N E W S A D V I S O R Y
Behavioral Health Advocates Unite to Press for a COLA to Address the Funding and Workforce Crisis
January 14, 2019 11:30 am LOB Room 130
Contact: Glenn Liebman 518-360-7916
With the imminent release of the New York State Executive Budget, advocates for behavioral health services including consumers, families and providers will come to Albany on Monday to urge Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers to include a 2.9% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to address a workforce and agency funding crisis that is producing unmanageable vacancy and turnover rates and agency operating challenges that jeopardize their ability to support all New Yorkers of all ages.
The advocates will release a newly compiled survey that pointedly demonstrated the magnitude of their workforce crisis, showing a 35% statewide turnover rates and 14% vacancy rates for the behavioral health workforce. In New York City alone, the turnover rate was over 45%.
Representing consumers, families and mental health and substance use service providers, they emphasized the overwhelming demand for a strong and stable behavioral health service sector in addressing alarming increases in deaths due to opioid use and suicide, including a growing number of attempts among children under 10 years old, and steadily mounting rates of homelessness and incarceration.
Speakers include:
· Glenn Liebman, Mental Health Association in NYS
· Consumer, family and provider representatives
· Others TBA
