December 30, 2014
March 20, 2015 Coalition Conference
Our January Conference has been rescheduled for Friday, March 20, 2015
Registration »
Coalition Parachute Wiki
Resources for behavioral health providers on the value of integrating peer staff to improve care and outcomes.
Visit our Parachute Wiki »
HIPAA Omnibus Policy, Procedure & BAA Template Kit
The Coalition is pleased to announce the availability of a set of 38 HIPAA Policy Templates for HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules and an updated Business Associate Agreement all of which conform to the HIPAA Omnibus Update released January 25, 2013 and the technical correction published June 7, 2013.
More information and Ordering »
Professional Learning Center Store
HIPAA Business Associate Agreement Templates, now available. HITECH and Breach Notification changes apply to BAAs.
Be compliant, purchase now!! »
Coalition Video on YouTube
Empowering Lives Through Community Behavioral Health - Five stories narrated by Mike Wallace in two parts.
Watch the videos »
Mayor de Blasio Pledges $130 Million to Reform NYC
Jails
In June of 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio convened a Task Force on Behavioral
Health and the Criminal Justice System. Over 400 leaders in government and
community leaders in public health and public safety were convened to develop a
comprehensive strategy to ensure that, when appropriate, people are diverted
from the criminal justice system and that justice-involved individuals with
behavioral health needs are connected to care and services at every point in the
criminal justice process.
The Coalition played a major role in crafting the Task Force’s Action Plan, was represented on the Task Force’s Executive Committee and in every
Working Group. The Coalition’s Phillip A. Saperia served on the Release and
Reentry Working Group and Jamin R. Sewell, served on the Back in the
Neighborhood Working Group. A complete list of Coalition participants can be
found here.
The Task Force on Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System
rigorously mapped the gaps in our current systems and developed targeted solutions that look not only at individual points in the
system, but at how the system as whole operates
This $130 million, four-year investment is a key component of the City’s
commitment to reduce unnecessary arrests and incarceration, direct criminal
justice resources to where they will have the greatest public safety impact and
make our City's criminal justice system fairer. Additionally, by giving police
officers additional training and options for addressing behavioral health needs,
the Action Plan will also contribute to to the de-escalation of police
encounters and improve the relationship between law enforcement and local
communities.
The Coalition is extremely proud of the vital role its members played in the
Task Force and we look forward to seeing the implementation of the Action Plan
which we believe will have a profoundly positive impact on our city.
Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation
to Mandate Discharge Planning Including Post-Incarceration Appointments and
Medication. Also Expands Authority to Initiate Involuntary
Commitment
On December 29, 2014, New York State enacted sweeping legislation regarding the post-incarceration treatment of individuals living with mental
illness. The law mandates that every inmate who has received mental health
treatment within 3 years of his/her anticipated release date from a State
Correctional Facility shall be provided with discharge planning, and, when
necessary, an appointment with a mental health professional in the community who
can prescribe medications following discharge.
It also requires that sufficient mental health medications and prescriptions
be provided to bridge the period between discharge and such time as such mental
health professional may assume care of the patient. According to the
legislation, inmates who have refused mental health treatment may also be
provided mental health discharge planning and any necessary appointment with a
mental health professional.
More controversial, the legislation will expand the authority to initiate
involuntary commitment to post-incarceration treatment for individuals with
mental illness to include “community supervision responsible for community
supervision” (i.e., Department of Probation, LGU) in the region where the person
with mental illness has been released to any form of supervision following
incarceration. The authority to initiate involuntary post-incarceration
commitment previously had rested solely with the Superintendent of the
correctional facility where the individual was held.
Clearly, the discharge planning mandates related to treatment are a positive
step, however, many folks in the behavioral health sector will not be pleased
with new authorities being given leeway to initiate involuntary commitment
proceedings.
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