Alliance Alert: In 2023, the NYS Legislature authorized a new study of Kendra’s Law’s New York’s outpatient commitment programs (often euphemistically referred to as Assisted Outpatient Treatment, or AOT) to explore the state of the program and whether simple preferred access to more and better services is what helps people, irrespective of the use of coercion. The researchers at Human Services Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh who are conducting the study are seeking input from people with personal experience of this program. See below for more details.
The New York State Office of Mental Health is seeking individuals with personal experience with Assisted Outpatient Treatment to participate in an independent evaluation of the program. The agency is working with the Human Services Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh to conduct this study using a team that includes individuals with lived experience of mental health systems.
To fulfill this goal, HSRI and Pitt are recruiting individuals with personal experience under an AOT order, along with others – family members, loved ones, and supporters of people who have been under an AOT order – for one-time interviews by phone or Zoom.
The experience with an AOT must be from an order in New York State but can be current or from the past. Interested individuals must also be at least 18 years old. Individuals who are selected for the interviews will be paid $50 for their participation.
Please share this message and the attached flyers (NY AOT Recruitment Flyer [lived experience]; NY AOT Recruitment Flyer [family loved ones supporters]) with clients and their families, loved ones, and supporters, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Interested individuals may complete the application form online, with participants selected on a basis to maximize racial diversity and to include individuals from all regions across the state. Selected individuals will be contacted by a member of the project team.
While we encourage sharing these flyers internally, we would request that you refrain from posting them on social media so that we can avoid erroneous submissions.
For more information about the study, please visit the project website.
** Please do not reply to this address. This mailbox is not monitored.**
Public Information Office
Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Ave., Albany, NY 12229
www.omh.ny.gov