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State Partners Participate in CLMHD Spring Meeting Panel Discussion on Future of Local Planning
On May 11-12, the Conference held its annual spring full membership meeting in Saratoga Springs, convening members from across the state to share challenges, successes, and best practices. On May 12, we were happy to welcome leadership from the NYS Office of Mental Health, NYS Office of Addiction Services And Supports, and NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities to participate in a panel discussion around the future of local planning.
Moderated by Lynda Battaglia, LCSW-R, DCS for Genesee County and Co-Chair for the CLMHD Mental Hygiene Planning Committee, the session involved solutions-focused dialogue around the current state of local planning, and what might be envisioned for the future. This year's state budget offers tremendous opportunities to address critical need areas within our service sector. Challenges, such as lack of transportation in rural areas, as well as lack of healthcare workforce statewide, underscored the crucial role of local planning in addressing the needs of individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities. The DCSs and the Conference are committed to continue to work with our state partners for opportunities for effective collaboration, innovative solutions, and improved support systems.
Pictured from L-R: Allison McCarthy, Director, Office of Strategic Initiatives, OPWDD; Jessica Pidgeon, PhD, Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Initiatives, OPWDD; Chinazo Cunningham, MD, Commissioner, OASAS; Ann Marie T. Sullivan, MD, Commissioner, OMH; Lynda Battaglia, LCSW-R, DCS, Genesee County
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Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Help Schools Deliver Critical Health Care Services to Millions of Students
Today, on the Mental Health Awareness Day of Action, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking bold action to make it easier for schools to provide critical health care services, especially mental health services, for millions of students across the nation. These three significant actions support President Biden’s comprehensive national mental health strategy and deliver on his commitment to tackle the nation’s mental health crisis as part of his Unity Agenda. Through a series of new announcements from the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration is continuing to take a whole-of-government approach to meet families where they are and ensure that children have access to the health care they need – especially mental health services. Read more here.
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Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen Health Care Workforce
Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday signed legislation (A3076-A/S447-C) into law, strengthening New York’s health care workforce by permitting nursing students to complete up to one third of their clinical training through simulation experiences. Overseen by the New York State Education Department, simulation training gives students hands-on experience in clinical environments while allowing nursing education programs to offer more options for clinical education. As New York currently faces a nursing shortage, expanding simulation experiences can help expedite training and deliver an influx of nurses where they are needed most. Read more here.
Related: How many healthcare facilities are missing workers in your state?
Severe shortage of mental health clinicians prompts [California] County to try bold approach
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U.S. Recorded Nearly 110,000 Overdose Deaths in 2022
Nearly 110,000 people died last year of drug overdoses in the United States, according to preliminary federal data published on Wednesday, a staggering figure that nonetheless represented a plateau after two years of sharp increases. The preliminary count of 109,680 overdose deaths was only slightly higher than the figure for 2021, when 109,179 people were estimated to have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overdose deaths had climbed significantly that year and the prior year, increasing by roughly 17 percent in 2021 and 30 percent in 2020. Read more here.
Related: Governor Hochul Announces New Funding to Support Addiction Prevention Services
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This Year’s Budget Creates Independent Advocacy Assistance Program for People with I/DD
Medicaid Matters New York, the statewide coalition representing the interests of people across New York State served by Medicaid, thanks Governor Hochul for including $2 million in the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) budget to create the independent intellectual and developmental disability ombudsman program. The coalition also thanks Senator John Mannion for his leadership to advance legislation to create the program in the Mental Hygiene Law. Read more here.
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OMH Announces Major Milestone for Mobile Access Program
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced a major milestone for the agency’s emergency Mobile Access Program (MAP) which recently conducted its 1,000th counseling session for individuals in emotional distress. MAP is a statewide, police-based, rapid-access telehealth program that connects people in crisis to mental-health clinicians for assessment, safety planning, and connection to services and resources. At the request of police, clinicians conduct remote face-to-face evaluations using an internet-enabled tablet. Read more here.
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Spring 2023 Issue of OMH News Released
Click here to read the publication.
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Addiction Treatment Medicine Is Vastly Underprescribed, Especially by Race, Study Finds
Despite the continuing rise in opioid overdose deaths, one of the most effective treatments for opioid addiction is still drastically underprescribed in the United States, especially for Black patients, according to a large new study. From 2016 through 2019, scarcely more than 20 percent of patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder filled prescriptions for buprenorphine, the medication considered the gold standard in opioid addiction treatment, despite repeated visits to health care providers, according to the study, which was published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Within six months following a high-risk event like an overdose, white patients filled buprenorphine prescriptions up to 80 percent more often than Black patients, and up to 25 percent more often than Latino patients, the study found. Rates of use for methadone, another effective treatment, were generally even lower. Read more here.
Related: Partnering with Faith Leaders to Address Opioid Crisis in Black Communities
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Building a Statewide Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Continuum
In 2021, one of five teens reported they had seriously considered suicide in the previous year. Federal efforts to address this crisis are underway. In July 2022, the United States rolled out 988, a suicide and emotional support hotline that people can call or text 24/7. In November 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released
national guidelines for providing behavioral health care for children and youth in crisis. Many states are exploring innovative practices and finding ways to provide the three “core youth crisis services” outlined in the SAMHSA national guidelines: someone to talk to, someone to respond, and a safe place to be. Read more here.
Related: Teen mental health emergency visits decline in U.S. as pandemic eases, CDC says
Shootings, Lockdowns, Anxiety: Kids Are Not Alright – But They’re Working On It
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Funding Opportunity: Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of funds to develop multi-sector action plans that address the social determinants of health (SDOH) by accelerating action in state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions, and communities that lead to improved chronic health conditions among Americans experiencing health disparities and inequality. The award ceiling for this NOFO is $125,000 - 15 awards will be allocated.
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Opportunities to Learn More About Serving Justice-Involved Individuals Through 1115 Demonstration Evaluations
A new issue brief identifies the unique opportunities states should consider when designing evaluation plans specific to their justice-involved populations, provides an overview of justice-involved 1115 demonstration initiatives, and summarizes what is known from existing evaluations of these activities. The brief also identifies a set of opportunities to design robust and equity-focused 1115 demonstration evaluation plans specific to justice-involved populations. Given the complex dynamics, unique obstacles, and varied experiences justice-involved individuals face, a new, more equity-focused evaluation approach is needed.
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National Association Of Counties Releases Data On Mental Health Crisis
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing released new research this week highlighting county perspectives on addressing the mental health crisis.
In addition to the report, county leaders joined the White House State and Local Partners Forum on Mental Health and Wellbeing and met on Capitol Hill with the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus and the Bipartisan Addiction Task Force. The survey draws data from a representative sample of 232 U.S. counties of varying population sizes from every region of the country. Based on that data, the report presents five key takeaways. Read more here.
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Policy Brief: Factors Associated with Lengths-of-Stay for Inpatients with Substance Use Disorders
This policy brief identifies factors associated with inpatient length-of-stay (LOS) for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs), and whether there are systematic differences in LOS for rural and urban residents. Inpatient LOS is an important factor in determining the costs associated with treatment of SUDs, a topic addressed in a companion brief by Rural Health Equity Research Center staff.
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New Report: Pandemic Era Telehealth Innovations
In their bold response to challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, providers fostered innovations that have reshaped mental health and substance use treatment service delivery, especially through increased use of telehealth services (tele-behavioral health). How were providers able to pivot? What services were effective? How can we ensure these pandemic-era changes have lasting positive impact for organizations and clients? In fall 2022, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing convened a panel of clinical and nonclinical experts spanning the mental health and substance use treatment field to compile best practices and lessons learned for tele-behavioral health. By convening the panel, conducting a literature review and surveying provider organizations, they developed a new report outlining innovations, tools and recommendations to scale effective practices.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Supporting Individuals Living With A Mental Health Condition Through 988 & Mental Health Education
May 18, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Maternal Mental Health
May 18, 6 - 8 pm, NAMI-NYS
2023 Let's Talk About Health: Caring for Seniors in Rural New York - Virtual Conference
May 19, 8:30 am - 3:45 pm, University of Rochester Medical Center
Utilizing Peers in Tobacco Cessation Recovery: A Discussion
May 22, 3 - 4 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Culturally Responsive Approaches for Integrated Care within Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities
May 23, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Rural Mental Health Matters: Challenges, Opportunities & Resources for Communities
May 23, 2 - 3 pm, USDA/NABHD
Faces Of Depression In Primary Care: Depression Symptomology & Functional Outcomes From Early To Late Adulthood
May 24, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
Opportunities for Primary Care and Medicaid to Help Prevent Child Welfare System Involvement
May 24, 12 - 1 pm, Center for Health Care Strategies
A Fire Within: Working With the Rage of Trauma and Oppression
May 24, 3 - 5 pm, NAADAC
Co-occurring Diagnosis: Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health
May 24, 6 - 8 pm, NAMI-NYS
Peer Recovery Support Series, Part 4: Peer Supervision - Leadership and Lived Experience
May 25, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
Quality Outcomes and Behavioral Health Treatment: Improving Adoption of Measurement-informed Care
May 30, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Harm Reduction Strategies in Treatment Court: What Fits and What Doesn’t
May 30, 2:30 - 4 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center
CCBHCs and Crisis Response Services for Children, Youth and Families
May 30, 2:30 - 4 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Leveraging Data to Transform & Retain the Integrated Care Workforce
May 31, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
May 31, 3 - 4 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
2023 Cannabis Legalization, Trends and Treatment
June 1, 3 - 4 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Best Practices for Supporting and Affirming LGBTQI+ Youth: Updates from SAMHSA and the Field
June 8, 1 - 2:30 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Problem Gambling among Service Members and Veterans: Education, Awareness, and Outreach
June 9, 1 - 2:30 pm, SAMHSA
Healthy People, Health States: Promising Practices to Address Health Disparities
June 12, 3:30 - 4:45 pm, NASHP
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CLMHD CALENDAR
MAY
Deputy DCS Call
May 23: 10 - 11 am
CLMHD Office Closed - Memorial Day
May 29
JUNE
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
June 1: 1 - 2:30 pm
AOT Coordinators Meeting
June 2: 10 - 11:30 am
Mentoring Session - MHL
June 6: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Executive Committee Meeting
June 7: 8 - 9 am
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
June 8: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
June 8: 3 - 4 pm
LGU Clinic Operators Call
June 13: 10 - 11:30 am
Mental Hygiene Planning Committee Meeting
June 15: 1 - 3 pm
CLMHD Office Closed - Juneteenth
June 19
Children & Families Committee Meeting
June 20: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Membership Call
June 21: 9 - 10:30 am
Deputy DCS Call
June 27: 10 - 11 am
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