New York State Association of Counties’ Standing Committee on
Public Health and Mental Health Calls for ‘Strategic Investment in Community Mental Health’ as
Part of Regional Centers of Excellence Plan
Note: The following resolution was passed by The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Standing Committee on Public Health and Mental Health at NYSAC’s 2013 Fall Seminar. It is also available here: http://www.nysac.org/legislative-action/Resolutions/Public_Health_Mental_Health_2013.php 
RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH TO ENSURE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AS PART OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PLAN
WHEREAS, local governmental units, are charged under Article 41 of Mental Hygiene Law with providing for the arrangement of mental hygiene services for all persons residing within their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Mental Health has released a statewide plan to redesign the state-operated psychiatric center system into Regional Centers of Excellence (RCEs); and
WHEREAS, the RCE plan, when fully implemented, will reduce the number of inpatient psychiatric centers in New York from 24 to nine; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Mental Health would replace institutional psychiatric services with state-operated community services hubs; and
WHEREAS, the Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors supports civic and forensic initiatives to enable adults with mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance to receive treatment and supports in the community; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that a sufficient amount of the savings resulting from the closure of state psychiatric centers and the RCE plan, be strategically invested and re-directed into the community, through the counties, to ensure adequate funding needed to provide services to individuals to the community, especially individuals who have resided in a psychiatric center for an extended period of time.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) calls on Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and the Office of Mental Health to ensure sufficient funding is provided to the community through the counties on an annual basis to support the needs of individuals with mental illness in the community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to the sixty-two counties of New York State encouraging member counties to enact similar resolutions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the New York State Association of Counties shall forward copies of this resolution to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the New York State Legislature, the State Office of Mental Health, and all others deemed necessary and proper
http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/resources/newsltr/2013/nov/NYSACRCE-resolution.html