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An Evolving Update on Behavioral Health in New York
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IN THIS EDITION
Phillip A. Saperia Receives the National Council Visionary Leadership Award of Excellence
"I am much honored to receive this prominent award," said Mr. Saperia. "These 21 years at the helm of The Coalition have afforded me many blessings. I have gotten to know, a sterling group of people who do indispensable work that makes our world better; and helps individuals and groups of people who are quite vulnerable. I am fortunate to have worked with a dedicated Board. I also have been privileged to work side by side with a talented, committed and productive staff—both current and alumni—who have given their all for this organization and its cause. How lucky I am to be identified with the good deeds of Coalition members and to have helped make possible the continuation and wellbeing of the community safety net."
Jason Lippman Returns to Coalition as Executive Vice President We are happy to welcome Jason Lippman back to the The Coalition as its Executive Vice President. Jason spent the last two years as the Director of Public Policy and Government Relations for Amida Care, a special needs health plan for New Yorkers living with HIV or experiencing homelessness. Prior to his time with Amida Care, Jason was the Director of Policy and Advocacy for The Coalition. Coalition's Annual Conference a Smashing Success On March 3, 2016, The Coalition held its annual conference, "Sustainability in Community Behavioral Health: Successfully Staying the Course in Choppy Waters" at Association of the Bar of the City of New York. The keynote speaker was Becky Vaughn, Vice President for Addictions, The National Council for Behavioral Health who spoke to a sold out crowd. The topic was "What does sustainability in behavioral health mean?" Ms. Vaughn has been working in the addictions field for over 30 years. She was a member of the founding board of The Georgia Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse (GAPTSA) in 1992 and became their first Executive Director in 1994. Beginning in 2008, she took over the helm of the State Associations for Addiction Services (SAAS) as their CEO after serving on its Board since 2000. Due to the merger of SAAS and the National Council for Behavioral Health, Ms. Vaughn is in a new role as VP for Addictions. Ms. Vaughn received her degrees from the University of GA and GA State University.
The Coalition assembled an impressive roster of speakers from the government and private sectors for the event, including:
One particularly outstanding panel on Assuring Quality Services included the participation of Gary Belkin, MD, PhD, MPH, the Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dr. Belkin was joined by, among others, Robert W. Myers, PhD, LMSW, the Senior Deputy Commissioner, and Director of Division of Adult Services, State Psychiatric Centers, and Managed Care for the New York State Office of Mental Health. Retirement Reception for Phillip Saperia – A Grand Affair
On March 15, 2016, a large crowd celebrated the career of Phillip A. Saperia in the Grand Hall of the Grand Hall of NYU's Kimmel Center. The president of The Coalition's Board of Directors, Tino Hernandez, MC'ed the event. Speakers included OMH Commissioner Ann Marie Sullivan, OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez, Donna Colonna, former Coalition Board President and CEO of SUS, Michael Polenberg, a former Coalition staffer, currently serving as Safe Horizon's Vice President of Government Affairs and Anita Appel of the Sachs Policy Group. OMH & OASAS Awarded Nearly $1 Million to Support Community Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Programs
The New York State Office of Mental Health and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services announced today that New York has been awarded a federal planning grant of $982,373 to strengthen its community-based mental health care and substance use disorder programs through the development of new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in pilot sites across the state.
This planning grant is part of $22.9 million awarded nationwide by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, and is administered in New York by the Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and the Department of Health.
New York State Awards $1.5 Billion to Fund 162 Projects Statewide Through the Capital Restructuring Financing Program and Essential Health Care Provider Support Program
In a press relase of March 4, 2016, Governor Cuomo announced $1.5 Billion to Fund 162 Projects Statewide to help health care providers, including behavioral health providers, statewide fund critical capital and infrastructure improvements, as well as integrate and further develop health systems. Long Island Mid-Hudson New York City New York State Budget Negotiations Down to the Wire
The deadline for a new NYS budget agreement is March 31, 2016. Many issues still remain open. Based on input from our board and members as well as the three-way negotiations between the Governor, Senate and Assembly, we are focusing on the three following issues: 2. The unlicensed practice exemption—will there be an extension, for how long, who will be at the table and have who will have the ultimate authority to determine scope of practice when the exemption expires? 3. APG rates—will there be an extension and for how long? U.S. Senate Passes the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
The Senate overwhelmingly approved the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 524), also known as CARA. CARA invests much needed funding in prevention, evidence-based treatment and recovery supports to help Americans struggling with addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers.
A new organization has joined The Coalition family since our last issue of Briefs. We are pleased to welcome the Lamb Financial Group as a new Premium Affiliate Member of The Coalition family. The Lamb Financial Group delivers customized insurance programs for nonprofits, for-profit human service firms and healthcare organizations. Welcome to The Coalition Family!
The Museum of Modern Art showcased the work of clients receiving services through The Bridge's Art Therapy Program. This year's exhibition marks the 11th year of The Bridge-MoMA partnership, which provides Bridge clients with arts education workshops and culminates in an annual exhibition at the Museum. More than 200 visitors attended the reception, which showcased more than 20 works by 11 Bridge client artists. At a press conference held on March 11, 2016, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray annouced which community-based organizations would be designated Connections to Care partners, which is part of the ThriveNYC initiative. Connections to Care, will bring mental health treatment into community-based organizations that are already providing other services to some of our most vulnerable city neighbors. The partners include:CAMBA, Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS) and Safe Horizon, who will provide behavioral health services to parents of young children living in shelters; Comunilife, Hudson Guild and Sheltering Arms/Safe Space, who will provide services in early childhood education settings; The Door/University Settlement, Brooklyn Community Services and CASES, in youth development organization settings; and Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens in immigrant serving organizations. Carmen Collado, Chief Networking and Relationship Officer of ICL and long time friend of The Coalition was appointed as Chair of the New York State Licensing Board for Social Work, administered by the State Education Department. Carmen was elected for a one-year term by the fourteen-member board, following her service as Vice-Chair of 2014-2015. Carmen Collado was first appointed to the New York State Board for Social Work in 2010, to advise and assist the Board of Regents and the State Education Department on matters of professional regulation. Congratulations, Carmen! Coalition members: Care for the Homeless, Community Healthcare Network, ICL and Institute for Family Health, all received SAMHSA Substance Abuse Service Expansion Awards. Kudos to all! Our office-mate, CBC (Coordinated Behavioral Healthcare) was mentioned in Crain's Health Pulse article about Coalition consultant, Arthur Webb's, report on the prevalence and severity of behavioral health conditions among general hospital inpatients in New York. On February 10, 2016, The Children's Aid Society announced the hiring of Courtenaye Jackson-Chase as General Counsel. Ms. Jackson-Chase will serve as a chief legal advisor to ensure that Children's Aid can best support the children and families it serves at 50 sites across New York City. She joins Children's Aid from the New York City Department of Education, where she served as General Counsel. New York Nonprofit Daily profiled the Children's Village's Dobbs Ferry-based limited secure placement site for juvenile offenders under the NYC Administration for Children's Services' Close to Home program.
Crain's Health Pulse, quoted statements made by Donna Colonna, President & CEO, SUS (Services for the Underserved), David Woodlock, CEO, ICL and Josh Rubin, a Principal at Health Management Associates (and former Coalition employee) at The Coalition's annual conference. See article above. Arthur Webb's interviews with two leaders in the field of human services, Donna Colonna, and William Guarinello, President & CEO of HeartShare on "Mergers, aquistions and absorbtions in the not-for-profit world of human services in New York City" was widely excerpeted in Crain's Health Pulse. Coalition member, Community Healthcare Network, provided the advice in the"Today's Tips" section of the February 11, 2016 and March 25, 2016 editions of Politico New York Healthcare. In a press release of February 26, 2015, the Annie E. Casey Foundation annouced that The Door would be a recipient of 10 national grants from its Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) initiative. The LEAP intiative aims to increase educational and employment opportunities for youth and young adults ages 14 to 25 who are in foster care or involved in the juvenile justice system, or who are homeless. Sharen Duke, CEO, ASCNYC (AIDS Service Center of New York City), was interviewed on NBC 4 New York about ASCNYC's work and its upcoming "Best In Drag" extravaganza. Crain's Health Pulse discussed the Jewish Board's recent acquisiton of a new cutting edge electronic recordkeeping services its February 18, 2016 edition. JBFCS's press release can be found here. In more Jewish Board news, on February 29, 2016, Crain's Health Pulse, ran a piece on JBFCS's integration of programs that had been formally run by FEGS. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center was mentioned in a New York Times article on the opening of a new transgender center in the Bronx. Crain's Health Pulse announced The Coalition's hiring of Jason Lippman as its new executive vice president. CBC Executive Director, Danika Mills, was quoted in Crain's Health Pulse article about patient messaging technology. Alan Mucatel, CEO of Leake & Watts, was interviewed by New York Nonprofit Daily for its "CEO Corner" video segment. Joanne Page, Fortune Society's CEO, forcefully responded to an article criticizing its selection of fomer Tyco CEO Dennis Koslowski as its Board Chair. The annoucement of The Coalition Board's hiring of Christy Parque as its in new CEO was picked up by New York Nonprofit Daily on February 11, 2016 and in Crain's Health Pulse on February 17, 2016. JCCA promoted Keturah Pierre to Senior Vice President for Community Services and appointed Jacqueline Sherman as its new Chief Legal/Administrative Officer. Ms. Pierre had been Vice President for Foster Home Services. She graduated from Lehman College, with honors, with a BSW, and Fordham University with an MSW. Ms. Sherman was previously Associate Commissioner for Planning, Policy and Performance at New York City's Administration for Children's Services and prior to that position served as General Counsel for Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. She graduated magna cum laude from both Harvard Law School and Amherst College. Project Renewal's paid internship and training program for former homeless shelter resident to provide care in shelter settings was highlighted in The Wall Street Journal on March 13, 2016. On March 29, 2016, New York Non-Profit Daily published an op-ed by Ronald E. Richter, CEO, JCCA, entited, "Bridging the Gap: Helping transform foster children's educational futures." David Rivel, Jewish Board's CEO, was quoted in Politico New York, in article on the Human Services Council report on the state of community based organizations that receive inadequate State funding for their programs. David Rivel was also interviewed by New York Nonprofit Daily for its "CEO Corner." Riverdale Mental Health Association (RMHA) has opened a new Crisis Respite Center located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. The center is a a unique, peer staffed, program offering respite services to residents of the 5 boroughs of New York City who are 18 years of age or older and experiencing psychiatric crisis, but would otherwise not need hospitalization. Guests will be able to stay a maximum of 7 days 7 nights. There are open beds! Amanda Saake, Senior Program Associate of The Coaliton's Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery has been invited by the Weil Medical College of Cornell University to attend Grand Rounds at at Payne Whitney Westchester. Amanda also provide a workshop at The Coalition on Psychosocial Rehabilitation Skills to NYC community providers on March 30, 2016. SAGE was mentioned in a New York Nonprofit Daily article about a new senior LGBTQ residence on March 18, 2016. On February 22, 2016, Jamin Sewell, The Coalition's Counsel & Managing Director for Policy and Advocacy, represented The Coalition at a press conference held by NYS Senator Jesse Hamilton annoucing the launch of the Mental Health First Aid bill that will require teachers to be instructed in "mental health first aid" to better spot students with problems and help them obtain treatment.
SPOP is holding a breakfast symposium, "Medicare and Behavioral Health: Unfinished Business and What it Means for NYC" on May 12, 2016 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM at SPOP's headquarters located at 302 West 91st Street, New York, NY 10024. A registration link can be found here. The key note speaker will be Dr. Bruce Vladeck , a nationally recognized expert in health care policy and geriatrics. SUS will receive a 3-year $1.2 million H.E.R.O.E.S. (Housing, Employment, Resilience, Opportunities, Economic Stability) grant from SAMHSA. The funding will be used to provide housing to 150 homeless individuals including chronically-homeless veterans. The grant will also help chronically-homeless non-veterans who have a history of substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The program will assist 105 veterans and 45 non-veterans into secure housing in NYC. Congratulations! TSINY will hold an open house on April 16th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. TSINY is located at 242-01 Braddock Avenue, Bellerose, New York 11426. Please RSVP to Terry LoPiano at 718-746-6647 or Email [email protected]. John Valverde, Executive Vice President for Program Operations of the Osborne Association, participated in a discussion at WNYC's Greene Space entitled, "Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline." Video and a transcript of the discussion can be found here. Coalition Members advertise staff positions for free on The Coalition’s Job Board! Here's a sample: 
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