The Work Force We need better mental health, developmental disabilities services Among CSEA’s top priorities is securing a better future for people struggling with mental illness and people with developmental disabilities. These are very different groups of people with different needs, circumstances and treatment options. What they have in common is that the recent history of New York state’s approach to policy and services in each area has been shockingly inadequate and unacceptable. We cannot ignore the reality of seriously ill people ending up on the street or in county jails at local taxpayer expense because the state has shirked its responsibility and no other appropriate care is available. It is not right that our developmental disabilities system has a double standard of eroding regulated state services in favor of a state subsidized “private sector” that rewards executives generously while keeping front line workers in poverty wages with minimal oversight. CSEA unequivocally supports the Freeze Unsafe Closures Now Act (S.5986-B Libous / A.8294-B Lupardo). This bill will postpone all closures and consolidations at state facilities operated by the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) until April 1, 2017. This is a starting place and the blueprint for responsible improvements is pretty simple. More than 35 years ago, New York state made a bold commitment to quality of care for individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals struggling with mental illness. Known as the Morgado Memorandum, the document laid out key principles, including, orderly and appropriate transition from institutions to community based care while ensuring necessary oversight and state resources, commitment to a balanced system between public and private services, and parity between public and private sector workers. The commitment extended to significant training, retraining and job transition opportunities as the model of care changed. It also explicitly stated that “no person shall be released from a state institution unless adequate community services are available and will be provided.” New York has repeatedly broken that promise. Now is the time to get it back on track before there is more human tragedy and unnecessary cost to taxpayers. CSEA Executive Statewide Officers President Danny Donohue in touch with Work Force ISSN 1522-1091 Official publication of CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President STEPHEN A. MADARASZ The Communications Director & Publisher LOU HMIELESKI Executive Editor JANICE GAVIN Associate Editor JANICE M. KUCSKAR Graphic Production Specialist BETH MCINTYRE Communications Assistant Vice President Mary E. Sullivan Secretary Denise Berkley Treasurer Joe McMullen CSEA Region Officers Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte 3 Garet Place Commack, N.Y. 11725 Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett 125 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo 569 State Route 52 Beacon, N.Y. 12508 Capital Region President Kathy Garrison 1 Lear Jet Lane, Suite #2 Latham, N.Y. 12110 Central Region President Colleen Wheaton 6595 Kirkville Road East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057 Western Region President Flo Tripi 120 Pineview Drive Amherst, N.Y. 14228 Communications Specialists Long Island Region: Rich Impagliazzo (631) 462-0030 Metropolitan Region: David Galarza (212) 406-2156 Southern Region: Jessica Ladlee (845) 831-1000 Capital Region: Therese Assalian (518) 785-4400 Central Region: Mark M.Kotzin (315) 433-0050 Western Region: Lynn Miller (716) 691-6555 Headquarters: Ed Molitor (518) 257-1272 Jill Asencio (518) 257-1276 UUE UnitedUnion Employees The Publications Committee Jerry Laricchiuta Janice Mason Robert Pyjas Theresa Reagan Lee Reynolds Ed Russo The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office: 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York 12288, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: CSEA, Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210 Readers: Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to: Publisher, The Work Force 143 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12210-2303 CSEA online: The CSEA website can be accessed at: www.cseany.org 4 The Work Force June 2014
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