Alliance Executive Seminar Program Will Address Uncertain Times with a
50% Rate Reduction to $99 and National and State Policymaker Panels
As we face the ripple effects of new and anticipated federal budget cuts and the extremely challenging impact of these and other pending federal and state policy changes, our Alliance has decided to cut our Executive Seminar registration rates by over 50% in recognition of the financial uncertainties we are collectively facing.
Accordingly, we’re lowering our registration rate from $219 to $99!
Our program features an array of very timely policy and programmatic presentations, most notably Federal our National and NYS/NYC expert panels that are aimed at exploring and making recommendations to help address some of the challenges we face.
See below for final program details. Register for the conference here and for the Marriott Hotel here.
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Urgent Actions, Bold Solutions:
Leadership in Unprecedented Times
Alliance for Rights and Recovery 21st Annual Executive Seminar
Albany Marriott on Wolf Road
April 24-25, 2025
THURSDAY APRIL 24, 2025
8:30 – 9:15 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:15 am-9:30 am Welcome and Opening Remarks
Harvey Rosenthal, CEO, Len Statham, COO and Daniella Labate-Covelli, Vice-President for System Transformation; Alliance for Rights and Recovery
9:30 am-10:45 am Navigating Unprecedented Federal Policy Challenges
- Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Director, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
- Paolo del Vecchio, former Director, SAMHSA Office of Recovery
- Caren Howard, Senior Director for Policy and Advocacy, Mental Health America
Moderator: Harvey Rosenthal, CEO, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Federal agencies are being downsized or closed and are all in the process of major leadership and structural changes. Cuts to Medicaid and other entitlements are under serious consideration, as are possible policy related suspensions of federal funding to the states and cities. We are expecting policy changes of an unprecedented level, scope and pace that will have a major impact on national mental health and healthcare policy for some time to come. Access to accurate information and sound guidance are essential!
Accordingly, our Seminar features a panel comprised of the nation’s top advocates for community-based mental health and substance use services, human rights and social justice, recovery and self-determination and youth mental health and peer support centered policies. Together, they will engage in a candid and constructive discussion about how we can best understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
10:50 am-12:00pm
Taking on the Mental Health Crisis in New York State and New York City
- Moira Tashjian, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health
- Dr. H. Jean Wright II, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Lara Kassel, Coalition Coordinator, Medicaid Matters NY
- Ruth Lowenkron, Dir. Disability Justice Program, NY Lawyers for the Public Interest
- Jihoon Kim, CEO, InUnity Alliance
Moderator: Luke Sikinyi, Vice President for Public Policy, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Join in the discussion with top State and City officials and Medicaid, legal rights and provider advocates around the expected impact of federal fiscal and policy changes, the newly enacted FY 2025-26 state budget agreement and the steps that DOHMH and local providers and advocates are taking to address New York City’s most pressing challenges.
12:00pm -1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm to 2:15pm Charting the Course: A Leadership Roundtable –
- Board Development – Amy Dorin, Consultant
- Organizational Capacity Building – Marta Hiczewski, MS, Partner, The Magellan Group
- Infrastructure and Staff Development – Kate Lewis, CEO, GoClarity, and Edye Schwartz, Consultant
- Human Resources – Cecily Rodriguez, PHR, MS, Sr. Grant Writer/Human Resources, Upper Edge Consulting
Leadership is more than just guiding a team—it’s about building resilient organizations, cultivating strong boards, and fostering a thriving workforce. This roundtable offers an engaging conversation on the essential pillars of effective leadership and organizational success. This interactive session will explore key topics such as board development, focusing on strategies for building dynamic, mission-driven boards that drive growth and sustainability; organizational capacity, offering tools and best practices for strengthening infrastructure, scaling impact, and navigating challenges; staff development, highlighting approaches for nurturing talent, building cohesive teams, and supporting professional growth; and human resources, sharing best practices for recruitment, retention, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures that empower staff at every level. Join us for a unique opportunity to share challenges, exchange ideas, and develop actionable strategies to chart the course for future success.
2:15 pm-2:30 pm Break
2:30 pm-3:30 pm Concurrent Sessions
Bridging the Gap: Supporting Peer Staff in Provider-Run Agencies
Moderator: Ellen Healion, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Melisssa Wettengel, CEO Hands Across Long Island Jeremy Reuling, LCSW, NYCPS, CRPA, Senior Director of Special Projects, Hands Across Long Island (HALI), (HALI), Amy Piroli, FPA-C, Co-director of Peer Support Training, PeerTAC, Maria Fuentes, PeerTac
Traditional provider-run social service agencies employing peer staff—such as CPSs, CRPAs, YPAs, and FPAs—often face challenges related to staff recruitment, role clarity, supervision, and adapting organizational culture. This workshop explores how peer-run organizations can offer critical expertise and support to help provider-run agencies overcome these barriers. Participants will learn how partnering with peer-run organizations can improve their recruitment and integration of peer staff, allow for the implementation of peer-specific supervision models, foster supportive peer networks, and enhance quality assurance processes. The session will also highlight how peer-run organizations can assist provider-run agencies in delivering innovative peer support practices, strengthening their connections to the broader recovery community, and building peer-friendly organizational cultures.
- Transforming Your Community’s Mental Health Crisis System: Is Everyone at the Table?
Shannon Higbee, Chief Strategy Office, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Cherene Carraco, CEO, Promise Resource Network, Sarah Bonk, LMSW, Commissioner of Mental Health, Erie County, Jane Mogavero, ESQ., Executive Director, Patrick P. Lee Foundation, Jennifer Levesque, MA, LMHC, Chief Executive Officer, Recovery Options Made Easy
Mental health crises often require a multi-faceted approach, yet too often, services are fragmented, leaving individuals with limited access to the comprehensive care they need. This workshop will explore the practical steps to build a more integrated, collaborative mental health crisis system where all stakeholders — from hospitals and government agencies to community services and foundations — work together effectively. Learn from a national model and a Buffalo NY model that brings everyone to the table. Representatives from various sectors will share their experiences coordinating services across mental health providers, emergency responders, and public health systems to improve crisis response.
- Exploring the AI Landscape in Behavioral Health Services-Supporting Rights, Recovery and Community Inclusion
Dr. Alexander Pelaez, 5e Analytic
In this workshop will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance behavioral health services, particularly for individuals facing mental health, substance use and trauma challenges. AI has the potential to improve service delivery, identify risk factors, and optimize services, all while respecting the rights and dignity of those involved. However, its integration must be approached with care, ensuring it complements the compassionate and person-centered practices central to recovery. We’ll discuss the ethical considerations of using AI in behavioral health services and how it can align with providers’ commitment to community-based support, mental health advocacy, and promoting the rights and wellness of individuals. The conversation will focus on how AI can serve as a tool for justice and recovery, supporting individuals on their journey towards inclusion, healing and recovery.
3:30 pm-3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm-4:45 pm Concurrent Sessions
- Unlocking Funding: What Funders Really Want
Moderator: Shannon Higbee, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Jane Mogavero, ESQ., Executive Director,Patrick Lee Foundation, Daniel Frascella, PhD., Chief Programs and Grants Officer, Mother Cabrini Foundation, Avital Havusha, M.P.H. – Vice President of Programs, NY Health Foundation
Join foundation leaders for an insightful workshop that pulls back the curtain on what drives funding decisions. This session will offer a unique opportunity to hear directly from funders about their priorities, what they look for in proposals, and how to align your goals with their expectations. Learn practical strategies for crafting compelling applications, strengthening relationships with funders, and navigating the complexities of securing financial support.
- Brave Leaders and Courageous Cultures
Roni DeKoning, Consultant
Inspired by the principles in Dare to Lead, this workshop will empower leaders to cultivate courage, vulnerability, and resilience in their leadership approach. Participants will learn how to lead with authenticity, foster trust, and create cultures of belonging within their organizations. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, attendees will discover how to step into their leadership roles with confidence, make tough decisions, and inspire their teams, even in the face of uncertainty.
- What Makes Us Stay: Listening to the New Generation of Staff – Alex Frisina, Moderator, Hans Across Long Island
Hannah Taber, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, TBD, Radical Health, Sydney Robinson, MS, NYCPS, CORE & CFTSS Coordinator, Recovery Options Made Easy (ROME)
Explore what motivates and retains today’s workforce in an evolving professional landscape. This session will feature candid discussions with emerging staff members, highlighting their priorities, values, and expectations from employers. Learn how to foster a workplace culture that resonates with the next generation—through meaningful engagement, support, and growth opportunities. Whether you’re a leader or a team builder, this workshop will provide valuable insights to strengthen your organization’s ability to attract and retain top talent.
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm Continuum Cloud Reception & Presentation of Awards
- Emil Slane, former Chief Fiscal Officer, NYS Office of Mental Health
- Lenora Reid-Rose OMH Lifetime Achievement Award to her family
- Patrick Wildes, former Assistant Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene
8:45am-9:00am Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00 am-10:00 am DEI: Keeping our Commitment Strong
Moderator: Len Statham, MS, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Cristino Chavez, Jr., LMSW, CTP, NYU Legal Aid Society, Dr. Felecia Pullen, Dr. Ashley Stewart, PhD., MSSW, LSW, Director, Center on Health Equity, Center 4 Innovations,
As conversations around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) continue to evolve, organizations must consider how to sustain and strengthen their commitment in a rapidly shifting landscape. This forward-thinking discussion will explore why DEI remains essential for a growing workforce, how it drives innovation, engagement, and retention, and what strategies organizations can use to move beyond rhetoric into meaningful action.
Join us as we examine the path forward, address the challenges and opportunities in today’s environment, and discuss how DEI can remain a core pillar of organizational success in an ever-changing world.
10:15-11:15 AM Concurrent Sessions
- National Best Practices in Peer Services Delivery and Financing
Dana Foglesong, MSW, NCPS, CRPS, National Senior Director of Recovery and Resiliency Services, Magellan Healthcare, Patrick Hendry, Vice President of Peer Services, Firsthand; Wendy White Tiegreen, MSW, Partner, Lexicon Strategies; Cherene Caraco, CEO, Promise Resource Network; Harvey Rosenthal, moderator
Peer support services and staffing have come to the very front of New York’s and the nation’s mental health service systems! Peer supporters can be found working in every setting, from leading the way in successful street outreach and engagement, playing a central role in crisis settings like emergency rooms, CPEPs, stabilization and retreat centers, enhancing PROS, clinic and CCBHC programs and supporting successful re-entry from hospitals and forensic settings.
Yet, agencies that seek to deliver high quality, strong and stable peer services and programs must address two major challenges: how to ensure full fidelity to the principles and practices of peer support and how to secure stable funding and financing arrangements.
Don’t miss this first-ever opportunity to hear from 4 of our nation’s most long standing, respected and accomplished peer service leaders in a wide-ranging discussion around heart-centered vision, values, role clarity, supervision and the capability to offer lasting, life-changing impact on the people we are dedicated to support.
- Building out the Continuum: Best Practices in Outreach, Engagement, Recovery and Re-Entry
Melissa Wettengel, CEO, Hands Across Long Island: Nadjete Natchaba, Services for the Underserved, Steve Miccio, CEO, People USA Taina Laing, CEO, Baltic Street Wellness Solutions and Blaise Sackett, Hudson Valley Clubhouse. Moderator: Shannon Higbee, Chief Strategy Office, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
This panel brings together some of state’s top change agents to discuss the innovative service models they are implementing across the state and nation to create a strong, engaging, effective and voluntary continuum of services and crisis supports. Come get details about how INSET Engagement Teams, Safe Options Support Teams, Crisis Stabilization and Respite Centers, Peer Bridger and accredited Clubhouse programs are becoming essential components of every county’s service systems. We are expecting OMH RFPs will be out later this year for most of them!
- Transforming Medicaid: Navigating the 1115 Waiver and Strengthening Community Connections
Panelists: Emily Engel, Director of the Bureau of Social Care and Community Supports at the Office of Health Insurance Programs of the NYS Department of Health (DOH), Shannon Buckley, Deputy Director, Bureau of Medicaid Program and Policy at NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Jeff McQueen, Executive Director, Mental Health Association of Nassau County, Representative from Health and Welfare Council of Long Island , Brett Scudder, Community Advocate. Moderator: Luke Sikinyi, VP of Public Policy, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Join representatives from the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, and the Mental Health Association of Nassau County for an in-depth look at how the state’s 1115 Medicaid waiver is reshaping care delivery by integrating Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) services into the Medicaid system. This session will provide a brief overview of the waiver and focus on the rollout of services such as housing support, nutrition, transportation, and health navigation, delivered through SCNs. Panelists will explore how community-based organizations are contracting with SCNs, what services are being paid for, how the contracting process works, and the impact these services are having on Medicaid members’ health and stability. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how the 1115 waiver is operationalized at the ground level and how to engage in this evolving system of care.
11:15am-12:30 noon General Session: Where do We Go from Here?
Moderator: Shannon Higbee, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Bill Gettman, CEO, Northern Rivers, Jeff McQueen, MBA, LCDC, Executive Director, Mental Health Association ofNassauCounty, Jody Rudin, CEO,Institute for Community Living (ICL), Marta Durkin, Liberty Resources
As we close this year’s Executive Seminar, we come together for a forward-thinking conversation about the future of behavioral health in New York. Over the past two days, we have explored key advancements, challenges, and opportunities shaping the landscape. But with so much in motion, the critical question remains: Where do we go from here?
This session will provide a space for reflection, collective insight, and action-oriented discussion on what’s next for New York’s behavioral health system. How do we sustain progress in integrating peer support, expanding access, and strengthening service delivery? What strategies can we employ to adapt to changing political, economic, and social dynamics? And how do we ensure that funding, public policy, and a robust workforce remain at the center of the behavioral health system.
12:30 noon – 12:45pm Closing Remarks