![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Rockland.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRockland Children\u2019s Psychiatric Center<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The state proposes to privatize some mental health services and close several state facilities to help balance this year\u2019s budget. On the chopping block is Rockland Children\u2019s Psychiatric Center, targeted for closure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis nine-year-old facility provides intensive, individualized inpatient and residential treatment for mostly low-income children and youth with serious mental health issues,\u201d Spence wrote. \u201cWhile the Executive Budget points to lower utilization, staff indicate that they receive several calls daily from area hospitals to accept severely ill individuals on either an outpatient or residential basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
With private providers strapped for resources, cases often fall to state facilities, Spence said. Rockland Children\u2019s Psychiatric Center covers Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Dutchess and Westchester counties \u2013 if it closes, youth needing inpatient services would have to travel to the Bronx campus of New York City Children\u2019s Psychiatric Center for treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot forget that the services provided by the state \u2013 especially those cost-intensive services rendered by OMH, OPWDD, OASAS and OCFS \u2013 are often the very last service option for people in serious crisis,\u201d he said. \u201cWithout those services being accessible in every region of the state, many of these people would be left untreated, increasing the chances of interactions with the criminal justice system and other state or local social services providers.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the budget only specifically names Rockland Children\u2019s Psychiatric Center, Spence noted the proposed budget also would authorize the Commissioner of Mental Health to unilaterally \u201cclose, consolidate, reduce, transfer or otherwise redesign services of hospitals, other facilities and programs operated by OMH and to implement significant reductions and reconfigurations.\u201d<\/p>\n
OMH has proposed seriously reducing beds and services across the state, including 292 inpatient, youth and forensic psychiatric beds \u2013 on top of the 99 beds eliminated in November and December of 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge the Legislature to reject this proposal, to maintain the continuity of services for the state\u2019s most at-risk residents, and to require legislative oversight and authorization for any future facility closures, program consolidations and\/or service reductions,\u201d Spence wrote.<\/p>\n
Proposed changes at OPWDD would separate families from staff they have come to rely on for sometimes years at a time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe budget also proposed to transition individuals with developmental disabilities in state-operated residences into voluntary-operated programs,\u201d Spence stated. \u201cThis proposal, which is strictly advanced as a cost-saving measure, would separate clients and families from the staff who have cared for them for years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Disproportionate cuts to staff<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to facility and service cuts, Spence said this year\u2019s proposed budget continues a decades-long policy of reducing staff at facilities that render services to the state\u2019s most at-risk individuals.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder the budget proposal, staff will be reduced by 9 percent at OCFS and 3 percent at OMH from 2020 levels,\u201d Spence wrote.<\/p>\n The testimony pointed out flaws of the state citing underutilization at facilities targeted for consolidation and closure.<\/p>\n COVID-19 has led to many individuals shying away from residential or other treatment for fear of contracting the virus. Additionally, management in some facilities targeted for closure has allegedly directed staff to reject placements.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe that regional hospitals continue to seek placements of individuals in the state\u2019s psychiatric programs,\u201d Spence wrote. \u201cIt seems counterintuitive that during a global public health crisis, fewer persons would require psychiatric support at state facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n