The Office of Mental Health will host
the event at the
St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg on May 15th
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell
(D-Theresa) announced today that she will be speaking at the state’s Office of
Mental Health (OMH) listening tour in Ogdensburg next week. While no decisions
have been announced in relation to OMH facility closures, the Assemblywoman feels
it is extremely important for the community to tell its story and fight to keep
psychiatric services local. Department officials will be in Ogdensburg on May
15th to receive community input on the St. Lawrence Psychiatric
Center.
The governor’s proposed 2013-14 Executive Budget included
language that would allow OMH the flexibility to institute a full-scale remodel
of the state system and give the governor unilateral power to close psychiatric
facilities with only a 75-day notification period for hospital closures and a
45-day notification period for ward or bed closures. The legislature
rejected the proposal in favor of the existing law that requires a 12-month
notification process, which was preserved in the final budget. OMH had planned
the listening tour prior to the outcome of the final budget.
“While we were able to push back on
immediate closures in the budget process, it is clear that efforts will
continue at OMH to change the current service model,” Assemblywoman Russell
warned. “We need to be proactive and let them know that this facility is very
important. Turnout at the event is vital – officials from OMH need to hear from
everyone with information that will demonstrate that moving these very vital
services out of the area would be detrimental to the community and entire
region served by the center, including Fort Drum.”
Assemblywoman Russell said that she
has had several meetings with officials representing staff, community leaders
and mental health advocates. There are also efforts underway to help the
facility reduce its operating costs before closures or service reductions are
made.
“I recognize the fact that our
state budget continues to be tight, but we have other options to find savings
for the state – options that can also provide ancillary jobs,” Russell
noted.
The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center
was right-sized in the era of deinstitutionalization. The center now supports a
large number of patients residing in the community. It is imperative that the
state keeps its commitment to provide the quality services and support these
patients need. The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center has the reputation of being
a model hospital, providing some of the best care in the state.
“I will focus on making the point
that you do not need to fix a hospital and outpatient program that is a
tremendous success,” Russell stated. “Yes, we can work to find savings with
OMH, but if the facility is not failing in its service, it would be a mistake
to dismantle it.”
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