Summary of the New York State Assembly Mental Health Standing Committee Mental Hygiene Task Force Established on November 13, 2003.

Section 5.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law lays out the statutory requirements for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive system of service delivery based on the development of local plans and the involvement of consumers, advocates and providers of services. The Governor has not complied with the requirements of this law since he began his tenure.

By ignoring the statutory planning requirements of the law, the Governor has created a planning vacuum. The Mental Health Committee, under the leadership of Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera, has taken steps to fill this vacuum be establishing a Mental Hygiene Task Force. The task force, composed of over fifty stakeholders, formed four committees to restructure the mental hygiene delivery system to creatively and efficiently respond to the needs of the mentally disabled so they can live productive lives in their own communities. The committees include:

1. Intergovernmental/Strategic Planning - To improve cooperation and coordination between the Offices within DMH in meeting the needs of the mentally disabled, with a particular focus on the multiply disabled; to strengthen the strategic planning process so that DMH resources can more effectively and efficiently address the needs of the mentally disabled; and, to enhance cooperation between State agencies that regulate or fund services for the mentally disabled to allow for greater flexibility in the utilization of public resources to meet the needs of the mentally disabled.
2. Continuum of Services - To create a system of service delivery that addresses all of the needs of the mentally disabled based on local needs and resources; to identify gaps in services, including, but not limited to, residential options and employment opportunities.
3. Underserved Populations - To identify underserved populations and to make recommendations regarding enhancing the ability of underserved mentally disabled individuals to become productive and live, with dignity, in their home communities.
4. Resources - To review and analyze funding mechanisms to more flexibly and efficiently meet the needs of the mentally disabled; to recommend reallocation of human resources, such as State workers impacted by the downsizing of State operated facilities, into community based programs; to recommend partnerships or other organizational constructs that would enable local providers of services to work collaboratively in meeting the needs of the mentally disabled more efficiently.

Additional information on the work of the Task Force can be obtained by contacting, Carl Letson, Guillermo Martinez, or Jeff Rosemblum at Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera's Albany office at 518/455-5102.