CLMHD welcomed more than 50 DCSs to its Spring 2015 Full Membership Meeting, which was held on May 18-19 at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.  This year's meeting focused on forensic mental health issues and looked at national, county and state efforts to minimize the number of people with mental illness who are inappropriately entering the local criminal justice system.  

Dr. Henry Steadman, Ph.D., President of Policy Research Associates (PRA), presented on the nationally-recognized Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) tool.  SIM is a local planning process that brings together county behavioral health, social services and probation, consumers, hospitals, housing providers, 911/Dispatch, law enforcement, District Attorneys, judges, jail administrators and the Sheriff's Department to map five different points in their existing system where changes can be made to prevent people with mental illness from penetrating further into the criminal justice system.  Rather, links are developed to integrate community-based services at reentry.  Currently, six counties in the state have received Federal funding to work with PRA on implementing SIM within their communities.

Darcie Miller, LCSW-R, Orange County Commissioner of Mental Health and Social Services, provided an overview of Orange County's experience with the SIM process and the county's on-going programs to increase diversion through its mobile crisis teams, Court Connections programs in Middletown and Port Jervis, and strong collaboration between clinicians in the jail and probation and parole to create the appropriate linkages within the community.

Members of the OMH Division of Forensic Services, which included Donna Hall, Ph.D. Associate Commissioner, Lori Schatzel, Director, CNYPC Pre-Release Services/Bureau of Diversion, Re-entry and Community Education, and Wendy Vogel, MPA, Forensics Unit Chief, CNYPC Pre-Release Services/Bureau of Diversion, Re-entry and Community Education, led a discussion of the state's initiatives and ongoing collaboration with the LGUs on clinical reviews, discharge planning and communication with parole for prison discharges.  The group discussed improvements in the process and communications between OMH Forensics and the LGUs regarding individuals discharged from prison on an Assisted Outpatient Treatment, along with upcoming projects around ACT level treatment services and expanded supported housing in the community.  

Darcie Miller, LCSW-R, Commissioner of Orange Co. DMH and Social Services.

Lori Schatzel, Director, Bureau of Diversion, OMH Forensics.

Bob Long, MPA, Commissioner/DCS Onondaga Co. DMH, Arlene Gonz�lez-S�nchez, MS, LMSW, Commissioner of OASAS, and Scott LaVigne, LCSW-R, MBA, DCS Seneca Co. DMH

Incoming CLMHD Chair, Scott LaVigne, is congratulated by outgoing Chair, Bob Long.

Kathy Alonge-Coons, LCSW-R, Commissioner Rensselaer Co. DMH, found a use! (side note:  the giveaways this year were luggage grippers)

Myla Harrison, M.D., MPH, Medical Director NYC Dept. Health/Mental Hygiene, Michael Ranney, CRC-R, LMHC, Commissioner Erie Co. DMH, and Mark O'Brien, LCSW-R, Director, Orleans Co. Mental Health/Comm. Services

Scott LaVigne honors Bob Long for his many years of service and leadership.

Bob Long will enjoy his retirement!

On behalf of CLMHD and its members, thanks, Bob, for all of your hard work and dedication!