10-2013 Page_3

Oct_13_WF

CSEA warns state lawmakers Cuomo’s flawed plan hurts families, mental health services, communities ALBANY — CSEA warned state lawmakers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to run down state psychiatric services will put more sick people on the streets and stick local taxpayers with the bill. “Too many people suffering from mental illness can’t get the help they need now and the governor’s plan will make a bad situation worse,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “State legislators need to demand details and accountability for real mental health services, not just pay lip service to this issue. There are much better approaches including utilizing the experienced and capable state work force.” CSEA submitted testimony to the state Senate and Assembly Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities committees, which recently began hearings on the plan. CSEA representatives testified at legislative hearings on Long Island, Binghamton, Ogdensburg and Middletown. The plan will abandon human services, and leave the financial burden on families and local taxpayers as it further cripples struggling communities. Thousands of necessary jobs are at risk with a potential impact of tens of millions of dollars coming out of local economies. Criticism from within The Cuomo administration’s own Office of Mental Health stated in its most recent five-year plan that current “state psychiatric hospital capacity cannot be responsibly and rapidly reduced without managed investments in community care.” Yet the administration is disregarding that warning. There is also substantial evidence that the state underestimates the need for long-term care for seriously and persistently mentally ill people. Contrary to some advocates’ claims, there are many individuals who can’t just live in community settings with minimal assistance — they need longer-term care and supervision. By some estimates, more than half the From left, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local President Manny Manguel, Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte and Long Island Developmental Center and Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center Local President Pete Marriott are supported by CSEA activists from both locals as they prepare to testify at SUNY Farmingdale before state Senate and Assembly members from their respective committees on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Hearings were also held in Binghamton, Ogdensburg and Middletown. inmates in county jails and correctional facilities have some form of mental illness. Many of these individuals wouldn’t even be incarcerated if they could get the help and care they need in their community. Local taxpayers will continue to foot the bill and then some for the state’s failure to ensure appropriate services in what amounts to an unfunded mandate. County jails and state prisons are seeing increasing populations of mentally ill inmates who may otherwise be receiving proper care for their illness if it were available. New York has been reducing access to mental health services for the past 20 years by closing psychiatric centers, which provide the backbone of mental health services, including outpatient services, in many communities. See related stories, pages 10-11 October 2013 The Work Force 3


Oct_13_WF
To see the actual publication please follow the link above