Laura
05-17-2010, 04:34 PM
Call Albany Today to Urge Extension not Permanence for Kendra's Law
Join Top NYS Mental Health Advocates In Supporting Extension Not Permanence for Kendra’s Law
Call Legislative Leaders TODAY and Urge Them to Pass A.10790 (Ortiz)/S.7254 (Morahan)
A coalition of leading NYS mental health organizations (see below) all agree that a 5 yr extension of Kendra’s Law, as recommended by the NYS Office of Health & introduced by the both Legislative Mental Health Committee Chairmen, is the most appropriate course to address numerous questions left unanswered by a legislative mandated study.
Now It’s Your Turn to Make Your Voice Heard:
Call the Following Leaders This Monday!
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver 518-455-3791
Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Felix Ortiz 518-455-3821
Senate Leader John Sampson 518-455-2788
Senate Mental Health Committee Chair Thomas Morahan 518-455-3261
And leave the following message:
“I’m a registered voter calling from (your locality) to strongly support passage of A.10790 (Ortiz)/S.7254 (Morahan) extending Kendra’s Law (to ensure enhanced voluntary mental health outreach and engagement services are afforded to all New Yorkers with psychiatric disabilities).”
------------
BACKGROUND
In 2005, the Legislature extended Kendra’s Law, ordering an independent study to examine program disparities.
As Expected, the Study Found People Do Better When They Get Greater Access to Care…
But It Failed to Answer the Questions Posed by the Legislature
Do We Need A Court Order to Improve Access to Care? : 82% (8,275) of the orders emanate from NYC & LI with almost 7,000 voluntary service packages offered in the rest of the state. Yet the study failed to compare voluntary and court ordered care.
Do We Use/Need More Court Orders for People of Color? 64% of involuntary orders were levied at African American and Hispanic NYers with mental illnesses. This striking imbalance continues to turn up even in areas of the state where those groups are vastly outnumbered.
“Culturally-centered innovative strategies for outreach and engagement must be first used when addressing the needs of Hispanics and other underserved communities.” Dr. Rosa Gil, Founder, President & CEO of Comunilife, Inc
Groups Backing Kendra’s Law Extender A.10790 (Ortiz), S.7254 (Morahan)
Assoc for Community Living • Center for Disability Rights • Coalition for the Homeless • Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies • Communilife• Community Access• Families Together of NYS •Geriatric Mental Health Alliance • Greater NY Hosp Association •Mental Health Assoc of NYC • Mental Health Assoc in NYS • Nat'l Assoc of Social Workers– NYS • NY Assoc of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services • NY Assoc on Independent Living• NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors • NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare NYS Psychiatric Assoc • NYS Rehabilitation Assoc • Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy •Supportive Housing Network of NY• UJA-Federation of NY• Venture House
Give the Office of Mental Health 5 More Yrs to Address These Disparities!
Please Pass A.10790 (Ortiz), S.7254 (Morahan)
Join Top NYS Mental Health Advocates In Supporting Extension Not Permanence for Kendra’s Law
Call Legislative Leaders TODAY and Urge Them to Pass A.10790 (Ortiz)/S.7254 (Morahan)
A coalition of leading NYS mental health organizations (see below) all agree that a 5 yr extension of Kendra’s Law, as recommended by the NYS Office of Health & introduced by the both Legislative Mental Health Committee Chairmen, is the most appropriate course to address numerous questions left unanswered by a legislative mandated study.
Now It’s Your Turn to Make Your Voice Heard:
Call the Following Leaders This Monday!
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver 518-455-3791
Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Felix Ortiz 518-455-3821
Senate Leader John Sampson 518-455-2788
Senate Mental Health Committee Chair Thomas Morahan 518-455-3261
And leave the following message:
“I’m a registered voter calling from (your locality) to strongly support passage of A.10790 (Ortiz)/S.7254 (Morahan) extending Kendra’s Law (to ensure enhanced voluntary mental health outreach and engagement services are afforded to all New Yorkers with psychiatric disabilities).”
------------
BACKGROUND
In 2005, the Legislature extended Kendra’s Law, ordering an independent study to examine program disparities.
As Expected, the Study Found People Do Better When They Get Greater Access to Care…
But It Failed to Answer the Questions Posed by the Legislature
Do We Need A Court Order to Improve Access to Care? : 82% (8,275) of the orders emanate from NYC & LI with almost 7,000 voluntary service packages offered in the rest of the state. Yet the study failed to compare voluntary and court ordered care.
Do We Use/Need More Court Orders for People of Color? 64% of involuntary orders were levied at African American and Hispanic NYers with mental illnesses. This striking imbalance continues to turn up even in areas of the state where those groups are vastly outnumbered.
“Culturally-centered innovative strategies for outreach and engagement must be first used when addressing the needs of Hispanics and other underserved communities.” Dr. Rosa Gil, Founder, President & CEO of Comunilife, Inc
Groups Backing Kendra’s Law Extender A.10790 (Ortiz), S.7254 (Morahan)
Assoc for Community Living • Center for Disability Rights • Coalition for the Homeless • Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies • Communilife• Community Access• Families Together of NYS •Geriatric Mental Health Alliance • Greater NY Hosp Association •Mental Health Assoc of NYC • Mental Health Assoc in NYS • Nat'l Assoc of Social Workers– NYS • NY Assoc of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services • NY Assoc on Independent Living• NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors • NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare NYS Psychiatric Assoc • NYS Rehabilitation Assoc • Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy •Supportive Housing Network of NY• UJA-Federation of NY• Venture House
Give the Office of Mental Health 5 More Yrs to Address These Disparities!
Please Pass A.10790 (Ortiz), S.7254 (Morahan)