 |
October is
Bullying Prevention Month
Learn MoreWatch this VIDEO11-year-old Caine Smith was choked, beaten, harassed, and was called a long list of names simply because he had two moms and long hair. Instead of staying locked away and hiding, he stood up and did something about it.
|
|
 |
|
|
WEBINARS & Resources:
The ADHD Topic Resource Center
In-Person Presentation:"Police Suicide: The Enemy Within"Co-Sponsored by: US Attorney's Office; Western New York District, Niagara County Sheriff's Office, Catch a Falling Star Law Enforcement Assistance Program, Niagara UniversityOct 25th 8-4 Lewiston, NY Click here to request a registraion form. Must register by Oct 18th Webinar: The Interface of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
In-Person Presentation:
Capital Region Leadership Summit on School-Justice Partnerships: Keeping Kids In School and Out of Court: Nov 6th 8:30-4:30
Latham, NY
Registration info TBD In Person Event Annual PROS Implementation Academy - more information here. November 21-22 Albany, NY
|
|
 OCTOBER:
Developmental Disabilities Committee Call
October 22
10:30 - Noon
Go to Meeting TBD
NOVEMBER:
Officers and Chairs
November 6th
Mental Hygiene Planning
Children & Families Committee call w/Donna Bradbury Presenting on kids MRT & HH's
- open to ALL DCS.
November 18th 10:30 - 12:00
CLMHD Committee Day
November 19th
10:00 - 4:00
Officers and Chairs
December 11th
8:00 AM (call in)
Mental Hygiene Planning
December 12th 11:00-2:00 Go To Meeting TBD
Director's Meetings
December 17th 10:30 - Noon Executive Committee Meeting
12:30 - 2:00 41 State Street Suite 505 Albany, NY 12207
|
|
|
|
 October 10, 2013
|
|
|
Profile on: Mark O"Brien, LCSW-R, Director of Orleans County Mental Health & Community Services
Having worked in just about every aspect of the mental health field Mark has seen it all, inpatient, outpatient, crisis residence, child and adult residential, community and private practice, counselor, supervisor, CEO, the list goes on.
Born and raised in Buffalo with a BA and MSW from SUNY Buffalo, Mark is from a family of physicians. He chose to pursue a career in social services he enthuses "Becuase I wanted to work for a living." He's a funny guy. The former CEO of a residential treatment program for youth and Director of Inpatient Psychiatric Social Work for a 108 bed facility, Mark was the county's Clinic Coordinator for three years before taking on the roll of DCS in April. "That job gave me the hardcore nuts and bolts of the regulations surrounding clinic operations to prepare me for this position." So did his role of President of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Agency Executive Association and his private practice specializing in adult survivors of sexual abuse as well and individual, family and marital therapy.
Mark is an avid cyclist, has a Black belt in Tae Kwon Do (and is a former instructor) and is celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary this year! He and his wife are expecting their second grandchild. He has two daughters (yes, one is a doctor) and a son, two dogs and five cats.
So what's the best part of the job? "That's a toss up; the ability to make a difference, the great pay or the Italian Villa that comes as a perk." I told you he was funny. Welcome Mark! |
|
 State Police issue 'field guide' for N.Y.'s gun law
|
|
Excellus Dropping Out of Medicaid Managed Care and Family Health Plus (but not Child Health Plus) in all 25 counties it serves
 Nearly 80,000 people in Monroe County would be affected if Excellus BlueCross BlueShield stops participating in Medicaid managed care and Family Health Plus health insurance programs. The individuals still would be covered, but with a different insurer.
Excellus last month told the state Department of Health it intends to drop out of the program in 25 counties starting Jan. 1 and continuing through the first quarter of 2014, spokesman Jim Redmond confirmed.
Excellus would end its programs Feb. 1, in Livingston, Ontario and Wayne counties, affecting close to 24,000 people. It would stop March 1 in Monroe, Orleans and Yates counties, affecting about 85,000.
In all, nearly 219,000 people would be affected from the North Country to the Southern Tier.
Read more.
|
|
New Report Card on Prescription Drug Abuse Policies
Overdose deaths related to prescription drugs now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined, signaling a rapid rise in prescription drug abuse since 1999. A new report by Trust for America's Health, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, highlights and scores states on 10 strategies states can use to address this epidemic. Read more.
Video: Teen's TED talk on depression goes viral
Kevin Breel is an unlikely advocate for mental health. After entertaining thoughts of suicide, the comedian decided to talk to about his depression. His TED talk, which he did at 19 years old, has gone viral, and he says it resonates with people because it is so common. TODAY's Willie Geist reports.
Today Interview
Ted Talk
|
|
Start Strong Improves Middle School Behaviors and Attitudes Toward Dating Violence
 One of the largest teen dating violence prevention programs ever funded: Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships. A new evaluation (one of the few and largest studies to take an in-depth look at teen dating violence behaviors, attitudes, healthy relationship development, and prevention efforts involving middle school students) takes a look at the positive impact of early intervention. Read more. Related: Many Teens Admit to Coercing Others Into Sex Remaking Schools As Socioemotional Places Exploring Solutions to Adverse Childhood Experiences
 Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)-like abuse and neglect-can derail health over a lifetime. Solutions are on the rise thanks to evolving knowledge of what works to overcome the effects of toxic stress. Nine experts discuss how to change that trajectory.
Related:
|
|
 Make good on mental health parity (The Hill's Congress Blog/Liebman, Kennedy)
The lack of access to quality mental health and addictions services is one of the most important and most neglected civil rights issues confronting the nation. Care of the mentally ill is one of our greatest and most enduring health disparities and one of the country's most resounding failures. People living with mental disorders and addictions have suffered far too long from discriminatory policies and practices rooted in so many causes - stigma, inadequate services and access, underfunding of research and restricted insurance requirements and coverage.
|
|
Sweetwater Spectrum, a California residence for autistic adults, hopes to become a model for like-minded experiments across the country.
|
|
|
