Joan Vitiello Controller North Shore & Family Guidance Center
From Long Island Business News, Dec. 15-21, 2017
Senator Elaine Phillips Joins North Shore Child-Family Guidance Center Officials To Promote Access To Mental Health Care
Senator Elaine Phillips joined North Shore Child-Family Guidance Center officials at a news conference today to promote the importance of affordable and timely mental health care for all New York residents. . The news conference unveiled results to “Project Access,” a study conducted by the center that explores roadblocks individuals face when trying to obtain mental health and addiction care.
“Timely and affordable mental health and addiction care should be accessible to anyone in need.” Senator Elaine Phillips said. “I applaud the North Shore Child-Family Guidance Center for its unwavering support and dedicated work to raise awareness of a problem that has affected far too many middle and working class families on Long Island. ‘Project Access,’ the Center’s recent study, sheds much needed light on the obstacles individuals face when trying to obtain care for mental health illnesses and substance abuse problems.”
“Project Access” is an initiative to improve access to mental health and addictions care. Nearly 650 Long Islanders responded to the survey, with almost half of the respondents indicating that it was more difficult finding help for mental health or substance abuse problems than finding help for physical illnesses.
The North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center helps children and families address issues such as depression and anxiety, developmental delays, bullying, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, teen drug and alcohol abuse, and family crises stemming from illness, death, trauma and divorce.
Andrew Malekoff featured on News 12 Long Island discussing Project Access
A new study has found that Long Islanders can often face problems getting treatment for mental illnesses and addiction.
NY Non Profit Media on Project Access
The Carter Burden Network raised more than $1 million last month at its annual gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manhattan. Proceeds from the event will go towards programming that benefits seniors across New York City. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand made a guest appearance via video link to congratulate Board Chairman Jeffrey Weber, who is also chairman of Gillibrand’s working group on aging and received recognition for his contributions to the 46-year-old nonprofit. Also in attendance were Donna Corrado, commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging, and Corrado’s deputy Caryn Resnick.
A new study details the obstacles that Long Island residents face when pursuing treatment for substance abuse and other mental health ailments. Nearly 40 percent of the approximately 650 people who took part in the study said that affordability was a barrier to receiving treatment, while a quarter of respondents could not locate a provider who accepted their insurance. The report calls on the New York State Department of Financial Services to further investigate whether commercial insurance providers in Long Island are complying with mandated mental health standards.
Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan leveraged a “Christmas explosion” of holiday decorations to raise $25,000 for needy families and individuals. A house tour through the village of Goshen took 500 people through seven different houses that were “decorated to the hilt” with holiday decor, said Kristin Jensen, chief advancement officer for the organization. She added that the event has steadily grown each year by about 100 new participants since it began three years ago.
Amida Care and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation hosted a free community fitness class on Dec. 11 that shows what a little pre-planning can accomplish. The event – and another to be held early next year – was funded through a $5,000 grant sponsored by New York City Councilman Robert Cornegy as part of the city’s Expense Budget process. The next fiscal year will not begin for more than six months, but the submission period for fiscal year 2019 is coming up, judging by the Jan 3. opening date earlier this year. A full list of projects funded this year through the Expense Budget process can be seen here.
An item in the Dec. 12 NYN Media Buzz about a new study from the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York City included an incorrect link. The study can be viewed here.
When Mental Health and Addictions Care Is Hard to Find—And What You Can Do to Make a Difference
It’s a heartbreaking scenario that is far too common: Someone makes the difficult decision to seek out professional help for a mental health or substance abuse problem for themselves or their loved one and is faced with a myriad of roadblocks. They start calling providers on their insurance plan and find that they are not taking new patients, or they no longer accept insurance. And the cost of paying out of pocket is too much for many to afford.
The result: It takes people weeks if not months to find help—or worse, they give up entirely.
At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, we’ve heard these stories over and over again. It’s a crisis situation that could have life-threatening consequences, especially during these times when opioid addiction is at epidemic proportions.
“We’ve always believed that part of our role is to advocate for patients’ rights,” says Andrew Malekoff, Executive Director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. “To accomplish the change that is needed, we knew we had to define the problem in a way that those in power can understand—and can’t ignore.”
The Guidance Center joined with researchers to create Project Access, a year-long research study that examined the difficulty in finding timely, quality and affordable mental health and addictions care. (Click here to read the report.) Project Access compiles the data necessary for legislators to use as evidence to show that there has been an egregious error in accessing adequate mental health care.
“Even though the government is legally bound to have adequate networks of care, Project Access shows that they fall far short of that mandate,” says Malekoff. “It’s incumbent upon all of us to advocate for change. People’s lives are at stake.”
Exacerbating the problem of individuals finding appropriate providers for mental health and addictions care is stigma and the shame it generates, notes Malekoff. “If someone’s child has cancer, they won’t hesitate to call the doctor, but because of the stigma surrounding mental health, it makes it very difficult for them to reach out. Once they make the call, the support needs to be there.”
So, what can you do to make a difference? Contact your local, state and federal politicians and tell them to call on the New York State Department of Financial Services to launch a thorough investigation of this issue. Send them the link to the Project Access report, and share your stories of how difficult it was to get mental health or addictions care for your loved ones.
Be an advocate for children, individuals and families who desperately need care. We need you to stand up with us.
Contact the Governor’s Press Office:
Phone: 518-474-8418
Email: Press.Office@exec.ny.gov