Mental Health Update

Dear colleagues and community partners,

The New York State Office of Mental Health and Department of Health are hosting in-person and virtual meetings this summer to gather recommendations to improve mental health services for children with complex mental health needs. Meetings are scheduled throughout the state between late July and mid-September to hear directly from families, youth, providers, stakeholders, and anyone who supports young people with mental health needs requiring intensive services. The New York City location has now been added, as well as options for supporting cost for transportation for youth and families in all locations – see below for all details.

The focus of these meetings is to help inform the redesign of intensive home and community-based mental health services for children and families statewide, with an emphasis on improving access, quality, and outcomes. These conversations were prompted by the C.K. v. McDonald Settlement Agreement and will help with the development of an Implementation Plan for system change.

Fliers are attached – one for each region. Please share information about these events with the families and young people you serve.

In-person meetings by region include:

Central New York – OCM BOCES, 110 Elwood Rd, Liverpool
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22 or 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 23
Registration Link

Western New York – Hillside Children’s Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6 or 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7
Registration Link

Hudson River – Orange County Community College, 1 Washington Center, Newburgh
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11 or 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12
Registration Link

Long Island – Suffolk County Community College Grant Campus, Crooked Hill Rd., Brentwood
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 or 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18
Registration Link

New York City – OMH NYC Field Office, 335 5^th Ave., New York, 9^th Floor
Three sessions to choose from:

• Register for NYC at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 24
• Register for NYC at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25 in NYC
• Register for NYC at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25 in NYC

For New York City, space is limited.
We ask our provider partners to please advertise to the youth and families you serve first.
Thank you!

OMH will also host two virtual meetings:

• Register for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27
• Register for 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. pm on Wednesday, Sept. 2

Transportation:

To assist with the cost of transportation for youth and families to attend the in-person sessions, OMH is providing funding for individuals to travel as well as for organizations to provide transportation. Through a partnership with Families Together, individual family and youth participants may receive a stipend for $25 each to travel to the session, to be provided on the day of the session, and organizations willing to coordinate transportation (e.g., bus or van), can also be reimbursed up to $1,500 for the cost. Interested organizations may contact ChildrensMHSettlement@omh.ny.gov with questions and for more details.

Agenda:

Each session will begin with a brief, opening presentation to provide an overview of the Children’s Mental Health Settlement. Then participants will breakout into smaller groups to answer specific questions about how to improve access, engagement, and quality of the mental health system. Refreshments as well as activities for all ages will be provided during the in-person sessions.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment. The input you share and the voices of the communities we serve is invaluable as we work together to enhance youth mental health supports across New York.

If you have any questions, please email ChildrensMHSettlement@omh.ny.gov.