CLMHD Officers Pictured from L-R: Suzanne Lavigne, Second Vice-Chair (Franklin); Lynda Battaglia, Secretary (Genesee); Laura Kelemen, Chair (Niagara); Richelle Gregory, Treasurer (Clinton); Michael Orth, First Vice-Chair (Westchester) | |
CLMHD Holds Fall 2025 Full Membership Meeting in Penn Yan
Directors of Community Services from across New York State gathered in Penn Yan (Yates County) for The Conference’s Fall 2025 Full Membership Meeting, focusing on the recent federal policy changes, impacts to local planning and the critical role they serve as county leaders. Over three days of interactive sessions and candid peer conversation, members shared strategies to strengthen local systems, and sustain statewide priorities in the wake of evolving changes in Washington. With the Conference’s 50th anniversary approaching in May 2026, members also spent time reflecting on the history of behavioral healthcare, how it has evolved, and the critical work still yet to do.
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Cannabis Taxes Fund First Wave of Grants to Community Groups in New York
Communities in New York that were swept up in the state’s decades-long fight against marijuana will see a benefit from the legal sale of cannabis after state officials approved $5 million in grants to nonprofits serving some of the hardest-hit areas. The Cannabis Advisory Board, a quasi-government panel responsible for distributing the grants, awarded them this week to 50 nonprofits offering mental health, job training and housing services to young people up to 24 years old. Each organization will receive $100,000, which comes from taxes on the sale of cannabis at licensed dispensaries as well as business licensing fees. Fifteen of the organizations are in New York City, including Community Connections for Youth in the Bronx, which mentors young people who have been arrested or suspended from school. Belinda Ramos, the executive director, said in an interview that the grant money would help pay for a leadership development program. The award validates grass roots efforts to repair the harm drug enforcement did to neighborhoods in the South Bronx, which had some of the highest rates of arrests for marijuana, she added. Read more here.
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Attorney General James Wins Court Order Protecting Youth Mental Health Services
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday released the following statement after a federal judge largely granted her motion for a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from unlawfully discontinuing federal funding for school-based mental health programs: “Every student deserves access to mental health care, no matter who they are or where they live. This order is a victory for our young people, and for every educator working to keep our schools safe and supportive. There is no reason to strip funding from critical programs that help students learn, heal, and thrive. I am relieved to see this funding restored. I will continue fighting to ensure our children’s health and well-being are protected.” Attorney General James and 15 other attorneys general sued the U.S. Dept. of Education in July to stop the administration from abruptly ending two bipartisan grant programs that fund mental health professionals in schools. Read more here.
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New York State Department of Health Announces Study Confirming Naloxone as a Cost-Effective Tool to Prevent Overdose Deaths
The New York State Department of Health on Tuesday announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study confirming that naloxone is both an evidence-based and cost-effective intervention for preventing overdose deaths. The study, published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice and coauthored by State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, Department researchers and a Brown University colleague, found that naloxone is highly effective at reversing overdoses while delivering significant public health benefits. This study is the first time a state health department has conducted a robust health economic evaluation on naloxone administration demonstrating its cost-effectiveness. The analysis found a return on investment of $3,219 for every $1 spent. Read more here.
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Over $9.6 Million in Opioid Settlement Funding Awarded to Expand Access to Care and Support
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) is awarding more than $9.6 million from the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund to support two initiatives designed to increase access to a range of addiction services across the state. The In-Community initiative builds on previous outreach and engagement work by the agency to link high-need individuals to services, while the non-medical transportation initiative provides transportation help to allow New Yorkers impacted by addiction to access a range of recovery supports. To date, New York has made more than $454 million available through the opioid settlement fund, which is the most of any state in the country. A detailed list of initiatives funded with this money is available on the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund tracker. Read more here.
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New York State Bar Association Recommends Expanding Treatment for Opioid Addiction
To combat opioid deaths, the New York State Bar Association is recommending expanding treatment and prevention, lowering the cost of drugs that treat addiction and increasing the appeal of jobs in the field. The House of Delegates on Saturday approved a report produced by the association’s Task Force on Opioid Addiction, which was appointed by NYSBA’s Immediate Past President Domenick Napoletano. The task force noted that dramatically more New Yorkers died from drug overdoses in recent years while treatment centers reduced their capacity significantly. It is a dangerous trend that the association recommends reversing for both inpatients and outpatients. The association is advocating for legislation that would expand access to drug treatment medications. If passed, Assembly bills 9882 and 9926 would allow advanced emergency medical technicians to administer the opioid drug buprenorphine in the field under the supervision of a physician. Read more here.
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Delivering on New York’s Mental Health Needs: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan
Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, commissioner of the state Office of Mental Health, is charged with carrying out Gov. Kathy Hochul’s agenda for transforming the state’s mental health system, along with expanding care to New Yorkers throughout the state. To date, $2 billion has been spent on the expansion of services, supports and capacity across New York. Sullivan has served as commissioner since 2014. On Oct. 22, she set aside an hour for a fireside chat at City & State’s Mother Cabrini Mental Health Summit with City & State Publisher Tom Allon – and compiled by Editor-in-Chief Ralph R. Ortega – to discuss her department’s progress on meeting the mental health needs of New Yorkers. Read more here.
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New York Non-Profit Details Federal Funding and HUD Rating Concerns for Housing, Services
CARES of NY, an organization that works with organizations and agencies in 37 counties in New York, says federal uncertainty is creating a crisis within the homeless service sector. The government shutdown and the federal spending plans have been a cause for concern, with organizations hoping another year of funding will be including in the final continuing resolution agreement. "It's about $3.3 billion that goes toward permanent Supportive Housing [nationally]," Denise Galloway, CPO of CARES of NY, Inc., says. "If the changes that HUD is noting within this notice go through, it would bring that down to $1.1 billion." They say the timeline of finding out what funding is available is key, as the organizations have expiring projects, and are planning projects for housing people as soon as February. They say people could lose their housing if an answer doesn't come soon enough. Read more here.
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New Studies Reveal Mental Health Blindspots of AI Chatbots
An estimated 20 to 50 percent of people now turn to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for emotional support or “therapy,” even though widely available general-purpose AI chatbots were not designed for clinical care. Two new studies highlight why using AI models for therapy can be dangerous. One recent study highlights weaknesses of AI chatbots compared to therapists in dealing with sensitive issues. Researchers compared how three large language model (LLM) chatbots communicate versus human therapists by collecting and analyzing responses from both groups to two fictional case scenarios describing people in emotional distress. Read more here.
Related: More than a million people every week show suicidal intent when chatting with ChatGPT, OpenAI estimates
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Strengthening Teams Through Coordinated Training and Consulting
November 3, 2 - 3 pm, National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment
Mind Over Media: Supporting Kids’ Mental Health & Behavior Online
November 4, 1 - 2 pm, The Child Mind Institute
Ethical Considerations in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment
November 5, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
From Awareness to Action: Igniting Ideas for Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Clinical Practice - Prevention & Risk Factors
November 5, 12 - 1 pm, CCSMH
Competency and Restoration Reimagined from Practice to Possibility: Competency Alternatives
November 5, 3 - 4 pm, NCSC
Virtual Town Hall: It Takes a Village - Supportive Communities for Young Adults
November 5, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAMI
Supporting Families, Supporting Recovery: Overcoming Stigma in LGBTQIA2S+ SUD Treatment
November 6, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
From Insight to Action: Affirming Clinical Strategies for LGBTQ+ Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders
November 7, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
Creating Brain-Friendly Environments: The Key to a Strong Workforce
November 13, 2 - 3:15 pm, Social Current
NAMI NYS 2025 Education Conference
November 14 - 16, NAMI NYS, IN-PERSON
2025 Health Equity Summit: Addressing Mental Health Inequities in Rural Communities
November 17-18, Marriott Albany, Albany, NY, OMH
Where Is All This AI Going for Behavioral Health Providers? A Look Into the (Not-so-distant) Future
November 18, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
De-escalation, Basic Tools for Social Workers
November 21, 10 - 11 am, NCATTC
From Awareness to Action: Igniting Ideas for Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Clinical Practice - Screening Tools & Assessment
December 3, 12 - 1 pm, CCSMH
Telehealth Regulatory Guidance for OMH Providers
December 4, 12 - 1 pm, MCTAC
Investigation Topics Series: Trauma Informed Approach
December 18, 11 am - 12 pm, NYS Justice Center
From Awareness to Action: Igniting Ideas for Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Clinical Practice
January 14, 2026, 12 - 1 pm, CCSMH
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CLMHD CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
CLMHD Executive Committee Meeting
November 5: 8 - 9 am
Quarterly LGU Billing Staff Call
November 5: 11 am - 12 pm
CLMHD Office Closed - Veterans Day
November 11
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
November 13: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
November 13: 3 - 4 pm
Children & Families Committee Meeting
November 18: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Membership Call
November 19: 9 - 10:30 am
Developmental Disabilities Committee Meeting
November 20: 1 - 2 pm
CLMHD Office Closed - Thanksgiving
November 27 - 28
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