Nine NYS Agencies Jointly Develop Plan For Broad Reform of Public Services For Children

ALBANY, NY (10/02/2008)(readMedia)-- Michael F. Hogan, PhD, Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health, and the heads of eight other New York State child-serving agencies have jointly submitted to Governor David A. Paterson and members of the Legislature New York's first Children's Plan to improve the social and emotional well-being of New York's children and their families. The plan was written in accordance with the Children's Mental Health Act of 2006.

New York's Children's Plan was developed with the involvement of senior leadership from all of New York's child-serving agencies, and is a vehicle for broad reform of public services for New York's children and families. Agencies included in the plan's development include Office of Mental Health, State Education Department, Council on Children and Families, Department of Health, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, Office of Children and Family Services and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Key recommendations of the collaborative plan include:

• A focused attention to behavioral issues and emotional disturbance in settings such as pediatric offices, child care and schools, with mental health treatment in a back-up and support role;
• A shift toward more effective and less expensive early intervention and evidence-based preventive approaches, leading to a reduction in institutional costs; and
• The collaborative use of family-centered and parent-driven approaches.

Michael F. Hogan, PhD, Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health, said, "New York has done much to improve its child mental health services, but we still see school failure, family distress, and juvenile crime that results from mental illness and emotional troubles. The positive development and emotional well-being of all children must be our focus. This plan calls for an approach that is family-centered rather than institutionally based, and collaborative rather than fragmented. At Governor Paterson's direction, this plan is the result of extraordinary partnerships among state agencies and with families, advocates and service providers from across the State. It will move New York toward an approach based on support to parents and families, early assistance with problems, and collaboration at every level."

Richard Mills, New York State Education Commissioner, said, "This partnership delivers resources to support the well-being of New York's children. Healthy social and emotional development in school benefits students both in school and the community. The Regents believe the unified approach captured in this plan will make New York's schools, families and communities stronger."

Deborah Benson, Executive Director of the Council on Children and Families, said, "The Children's Mental Health Plan strives to transform children's mental health services through the implementation of a comprehensive strategy of early recognition, early intervention, improved access, evidence-based treatment, and in-home services and supports for families. This new system will greatly benefit children and families. I applaud Commissioner Hogan and the Office of Mental Health for their leadership in this effort."

State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said: "Positive mental, emotional and behavioral health are fundamental to a child's overall health and well-being. The multi-disciplinary, integrated approach outlined in this Children's Plan will help ensure that children get the range of services they need to grow up healthy."

Diana Jones Ritter, Commissioner of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, said, "This ground-breaking plan shows our continued commitment to promote collaborative approaches to meet the behavioral and developmental needs of New York's children. Children with both developmental and mental health needs represent a special challenge and this plan is an important step in addressing these needs."

Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities Chief Operating Officer Jane Lynch said, "The Commission applauds the leadership of Governor Paterson and endorses OMH Commissioner Hogan's goals and plans for ensuring both integration and coordination among and across the systems serving our state's children."

State Director of Probation and Correctional Alternatives Robert Maccarone said, "DPCA and local probation departments strongly support the goals of the Children's Plan. Nearly 50% of the youth determined to be at moderate or high-risk of recidivism (re-arrest) are assessed to be in need of mental health evaluation and/or treatment. Early intervention is essential and the recommendations made in this report will benefit New York's children and families".

Children and Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrion, Esq., said "The Children's Plan sets the course for a new way of delivering services and engaging with children and families that stresses prevention and early investments in what works."

Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo, Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, said, "On behalf of the 430,000 adolescents in New York who are dealing with chemical dependence, problem gambling or are at risk for problem gambling, it is our responsibility to partner with other systems of care to offer the best services possible to them and their families. OASAS is proud of this collaboration with our fellow agencies as we commit our efforts to strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery services for children."

A link to the plan is available on the OMH website at omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/engage/childrens_plan.pdf

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For more information:

OMH: Jill Daniels (518) 474-6540

SED: Tom Dunn (518) 474-1201

DOH: Claudia Hutton (518) 474-7354

OMRDD: Nicole Weinstein (518) 474-6601

CQCAPD: Gary Masline (518) 388-1270

DPCA: Linda Valenti (518) 485-2394

OCFS: Edward Borges (518) 473-7793

OASAS: Dianne Henk (518) 485-1768