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Governor Hochul Announces $9.6 Million to Provide Mental Health Support for Rural Areas of New York State
Governor Kathy Hochul last week announced $9.6 million in state funding is available to provide additional mental health assistance services for rural areas of the state, including a program dedicated to helping farmers, agribusiness workers and their families. The State Office of Mental Health is providing $7.6 million to establish four new Critical Time Intervention teams to support individuals living with mental illness in rural areas of the state during periods of transition and $2 million for the Farmers Supporting Farmers program to help those working in agriculture to navigate the stress often associated with the industry. OMH is providing $7.6 million over five years to establish two new Critical Time Intervention teams to serve counties in Western New York, and two others to serve counties in the North Country. Read more here.
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Safer Streets: Governor Hochul Announces New Law Strengthening State's Red Flag Law Now in Effect
Governor Kathy Hochul last week announced that a new law (S.3340/A.5873) designed to enhance safeguards afforded by the State’s Red Flag Law is now effective. Beginning today, courts across New York State must notify the statewide registry of orders of protection and warrants when judges issue a temporary and/or final extreme risk order of protection. This notification codifies what courts were doing in practice and aims to ensure that these orders don’t fall through the cracks. Courts statewide have ordered nearly 14,000 temporary and permanent Extreme Risk Protection Orders through February 3, 2025 — more than 12 times the number of orders issued before Governor Hochul took decisive action to strengthen State law following the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo on May 14, 2022. Governor Hochul previously signed the legislation on October 9, 2024 as part of a package of bills aimed at reducing gun violence and strengthening New York’s nation leading gun laws. Read more here.
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Medicaid and CHIP Analysis: Funding Pathways for Programs Supporting Families Affected by OUD/SUD
An analysis from Manatt Health highlights ways states can leverage existing authorities under Medicaid and CHIP to sustain innovative prevention programs that support and treat children and families impacted by opioid and other substance use disorders. To help readers navigate an array of coverage pathways, the authors looked at how seven FORE grantees could leverage state plans, waivers, and other authorities to cover evidence-based prevention, treatment, and case management services, as well as provider training. In detailing the mechanisms for financing these prevention services for low-income children and families, the report provides a roadmap of steps programs and providers can follow to secure reimbursement. Read the report here.
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Empowering Transitions from Jail to Community Health: The Point of Reentry and Transition Program
Each year, over nine million people return home from local jails, and 600,000 leave state and federal prisons. Many have chronic medical or behavioral health conditions, yet care coordination between correctional facilities and community providers is often lacking. Without proper reentry planning, they face high rates of ER visits, hospitalizations, substance use, reincarceration, and elevated risks of death from cardiovascular disease, overdose, homicide, and suicide. The Point of Reentry and Transition (PORT) program connects adults discharged from NYC’s Rikers Island to comprehensive, trauma-informed, patient-centered care. This voluntary program provides primary care and social services through a multidisciplinary team, including community health workers with lived experience in the criminal legal system. This profile highlights the PORT program’s efforts to address reentry barriers and is part of the Better Care Playbook series, In the Field: Spotlight on Complex Care Interventions, showcasing evidence-based innovations for people with complex health and social needs. Read more here.
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Only 7 Out of 100 People Receive Effective Treatment for Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders, Large Study Finds
New research published in JAMA Psychiatry estimates that globally, only 6.9% of people with mental health or substance-use disorders receive effective treatment for their disorders. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School analyzed survey data from nearly 57,000 participants in 21 countries collected over a 19-year period, to provide the clearest picture yet of where people discontinue their path to effective treatment for nine common anxiety, mood and substance-use disorders. The biggest barrier to effective treatment is a person not recognizing that they need it, the study showed. However, even patients who contact the health care system often do not receive effective treatment. Read more here.
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The Importance of a Proactive Approach to Mental Well-Being in First Responders
In the high-pressure world of emergency medical services (EMS), many clinicians hesitate to share their struggles, prioritizing their duties over personal well-being. As a result, mental health challenges are often overshadowed and left unaddressed, leading to potential long-term consequences. EMS clinicians routinely face life-threatening, emotionally stressful situations. Over time, these cumulative stressors can lead to mental health issues like burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, or even suicide. To address these concerns, it is vital to adopt a proactive, scientifically validated and anonymous approach to mental wellness. This approach helps identify early signs of mental distress while ensuring confidentiality. EMS personnel can access mental health resources, peer support, insurance benefits and professional care, creating a safety net to prevent critical incidents and support their mental health needs. Read more here.
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New Prevention Resource: Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management in Practice
The Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) is introducing Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management in Practice, an evidence-based prevention resource to enhance terrorism and targeted violence prevention efforts. This versatile resource, translated into 14 languages, is designed for implementation in schools, workplaces, and communities, empowering teams to create safer environments and prevent violence before it escalates.
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Hospitals May Miss Opportunities to Identify More People With Suicide Risk
Suicide claimed more than 49,000 lives in the United States in 2022, the highest number ever recorded. Research shows that health care providers can play a key role in preventing suicide, given that almost half of those who die by suicide visit a health setting in the month before their death. However, a recent study shows that more than a third of U.S. hospitals are missing opportunities to identify more people experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors and connect them to care. The Joint Commission, an independent national organization that accredits 70% of hospitals in the U.S., requires its nearly 3,800 facilities to screen and assess patients ages 12 and older for suicide risk only if they are seeking care for behavioral health conditions. Pew, in partnership with the Joint Commission, conducted a nationally representative study of accredited non-psychiatric hospitals to quantify, for the first time, how many facilities exceed these standards and screen all patients—regardless of the reason for their visit—for suicide risk. Read more here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Supporting African Americans in Treatment and Recovery: Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (MAUD)
February 13, 3 - 4 pm, PCSS
De-escalation, Basic Tools for Social Workers
February 18, 10 am - 1 pm, NCATTC
Behavioral Health Workforce 2025: Critical Insights and Emerging Challenges
February 18, 1 - 2 pm, The College for Behavioral Health Leadership
Providing Quality Treatment Programming: What It Means to Ensure Fidelity to the Treatment Model
February 18, 2 - 3:30 pm, SAMSA's GAINS Center
Wellness and Resilience in Rural Communities: An Overview of Rural Minds
February 19, 12 - 1 pm, OMH/SPCNY
Improving Health Care Outcomes for Individuals with Profound Autism
February 20, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Navigating Social Justice for Behavioral Health
February 20, 12 - 1 pm, NYSPHA
Overcoming Workforce Challenges in Behavioral Health Care
February 26, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Justice Center Code of Conduct Train-the-Trainer Session
February 26, 1 - 4 pm, Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Conducting Cultural Assessments: Engaging and Providing Treatment for Justice-Involved Individuals from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Communities
February 26, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
Forging Partnerships Between Schools and the Crisis-Coordinated System of Care
February 27, 2 - 3 pm, SAMHSA
Creating Well-Being: An Introduction to Mental Health and Wellness Initiatives shared by Schools & Mental Health Organizations in New York State
February 27, 3:30 - 4:15 pm, School Mental Health Resource Training Center
Supporting the Uptake of Behavioral Health Apps and Technology
March 6, 2 - 3 pm, College for Behavioral Health Leadership
Youth and the Legalization of Marijuana
March 12, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
Mental Health Care in Crisis: What Clinicians and Leaders Need to Know
March 13, 12 - 1:45 pm, NEJM Group
Equity as a Foundation for Leadership
March 13, 3 - 4 pm, College for Behavioral Health Leadership
Comics for the Brain, the Mind, and Everything Else
March 20, 12 - 1 pm, NYSPHA
Justice Center Code of Conduct Train-the-Trainer Session
March 26, 1 - 4 pm, Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) of Peer Support in Criminal Justice
March 26, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAADAC
New York State Behavioral Health Tobacco Summit
April 2, 9 - 4:30 pm, NYSOMH/NAMI-NYS
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CLMHD CALENDAR
FEBRUARY
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
February 13: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
February 13: 3 - 4 pm
CLMHD Office Closed - Presidents' Day
February 17
Children & Families Committee Meeting
February 18: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Membership Call
February 19: 9 - 10:30 am
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
February 20: 1 - 2 pm
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