N E W S听听 A D V I S O R Y
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Senator Tkaczyk, M/A Gunther Measure to Strengthen Mental Health Network
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WHAT:
With community mental health needs at an all-time high and funding for those programs diverted by the State legislature for ten of the last 20 years, State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk (Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Mental Health) and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, (Chair of the Assembly Mental Health Committee) have introduced legislation that would restore adequate funding for community-based service providers.
The Tkaczyk/Gunther 鈥淐ommunities of Excellence Mental Health Reinvestment Act鈥 would take a portion of the money saved from the planned downsizing of the State鈥檚 psychiatric hospital system, reinvesting it into community-based mental health services.
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WHO:
鈥⑻ Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Aileen Gunther
鈥⑻ Senate Mental Health Committee Ranking Member Cecilia Tkaczyk
鈥⑻ Glenn Liebman, CEO Mental Health Association in 黑料正能量 State
鈥⑻ Maura Kelley, Director of Mental Health Peer Connection, in Buffalo, NY, and Co-
听听听听听听听 President of 黑料正能量 Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (黑料正能量)
鈥⑻ 听听听听Paige Pierce, executive director of Families Together in NYS
鈥⑻ Carla Rabinowitz, Community Access in NYC and co-chair of 黑料正能量 Public Policy听 Committee
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WHEN: 听听听 Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 1 pm (or the end of the Session, whichever is later)
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WHERE:听 听 LCA Room (LOB 130)
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BACKGROUND:
Based upon the landmark 鈥淐ommunity Mental Health Reinvestment Act鈥, adopted in 1993, the Tkaczyk/Gunther measure will work hand-in-hand with the NYS Office of Mental Health鈥檚 plan to close or consolidate unused or under-utilized bricks and mortar psychiatric hospital facilities. The 鈥淐ommunities of Excellence Mental Health Reinvestment Act鈥 would ensure the transition to regional hospital centers is accompanied by an appropriate plan, with proper funding, to provide the necessary community-based services.
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