference would like to recognize long-time member, Michael Piazza, MA, who recently retired from his role as Commissioner of the Putnam County Department of Social Services & Mental Health. Thank you, Mike, for all of the valuable time and commitment you've given to CLMHD - congratulations and we wish you the best!
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Peer-To-Peer Veteran Support Program Expands Into All 62 Counties
As Veterans Day nears, a critical peer-to-peer program is marking an important milestone. “Since its inception, the Dwyer program, get this, over 12,000 support groups,” said Eric Hardiman of UAlbany’s School of Social Welfare. Designed to reduce the isolation of veterans and associated mental health issues, the Private First-Class Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program was launched 10 years ago.“Some veterans come home and they’re OK,” said Army veteran Brent Russell. “Some veterans come home and they’re not OK.” Read more here.
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Biden Administration Calls on Schools to Stock Naloxone, the Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug
Overdose deaths among teens have been on the rise for years and now the Biden administration is urging schools to purchase and carry the opioid overdose antidote naloxone. In a joint letter to educators Monday, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Dr. Rahul Gupta and US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said every school in the United States should carry naloxone, adding that faculty and students alike should be prepared to use the nasal spray to stop an overdose. Read more here.
Related: State Breakdown: The Administration’s Funding Request Would Address the Overdose Epidemic and Save Lives
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Governor Hochul Announces All $192 Million in First-Year Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated to Serve New Yorkers Struggling With Addiction or Available Through State Agencies
Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday announced that New York has made available all the funding provided in the first year of the opioid settlement agreements. This funding, approximately $192.8 million, is supporting a variety of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery initiatives to help New Yorkers impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis. New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic. Read more here.
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Governor Hochul Announces $5 Million Available for Qualified New York State Gun Violence Prevention Program Funding to Support Community-Led, Youth-Based Programs
Governor Kathy Hochul last week announced that the New York State Department of Health in collaboration with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will make available $5 million in New York State funding for a qualified organization to support grassroots, community-based organizations that create and maintain local programming for youth in neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of gun violence. Interested organizations should complete the request for applications here. Deadline to apply for the funding, which is available over a two-year period, is November 8, 2023. Read more here.
Related: NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Debuts New Mural Created with Input from Bronx Youth Affected by Gun Violence
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Parents, Judges Crowd NY Senate Hearing on Troubled Family Court system
Parents and legal experts piled into a state Senate hearing Wednesday to testify about the New York Family Court system, with many dismissing the venue as “dehumanizing” as they seek to change how cases — often dealing with poor or marginalized families — are being handled across the state. The panelists, many of them with direct experience with the child welfare system that often serves as a precursor to Family Court involvement, testified in the packed Senate hearing room that included one notable member: Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, who earlier this year was appointed chief judge of the Court of Appeals, a role in which he sets statewide standards and administrative policies in the judicial system. Read more here.
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Medicare Expands Options for Mental Health Care
Lynn Cooper was going through an awful time. After losing her job in 2019, she became deeply depressed. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, her anxiety went through the roof. Then her cherished therapist — a marriage and family counselor — told Cooper she couldn’t see her once Cooper turned 65 and joined Medicare. For decades, Medicare has covered only mental health services provided by psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers and psychiatric nurses. But with rising demand and many people willing to pay privately for care, 45% of psychiatrists and 54% of psychologists don’t participate in Medicare, the federal insurance system for some 65 million older or disabled Americans. Read more here.
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Studies Illustrate Moderate Awareness—and Room for Growth—with New 988 Lifeline
Two studies led by researchers at NYU’s School of Global Public Health and Silver School of Social Work and published in JAMA Network Open show emerging awareness of the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline among both policymakers and the general public—but also point to potential areas of improvement for the vital nationwide service. In July 2022, “988” became the new number for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides a phone, text, and chat resource for people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts, hopelessness, substance use crises, and other psychological distress. Similar to dialing 911 in emergencies, the use of a three-digit dialing code for mental health crises is designed to be accessible and easy to remember. However, public awareness of 988 is off to a slow start, according to a survey conducted this spring. Read more here.
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What Will It Take to End Health Care Worker Burnout?
Long hours and high-pressure situations have long characterized the health care profession — but in the wake of the pandemic, many workers are facing new challenges with regards to their mental health.
Health care workers are facing a mental health crisis, struggling with burnout, anxiety, and depression, according to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention report published Tuesday. Researchers compared survey data from 2018 and 2022, finding that health workers experienced poorer mental health outcomes post-pandemic. Of those surveyed, 46% of health workers reported feeling burnout often or very often in 2022, compared to 32% in 2018. Read more here. Read more here.
Related: New CDC campaign asks health care leaders to take responsibility for reducing burnout
Verbal abuse of healthcare workers has been up — as have their mental health problems
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OMH Announces $4 Million to Expand Mental Health Services for Underserved Communities
The New York State Office of Mental Health last week announced that $4 million in state funding is available to expand access to Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services for underserved people living with mental illness and with complex healthcare needs. The funding will help licensed clinics enhance or expand existing specialized treatment programs to serve additional New Yorkers. Clinics can receive up to $49,500 to increase access to Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services. Expanded programs must serve a population with significant mental health needs and provide the type of support services being provided will help mitigate the risk of mental health crisis or a reliance on emergency services or hospitalizations. Read more here.
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Incorporating Value-Based Payment Into State-Directed Payment Arrangements Can Improve Outcomes For Dually Eligible Individuals
The high rates of health care needs among individuals who qualify both for Medicare and Medicaid, known as dually eligible individuals, concern many states and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). For example, 70 percent of dually eligible individuals have been diagnosed with three or more chronic conditions, 41 percent have a behavioral health disorder, and more than 40 percent use long-term services and supports (LTSS). These needs contribute to higher state and federal spending, in which dually eligible individuals account for a disproportionate share of Medicare and Medicaid spending. For the 11 million dually eligible individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care plans, states have a powerful yet underused payment tool to reward plans for producing better outcomes. Read more here.
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Policy Brief: Key Informant Perspectives on Rural Housing and Health
Housing is an important and well-established social driver of health. However, less is known about housing and health in the specific context of rural communities. This policy brief presents findings from key informant interviews with representatives of national organizations working in the housing sector. Using content analysis of interview data, we share rural-specific housing barriers, including those that are related to health, as well as policy recommendations for addressing housing challenges to improve rural health. Read more here.
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NYSAC News: United for Progress
The Fall 2023 NYSAC News magazine is here - the theme of this issue is “United for Progress.” Across NYSAC's near-century of serving county officials, the last several years stand out as some of the most transformative and challenging in county history. Despite these challenges, counties, working together united, have made great progress on a wide range of key issues to improve communities across New York State. This issue of NYSAC News brings a focus on what we've been able to accomplish together by highlighting how counties in New York State are using this progress to improve services, innovate, increase efficiency, and save taxpayer money. Make sure to check out CLMHD's article on pages 28-29, entitled, “New York Counties Unite to Transform Communities with Crisis Intervention Training (CIT),” which highlights a variety of CIT initiatives happening across the state. Read more here.
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SAMHSA’s Gains Center Works to Develop Guidance for Treatment Courts Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach
Being trauma informed means understanding that past experiences can profoundly affect individuals’ functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Trauma-informed systems recognize the impact of trauma and respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices. After learning about trauma-informed practices, courts have requested additional guidance on implementing these practices in treatment court settings. In 2023, SAMHSA’s GAINS Center engaged in a three-part process to develop and update existing guidance for trauma-informed treatment courts. Read more here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Effectively Using Voluntary Self-Exclusion in Clinical Practice
Free Self-Paced Training, 1.5 CEUs, NYCPG
Equipping Staff with Tools to Serve Higher-Risk Youth Effectively in the Juvenile Justice System
November 2, 2 - 3 pm, CSG Justice Center
Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) Curriculum: Free Training Resources for Law Enforcement
November 2, 2 - 3:30 pm, BJA
Moving from Data Collection to Action: Improving Patient Access to SDOH Resources
November 2, 3 - 4:30 pm, SDOH Academy
Broadening Your Scope of Care - A Focus on Prevention Series, Part 1: Prevention - Moving Upstream Using Effective Strategies
November 3, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
988 Formative Research: Messaging and Communications about 988 to People at Higher Risk for or Disproportionately Impacted by Suicide
November 7, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, SAMHSA
Partnership in Action: A Collective Impact Approach to Implementing Workforce Solutions
November 7, 4 - 5 pm, HMA, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, The College for Behavioral Health Leadership
Optimizing Treatment for Youth Anxiety and Related Disorders Over Telehealth
November 8, 12 - 1:30 pm, CTAC/MCTAC
Leveraging Medicaid to Support Children and Youth Living With Complex Behavioral Health Needs
November 8, 1 - 2 pm, Manatt Health
Tipping the Scales: Supporting the Intergenerational Needs of Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorders
November 8, 1:30 - 3 pm, TTAC
Building State and Local Partnerships to Support Familiar Faces
November 8, 2 - 3:30 pm, CSG Justice Center
Walking The Tight Rope: A Discussion Of Striking The Right Balance In Depression, With A Focus On Norepinephrine
November 9, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Lived Expertise and Data Management: Trauma-Informed Approaches and Perspectives
November 9, 2 - 3 pm, CSH
The Power of Collaboration: Success Stories of Harm Reduction and Public Safety Partnerships to Prevent Overdose
November 9, 3 - 4:30 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Systems in Crisis: Revamping the Juvenile Justice Workforce and Core Strategies for Improving Public Safety and Youth Outcomes
November 13, 1 - 2 pm, CSG Justice Center
Exploring Value-based Payment for Substance Use Disorder Services
November 13, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Tele-Transformation in North Carolina: Telehealth Policy Lessons Learned During COVID-19 and Beyond
November 13, 3 - 4 pm, Manatt Health
PSYCKES Mobile App for iPhones & iPads
November 14, 11 am - 12 pm, OMH
Transforming Behavioral Health: Embracing Generative AI Technology to Drive Better Outcomes
November 14, 11 am - 12 pm, OPEN MINDS
Pursuing Health Equity Goals Despite Adverse Environments: Perspectives from the Field
November 14, 12 - 1:15 pm, Center for Health Care Strategies
Exploring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Disease Burden
November 15, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Ask the Expert: Homeless Outreach Teams
November 15, 2 - 3:30 pm, CSG Justice Center
Sustainable Integrated Care Through Community Partnerships
November 15, 3 - 4 pm, NAADAC
Peers and Clinicians Together (PACT)
November 16, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, NTTAC
Broadening Your Scope of Care - A Focus on Prevention Series, Part 2: Cannabis Policy and Prevention in the Era of Commercial Cannabis
November 17, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
Transgender Day of Remembrance - Virtual
November 19, 2 pm, Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance
Complex Case Discharge Delay Learning Series: Considerations for Information Sharing During Discharge
November 30, 2 - 3 pm, HANYS
Navigating PSYCKES Recipient Search for Population Health
November 30, 3 - 4 pm, OMH
Peer Recovery Support Series, Part 10: The ABCs of Problem Solving for Peer Specialists
November 30, 3 - 4 pm, NAADAC
Recovery Ready Workplace New York Symposium
December 4 - 5, Crowne Plaza, Albany, FOR-NY
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CLMHD CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
Quarterly LGU Billing Staff Call
November 8: 11 am - 12 pm
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
November 9: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
November 9: 3 - 4 pm
IOCC Meeting - Albany, in-person
November 14: 1 - 3:30 pm
Membership Call
November 15: 9 - 10:30 am
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
November 16, 1 - 3 pm
Children & Families Committee Meeting
November 21: 11:30 am - 1 pm
CLMHD Office Closed - Thanksgiving
November 23 - 24
Deputy DCS Call
November 28: 10 - 11 am
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