One hazy mid-August afternoon many years ago, I was cooling off in the ocean off my hometown, Long Beach. Another swimmer grabbed my attention by pointing toward the jetty, the rock formation that helps to protect the shoreline from erosion. When I turned I spotted three children drifting toward the rocks.
I swam to them. When I arrived, there were three little girls with their arms wrapped around one another. One looked to be about 9-years-old. The others, who were crying and holding on to the older girl, appeared to be 6 or 7. The older girl was barely in control of her emotions.
I wrapped my arms around the three girls and told them to hang on. Swimming to shore with them as a group was not an option. Neither was leaving them behind. All I could do was hold on, try to calm them, steer them away from the jetty and wait.
Finally, the lifeguards arrived and took over. I swam to shore and went back to my beach chair. I never saw the three little girls again. Nevertheless, I haven’t forgotten them. Twenty years, ninety-seconds and two words – “hang on,” and I still think about them quite often. For those few moments we were so close that I could see their freckles.
Let’s consider another scenario. Try to picture me swimming to the three girls. Now, imagine if, instead of my telling them to hang on, if I treaded water just a few feet from them and asked them if they had Medicaid insurance. Imagine if they answered, “No mister” and if I then said, “Sorry, girls,” turned my back on them and then swam to shore without them.
I thought about this because aside from my enjoying the beach in my hometown, I have been working in the children’s mental health field on Long Island for more than 40 years as a psychotherapist, alcoholism and substance use counselor, agency administrator and advocate; all those years at North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, a 65-year-old children’s mental health agency in Roslyn Heights.
It was my role as advocate that was evoked by my encounter in the Atlantic Ocean. During the last 10 years I have observed, first-hand, New York State making a dramatic departure from its statutory responsibility to make sure that our most vulnerable citizens – our children – get community-based mental health care, regardless of their family’s economic status.
I’ve also learned that the health insurance industry is no better. Most private health insurers pay substandard rates that many mental health care providers can no longer afford to accept. Even worse, profit-driven insurance denials and delays for care have actually killed children.
For example, in 2001 Timothy O’Clair, a 12-year-old from upstate New York, died by suicide after his parents were unable to obtain timely mental health treatment for him due to health-insurance coverage limits.
Access delayed is access denied.
I had the privilege of meeting Tom O’Clair, Timothy’s dad, just this past October in Albany at event – Every Fight Needs a Voice – sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-NYS) in which Tom and I were honored for our advocacy efforts to ensure access to mental health and addiction care for New Yorkers.
Although Timmy’s death was the impetus for the passage in 2006 of Timothy’s Law, which extends insurance coverage for mental illness, the health insurance industry has a very long way to go. And, this is despite the fact that two years after Timothy’s Law passed the New York State legislature, the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 became federal law.
I invite you to jump into my Atlantic Ocean memory with me, because it is a story that is about more than me and three little girls. It is about what that experience induced in me. It is about the millions of children than need to be guided safely to shore every year and offered the chance to see a brighter day.
Andrew Malekoff is the executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center.
Thanks to a strong advocacy push by a broad array of consumer and provider representatives of behavioral health services, the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Report Act was enacted into law by Governor Cuomo on Dec. 21, 2018, as Chapter 455 of the Laws of 2018.
The historic new law is a huge victory for North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center and the broader mental health and substance use care community as it will compel insurers to submit key information to the NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS) for analysis and evaluation of compliance with federal and state parity laws, culminating in the publication of a report on the DFS website that will provide much needed accountability and transparency.
Until now, existing parity laws, which demand that coverage and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders are on par with the coverage and treatment of physical illnesses, have been widely ignored, putting lives at risk. The failure to enforce parity laws was made clear in January 2018, when North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center released Project Access, a Long Island-wide study on the difficulty or ease in which families were able to access healthcare for mental illness and addiction.
This new legislation—which was passed one year after the release of Project Access—is a shared success and would not have been possible without strong grassroots support that included the generation of an enormous volume of letters, calls and tweets from consumer and provider advocates.
The enactment of the law at this time is especially symbolic as New York marks the twelfth anniversary of the passage of Timothy’s Law (the name of New York’s parity law), which Governor Cuomo recognized in his approval message: “Ensuring New Yorkers have access to care and treatment for mental illness and substance abuse disorders is critical and is the reason New York enacted one of the strongest mental health parity laws in the nation [Timothy’s Law] in 2006.”
2018 also marked the 10th anniversary of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The new Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Report Act puts New York on a path to achieving full compliance and transparency with the state and federal parity laws, which are critical components in maintaining and enhancing access to care for those experiencing mental health and substance use disorders.
The challenge ahead will be to hold the NYS Department of Financial Services accountable, to be sure that they are taking adequate steps to verify the data and information that will be provided to them by health insurers.
Verification is essential to determining, for example, that the networks of providers on a health insurer’s rolls are in fact real as opposed to deceased, retired or no longer accepting insurance. They must also verify and report when waiting lists of valid providers are so long that access is delayed beyond a reasonable time with respect to the urgency of the need.
The reason why there is a paucity of mental health and drug treatment providers is due to the substandard rates of reimbursement that health insurers pay for mental health and addiction care as compared to what they pay physical health care providers. This must be exposed and corrected if found to be the case for denied access.
Access delayed is access denied.
Andrew Malekoff is the Executive Director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families.
Andrew Malekoff Executive Director – North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center
Did you know that every day more than 290 Americans die from suicide or a drug overdose? With proper treatment, many of these tragedies could be prevented — but despite a law that guarantees coverage, people face enormous roadblocks when they seek care.
In 2008, a federal law called the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (or the Parity Act) was passed to stop insurance companies from routinely denying benefits to people with mental health and addiction challenges. Getting necessary treatment is often a matter of life and death.
We have joined a national campaign called “Parity@10” to fight for the rights of people living with mental health and substance use disorders. These are your children, your neighbors, your family, your friends. No one is immune from facing these issues.
Discriminatory insurance coverage must end. When insurers do not comply with the law and government enforcement is inadequate, millions of Americans are at risk.
In 2019, we will continue to advance this cause to end discrimination and guarantee that all people receive the timely and affordable care they deserve and that is mandated by law.
Most germane in considering the push to legalize recreational marijuana use in New York are the observations of noted neuroscientist Judy Grisel who stated, “The debate around legalization — which often focuses on the history of racist drug laws and their selective enforcement — is astoundingly naive about how the widespread use of pot will affect communities and individuals, particularly teenagers.”
During the teenage years, young people are taking steps to achieving emotional independence from parents and other adults, developing a capacity for greater intimacy with peers, forging a healthy sexual identity, preparing for relational and career aspirations, and developing a set of values and an ethical system to guide one’s behavior toward socially responsible ends.
Adolescence is a time for taking risks, trying new experiences, pushing boundaries and testing limits, all necessary for teens to become healthy functioning adults.
Although not all risk is bad, according to youth development expert Peter Scales, “If risk = developmental exploration + environmental danger, the job of caring adults is to reduce the environmental danger part of the equation.” This begs the question about whether legalizing marijuana will reduce the danger or increase it.
The evidence informs us that being high on marijuana impairs attention, learning and memory and that heavy use during the adolescent years can lead to worse outcomes in education, employment, income and social functioning.
The issues that need further exploration include: how to best regulate access to legalized marijuana use to mitigate risk; how to best educate young people and their caregivers to prevent dependence; and how to maximize opportunities for social connectedness among youth.
Scare tactics or punitive measures will not suffice.
On a more fundamental level, there needs to be an understanding about the emptiness a young person (or older one) feels when they are socially disconnected and that drugs can imitate the natural high of human connection.
My colleague Larry Brendtro said it well: “Substance abuse is often an attempt to compensate for the biochemical rush of positive relationships.”
Let’s be clear: If marijuana is legalized for medical and recreational use, even if age limits are established it will not prevent young people from using marijuana. For many young people seeking to use marijuana in a clandestine way, the adventure and excitement will make it even more appealing.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Changes in the legal status of marijuana, even if limited to adults, may affect use among adolescents by decreasing the perceived risk of harm or through the marketing of legal marijuana, despite restrictions that prohibit marketing and advertising to this age group.”
Teens who feel connected are less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors. Recognizing and building on the strengths of children and teens and promoting social and emotional learning are essential to optimizing connectedness and preventing self-destructive drug use.
We are all aware of the adage, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Consumption of alcohol increased dramatically when Prohibition ended in 1933. In fact, Alcoholics Anonymous started in 1935. Will legalization of marijuana follow suit?
Beyond prevention and education, if the legalization of marijuana is not coupled with ample resources for schools and communities to help all young people to feel connected in meaningful ways, then for many adolescents their healthy development will be forestalled.
Andrew Malekoff is the executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. To find out more, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org.
I was pleased to lend my support for the Mental Health First Aid Training Bill introduced at the Nassau County Legislative meeting of Dec. 17. The bill was developed and introduced by Legislator Siela Bynoe, who invited me to testify in support of the bill. Following is my testimony:
“The Mental Health First Aid Training Bill aims to educate designated county employees to recognize the symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorders, take steps to de-escalate a crisis, and make timely and relevant referrals to appropriate service providers in Nassau County.
When considering whether there is a need to implement such training, consider this: Everyday 290 Americans die from suicide or a drug overdose. With timely and appropriate intervention many of these tragedies could be prevented.
The Mental Health Bill recommends use of the curriculum developed by National Council of Behavioral Health. Mental Health First Aid is a live training course, which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer and social supports as well as self-help resources.
The training focuses on early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addictions.
The training includes developing a Mental Health First Aid Action Plan, assessing for risk of suicide or harm, listening non-judgmentally, giving reassurance and information, and encouraging appropriate professional help and self-help strategies.
2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires that health insurers treat illnesses above the neck the same as illnesses below the neck with respect to access to timely and affordable care. There is still a very long way to go towards health insurers complying with this law and New York State government enforcing it.
Nassau County can be a leader in eradicating stigma and discrimination by educating its personnel to better understand these illnesses, develop skills to detect and intervene, and enable individuals to access care in the community.
I strongly endorse this bill and thank you for introducing it and taking the time to consider its value.”
I am happy to report that later that day the bill passed the legislature with full bi-partisan support. In so doing, Nassau County has set a great example and taken a proactive step ahead.
The implementation of the Mental Health First Aid Training Bill will help to save lives, preserve families, reduce stigma, fight discrimination and improve access to care. It is also a giant step forward in support of the civil rights of our neighbors living with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Cathy and Frank Castagna, Andrew Malekoff, Lauren McGowan, Rita Castagna and Ernie Lagoja enjoy the festivities at Brooks Brothers. (Photo courtesy of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center)
On Nov. 29, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center partnered with Americana Manhasset’s Brooks Brothers store to co-host an opening night celebration of Champions For Charity.
The gathering featured cocktails, hor d’oeuvres and lots of conversation and camaraderie as shoppers took advantage of the opportunity to buy items while contributing to causes. Twenty-five percent of the pretax price on items sold was donated to support the Guidance Center’s mission and that of other charities.
Jo-Ellen Hazan was among several Guidance Center Board Members and friends who attended the festive evening.
“It was fun to see such a wonderful turn out of friends supporting the kickoff event at Brooks Brothers,” said Hazan. “We are grateful to Champions For Charity for including us each year!”
Other Guidance Center board members who enjoyed the hospitality of Brooks Brothers included Charles Chan, Rita Castagna, Tracey Kupferberg and Nancy Lane, as well as executive director Andrew Malekoff.
“All of the people at Champions For Charity, along with the employees who work for the participating stores, make a real difference in our communities,” said Malekoff. “This October, at our 65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala, the Guidance Center honored Champions For Charity for the amazing contribution they have made to support our mission. We look forward to working with these dedicated community partners for many years to come.”
Americana Manhasset’s Champions For Charity has been a leading philanthropic initiative for over 20 years, and the Guidance Center has been a part of the event since its beginning. Every holiday season, more than 100 not-for-profit organizations benefit from this impressive holiday shopping program. Since its inception in 1996, Champions For Charity has raised nearly $12 million for local charities.
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s 65th Sapphire Anniversary gala raised more than $620,000 to support the Guidance Center’s mission to bring hope and healing to children and their families who are experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. The gala, which honored philanthropists Andrea and Michael Leeds and Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity, marked the most successful fundraising event in the Guidance Center’s history.
Much of the credit for the historic night goes to our thought-provoking speaker Linda Beigel Schulman, the mother of Scott J. Beigel, one of the teachers killed in the shootings in Parkland, Florida. Her moving speech brought everyone to their feet.
“It was my honor to be the guest speaker and share Scott’s story,” said Schulman. “Those who attended were so warm and caring; I can honestly say new friendships were made. The success of the evening speaks volumes to the importance of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center.”
Honorees Andrea and Michael Leeds and Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity drew an A-list of supporters from Long Island and as far away as California.
Andrea Leeds has been a board member at the Guidance Center for more than 20 years. She and her husband Michael are dedicated philanthropists, and they have supported many causes both on Long Island and across the globe. But the Guidance Center holds a special place in their hearts.
“Mike and I are delighted with the unexpected level of support that came from our friends and family,” said Andrea Leeds. “We were all moved by Linda Schulman’s heartbreaking story, and also by her continuing support and engagement with the Guidance Center. It was a wonderful event, and we’re especially proud to help the Guidance Center provide essential mental health services to those in need—particularly those who can’t afford it in this time of shrinking government support.”
“Andrea’s father was a New York City cop. She wonders where her family would have gone to get services like the Guidance Center provides,” added Mike Leeds.
The gala’s other honoree, Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity, hosts an annual holiday shopping event that supports more than 100 not-for-profit organizations, including the Guidance Center. The event, which this year takes place from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2, has raised nearly $12 million since its inception in 1996.
“The Sapphire Gala had an air of compassion and a ‘champion’ spirit of generosity in support of the heroic service the Guidance Center provides children and families in crisis,” said Deirdre Costa Major, president, Castagna Realty Retail Group. “When we support the Guidance Center, we help make a difference. We are proud that Champions for Charity is one way of bringing people from our community together to help make a difference.”
Every person who contributed their time and talents to the gala was exceptional. They include event co-chairs Matilde and Cliff Broder and Rosemarie and Mitchell Klipper; journal co-chairs Jo-Ellen Hazan and the recently deceased John J. Gutleber, who passed away unexpectedly in September; and auction co-chairs Deirdre Costa Major and Charles G. Chan. The Mistress of Ceremonies was News 12 Long Island’s Carol Silva, whose professionalism and generous spirit set the tone for a fantastic evening.
“Even today’s news headlines show us how some people are in such need of mental health support,” said Silva. “They think that they’re alone, but on Long island, we have North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which has opened doors and opened arms for any child or family in need. It was one of the most beautiful events of the year for me, plus it was a whole lot of fun.”
“We are extremely grateful to our honorees, speaker, mistress of ceremonies, donors, sponsors and all who worked so hard on the gala committee,” said Guidance Center Executive Director Andrew Malekoff. “For 65 years, we have been dedicated to providing mental health services to all children and families, regardless of their ability to pay. And because of the generosity of everyone involved, we will be able to continue to provide the best in care to the community.”
All proceeds will benefit the Guidance Center. To learn more about the organization’s services, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call 516-626-1971.
The recent death of our 41st President George H.W. Bush brought forth a memory from my earlier years at North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center. For decades I worked as a frontline clinician in the Guidance Center’s outpatient mental health program. My specialty was working with adolescents in groups.
One of the lessons I learned over the years is the importance of paying attention to what is happening in the world that might impact on kids’ day to day lives. On Jan. 16, 1991, 18 hours after the deadline for Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces to leave Kuwait, my boys’ group arrived for their weekly meeting.
The boys, ranging in age from 12 to 14 years old, were too young to have experienced the Vietnam War, yet were old enough to have been exposed to growing threats of war and terrorism. War was on their minds. They talked of cruise missiles, B-52’s, stealth bombers. They were like Nintendo warriors, I thought to myself.
One of the group members Tony said, “I’m afraid we’ll be bombed, we might be hit, I can see World War III coming. What if there’s a nuclear war?”
As the discussion progressed, the boys agreed that little protection existed against terrorism.
The group railed about how “everything is falling apart.” They seemed to have little faith in adults’ and authorities’ ability to protect them.
Rick, who could’ve easily passed for 17, said, “You guys will probably think I’m a wimp, but I’m scared s***less.”
When I asked the others in the group if they thought Rick was a wimp, they said “no” and revealed that they, too, were scared. I told them that war is scary and that it takes a lot of courage to be supportive.
When the meeting ended, the boys started walking out at a few minutes past seven. I flicked on the radio in time to hear President Bush’s press secretary Marlin Fitzwater announce: “The liberation of Kuwait has begun.” Moments later the boys burst through the door yelling, “They started dropping bombs!”
Rick, who bragged about an anticipated “hot date,” said he was going home to hide in his basement. Kenny’s eyes filled with tears. “My mom’s not here yet,” he said. “I’m scared. Can I stay with you ‘til she gets here?”
I motioned for him to sit down. An airplane passed overhead, and the tears began rolling down his cheeks. He said, “Every time I hear a plane, I’m afraid it will drop a bomb. I was afraid of the dark when I was little.”
My reassurances were interrupted by the buzz of the telephone and the message of the arrival of his mom, his former foster mother who adopted Kenny, providing him with the stability, consistent care and nurturing that he had been lacking in his early years.
Without hesitation Kenny, about half my size, gave me a bear hug and, burying his head into my midsection said, “Thanks Andy, I hope to see you next week.” I reaassured him that he would. As I escorted him down the winding staircase with my arm around his shoulder I could feel him trembling. Or was it me?
When I was in the seventh grade the news of President Kennedy’s assassination came to us through the classroom intercom. Twenty-eight years later, the news of the war with Iraq arrived again through a disembodied voice, this time through a radio. At 12-years-old the news was followed by no human interaction, only blank stares and a gasp punctuated silence.
We were dismissed and I returned home to an inescapable eeriness that I remember sharply to this day. And now the world stage was again intersecting with a gathering of seventh graders. As I look back to the boys’ group I felt privileged to have been in a place that provided more than blank stares and silence.
(From left) Honorees Andrea and Michael Leeds, Congressman Tom Suozzi, honorees Rita and Frank Castagna, state Sen. Todd Kaminsky and honoree Deirdre Costa Major contributed to the success of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s 65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala.
Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Adriann J. Combs and Dr. Martine Hackett
On Nov. 19, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center held a special event at its Leeds Place site in Westbury entitled “World Prematurity Awareness Breakfast.”
At the event, the audience, which consisted of healthcare professionals and community members, learned that over 300,000 babies in the United States are born premature each year, and the statistics indicate a wide racial disparity.
According to the state Department of Health, a black woman is up to four times more likely to die in childbirth than a white mother. In Nassau County, the infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 9.4 for black babies versus the 2.2 reported for white non-Hispanic babies.
The three communities at highest risk are (in order) Roosevelt, Hempstead and Westbury/New Cassel.
“Babies — especially black babies — are dying way too soon,” said Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, director of the Leeds Place. “Many don’t see their first birthdays. I’ve gone to way too many funerals for babies who didn’t survive.”
Dr. Taylor-Walthrust said that the goal of the Guidance Center — in particular, its Good Beginnings for Babies program—is that every mother who comes through their doors gives birth to a healthy baby. The Good Beginnings for Babies program provides support, counseling, advocacy and education for pregnant and parenting teens.
The Guidance Center, in partnership with Hofstra University, has also created a program called Birth Justice Warriors, which focuses on improving the health of black mothers and their babies through education and advocacy efforts.
Birth Justice Warriors are trained to educate the community, including women, pediatricians, nurses, elected officials and others, regarding the racial disparities in an effort to create real change. The ultimate goal is to pass legislation that guarantees that this crucial information is delivered to all women of child-bearing age.
Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell shared her personal story of having given birth to a premature daughter in 1995. Russell felt that her doctors were not listening to her concerns.
Luckily, her daughter, who weighed only 1 pound and 12 ounces, survived and is now a mother herself, but the experience made Russell want to help others. “As women, we are nurturers, but we need to learn that pre- and post-natal care is as important for us as for our babies.”
Dr. Martine Hackett from Hofstra University, a co-founder of Birth Justice Warriors, pointed out that maternal mortality rates are rising in the United States, whereas they are going down almost everywhere else in the world.
She said that historical patterns of racism have affected black women even in today’s world. “While individual behaviors are important, we must also acknowledge discriminatory biases in the medical community and take steps to reverse them.”
Adriann J. Combs, clinical director of OB/GYN at Northwell Health, presented the March of Dimes Score Card on NY State Prematurity births. While the state received a grade of B, Nassau County only earned a C. “The March of Dimes goals are to ensure improved care for all races, to encourage research and conduct advocacy efforts,” said Combs.
To find out more about the Birth Justice Warriors, contact Dr. Walthrust-Taylor at (516) 997-2926, ext. 229, or email NTaylorWalthrust@northshorechildguidance.org.
Roslyn Heights, NY, November 26, 2018—On November 19, 2018, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center held a special event at its Leeds Place site in Westbury entitled “World Prematurity Awareness Breakfast.”
At the event, the audience, which consisted of healthcare professionals and community members,learned that over 300,000 babies in the United States are born premature each year, and the statistics indicate a wide racial disparity. According to the New York State Department of Health, a black woman is up to four times more likely to die in childbirth than a white mother. In Nassau County, the infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 9.4 for black babies versus the 2.2 reported for white non-Hispanic babies.
The three communities at highest risk are (in order) Roosevelt, Hempstead and Westbury/New Cassel.
“Babies—especially black babies—are dying way too soon,” said Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Director of the Leeds Place. “Many don’t see their first birthdays. I’ve gone to way too many funerals for babies who didn’t survive.”
Dr. Taylor-Walthrust said that the goal of the Guidance Center—in particular, its Good Beginnings for Babies program—is that every mother who comes through their doors gives birth to a healthy baby. The Good Beginnings for Babies program provides support, counseling, advocacy and education for pregnant and parenting teens.
Viviana Russell, Nellie, Adriann J. Combs, Martine Hackett
The Guidance Center, in partnership with Hofstra University, has also created a program called Birth Justice Warriors, which focuses on improving the health of black mothers and their babies through education and advocacy efforts. Birth Justice Warriors are trained to educate the community, including women, pediatricians, nurses, elected officials and others, regarding the racial disparities in an effort to create real change. The ultimate goal is to pass legislation that guarantees that this crucial information is delivered to all women of child-bearing age.
Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell shared her personal story of having given birth to a premature daughter in 1995. Russell felt that her doctors were not listening to her concerns. Luckily, her daughter, who weighed only 1 pound and 12 ounces, survived and is now a mother herself, but the experience
made Russell want to help others. “As women, we are nurturers, but we need to learn that pre- and post-natal care is as important for us as for our babies.”
Dr. Martine Hackett from Hofstra University, a co-founder of Birth Justice Warriors, pointed out that maternal mortality rates are rising in the United States, whereas they are going down almost everywhere else in the world. She said that historical patterns of racism have affected black women even in today’s world. “While individual behaviors are important, we must also acknowledge discriminatory biases in the medical community and take steps to reverse them.”
Adriann J. Combs, Clinical Director of OB/GYN at Northwell Health, presented the March of Dimes Score Card on NY State Prematurity births. While the state received a grade of B, Nassau County only earned a C. “The March of Dimes goals are to ensure improved care for all races, to encourage research and conduct advocacy efforts,” said Combs.
To find out more about the Birth Justice Warriors, contact Dr. Walthrust-Taylor at (516) 997-2926, ext. 229, or email NTaylorWalthrust@northshorechildguidance.org.
When tragedy strikes, the grief can be overwhelming. One way that some people choose to deal with their pain is to try to make something good come out of a horrible situation. That’s what the parents of Timothy O’Clair did when their 12-year-old son died by suicide on March 6, 2001 after mental health benefits provided by their insurance company ran out.
The O’Clair family fought tirelessly for years for New York State to pass a law requiring health insurance policies to provide access to timely and affordable mental health care in the same way they cover physical illness. The legislation, called Timothy’s Law in honor of their son, was finally signed in December 2006.
Timothy’s Law helped to blaze the trail for a much broader federal law that passed two years later which requires health insurers to provide access to mental health care on par with medical and surgical care.
Now, what would you think if I told you that despite these hard-fought state and federal laws, in New York State national insurance companies are continuing to prevent children like Timmy O’Clair from accessing care and that New York State regulators are assisting them in doing so?
This is precisely the case. As health law expert Brian Hufford stated, “Timothy’s Law appears effective.
In 2009, the state reported an increase of 4.5 million people with plans promising comprehensive mental health coverage. But that number is almost certainly a mirage.” Hufford goes on to say that New York’s insurance regulator, the Department of Financial Services, has a shallow history of enforcement that suggests it lacks the interest or resources to adequately protect New Yorkers.
One year ago North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center issued the results of a groundbreaking study known as Project Access, which surveyed 650 people across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
The results revealed conditions similar to what the O’Clair family fought against in the early 2000s and showed that discrimination against people living with mental illness and substance use disorders persist.
An immediate follow-up to the Project Access study exposed the reality: the New York State Department of Financial Service is stonewalling demands to further investigate this civil rights issue.
In a letter to DFS Commissioner Mary Vullo citing the Project Access study, state Senators Todd Kaminsky and Elaine Phillips requested a thorough investigation into the persistent problem New Yorkers were experiencing when trying to access timely and affordable mental health care.
Almost five months later Scott Fischer, executive deputy superintendent for Insurance, a division of DFS, responded in writing to the senators.
Fischer wrote: “DFS’s review of the various networks has confirmed that each of the insurance companies in Long Island exceeds the standards for mental health and substance use providers, for the purpose of the commercial products sold outside of the New York State of Health,” the official health plan marketplace.
In other words, this DFS official is stating that there is no problem and nothing more to do, which is contrary to the evidence.
Fischer’s response belies the reality that DFS does little if anything to verify reports from health insurers indicating that they have adequate networks of providers available to their beneficiaries.
I had the privilege of meeting Timothy O’Clair’s dad Tom at a National Alliance on Mental Illness event in Albany in October.
Tom was the driving force behind the passage of Timothy’s Law. We shared a stage in recognition of our mutual efforts to advocate for effective and enforceable parity laws so insurers do, in fact, cover mental health care the same way they do physical illness.
We spoke briefly. I told him that although I never met his son, I keep Timothy close to my heart in the continued fight. He responded, “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Although it was only the two of us in this fleeting interchange, I’m sure that Tom’s entreaty was meant for all people of good will that know firsthand the devastating impact of untreated mental illness and addiction. We all must keep fighting so Timothy’s Law is a reality and not just mere words on paper.
Violence — random, sudden, illogical, and lethal — has become a fact of life. Years of social and economic injustice have resulted in large numbers of people who are frustrated and without hope for the future, people to whom bravado is everything, and anything that seems the slightest bit threatening — a put-down, a disagreement, a dirty look — demands immediate retaliation. As I write these words, this kind of violence almost seems old school to me.
I’m not quite sure when my consciousness shifted about the kind of violence we now all face. I wonder if it was during the six-year period beginning in December 1993 when the Long Island Railroad massacre occurred, followed by the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 and then the Columbine school shooting in April 1999. The targets: public transportation, a federal building and a public school.
I think it was during that period of time when it started to sink in that something dramatically different was happening that was more than a fluke. I remember thinking, in one of my more morbid moments, that all Americans were secretly entered into a daily national lottery that wouldn’t result in fortunes gained from pooled funds, but instead in body counts delivered at the hands of deranged strangers.
And now, as two additional decades have unfolded, churches, synagogues, concert halls, nightclubs, workplaces and more have been added to the pantheons of mass murder.
This past Election Day, during our annual staff development day, I participated in an Active Shooter Preparedness Training at North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center. It was presented by police officer Ken Murray and paramedic Rich Husch from Nassau County Police Department Homeland Security division. The training was engaging and informative.
Before 1993, I don’t believe I could have imagined participating in such a workshop. Today it is essential for workplaces, schools and houses of worship.
In a staff development day just few years earlier, the theme was mindfulness. Mindfulness, originally a Buddhist concept founded centuries ago, refers to a practice of paying attention and staying in the present, moment-by-moment, to feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment without being judgmental. Mindfulness is often taught as a meditative approach to calming or soothing oneself.
After the active shooter preparedness training I thought about the commonalities and contrasts of the two, both of which emphasize paying attention to the environment, one to luxuriate in the richness of what might otherwise pass one by and the other to be hypervigilant to threats and escape routes.
Mindfulness is taught for the benefits of stress reduction, improved focus and reduced emotional reactivity. Active shooter preparedness is taught so that, In the midst of chaos, anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of a potentially deadly incident.
On reflection, I’m struck by the emotional flexibility required to absorb both into one’s consciousness, requiring fluidity and many-sidedness. Robert Lifton is an American psychiatrist and author, chiefly known for his studies of the psychological causes and effects of wars and political violence.
In a review of Lifton’s book, “The Protean Self: Human Resilience in an Age of Fragmentation,” the reviewer sums up the concept of the protean self by stating that “life is not a straight line. Instead, it is, and ought to be, experienced as a collage.”
The sad reality today is that the collage is becoming overcrowded by images of carnage that more sensible gun regulation can go a long way to changing.
Andrew Malekoff is the executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. To find out more, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org.
Photo courtesy of the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center
On Nov. 7, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center hosted a celebration honoring John and Janet Kornreich, founders of the John and Janet Kornreich Charitable Foundation, who fund the monthly outings that are a big part of the Latina Girls Project.
The Guidance Center’s Latina Girls Project is an innovative program that employs rapid response to emergency calls, individual, group and family therapy and monthly outings and other activities, all designed to tackle the epidemic of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and suicidal ideation in young Latinas.
“In addition to individual and family therapy, monthly outings to places such as museums, theater and other cultural sites are crucial to the Latina Girls Project’s ability to transform these girls’ lives,” said Guidance Center associate executive director Regina Barros-Rivera, who heads up the Latina Girls Project. “The trips serve to boost their confidence and sense of independence. They also discover that there’s a great big world of opportunity out there for them, which allows them to feel hopeful about their futures.”
The Nov. 7 event, which featured speeches from several of the girls who’ve participated in the program, was not only a celebration of the girls’ success but also an opportunity to honor John and Janet Kornreich.
“The therapy helped my mother and I communicate and become very close, and the monthly outings showed me a world I never would have seen,” one girl said. “I felt that I wanted to be a part of the larger world. The trips gave me the feeling that I could be truly happy in my life.”
Barros-Rivera said that the Kornreiches were “angels,” explaining that John walked into the Guidance Center one day and said “tell me how I can help.”
Toward the end of the celebration, both John and Janet Kornreich told the girls that they were proud of them and that they should be proud of themselves. The couple also pledged their continued support for the Latina Girls Project.
“We are deeply grateful to John and Janet for their dedication and contribution to this very important Guidance Center program,” said Malekoff. “They make these trips possible, and the trips make the girls see wonderful possibilities in their lives.”
On Oct. 26, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s Executive Director Andrew Malekoff received a “Leaders of Mental Health Awareness Award” from the National Alliance on Mental Illness-New York State at its 2018 Education Conference in Albany.
“The lack of mental health parity is one of the biggest social justice issues of our time,” said Matthew Shapiro, associate director, Public Affairs, NAMI-NYS. “People living with mental illness and addiction are being discriminated against with separate and unequal treatment by insurance providers. New Yorkers are fortunate to have a strong advocate in Andrew Malekoff, who is bringing awareness to this issue and is fighting for access to recovery support services. NAMI-NYS is honored to recognize Andrew as a Parity@10 Champion.”
Parity@10 refers to a three-year campaign seeking compliance to the landmark 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, a federal law that mandates equal insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as compared to other medical benefits covered by the plan. Unfortunately, insurers are not complying with the law and enforcement has been inadequate, leaving millions of Americans at risk.
In an attempt to draw attention to these discriminatory practices, in December 2017, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center released Project Access, a year-long research study that asked 650 Long Islanders about the ease or difficulty of accessing mental health and addictions care. Some of the key findings:
Almost half of the participants said that it was more difficult finding help for mental health or substance use problems than finding help for physical illnesses, especially when they were in crisis.
Nearly 40 percent said that their insurance company did not have an adequate number of providers.
Two thirds told us that their insurance company was not helpful to them in finding a suitable provider for themselves or a loved one.
NAMI’s Shapiro called the Project Access study “eye-opening for many and a true catalyst for the reforms which are necessary to create a more mentally healthy New York State.”
Accepting the award on behalf of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Malekoff told the audience, “The difficulty people have getting mental health and substance use care is not simply a matter of stigma —it’s a civil rights issue and often a matter of life and death.”
Malekoff also acknowledged the dedication of the NAMI members and other advocates who were present at the conference. “Every fight needs a voice, and it’s good to be in a room with so many people who are raising their voices in this most worthy battle.”
To find out more about the Guidance Center’s work, call (516) 626-1971 or visit www.northshorechildguidance.org. The website features a Project Access tab where readers can learn more about advocating for mental health parity and also share their own stories.
Roslyn Heights, NY, November 15, 2018—On October 26, 2018, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s Executive Director, Andrew Malekoff, received a “Leaders of Mental Health Awareness Award” from NAMI-NYS (the National Alliance on Mental Illness-New York State) at its 2018 Education Conference in Albany, NY.
“The lack of mental health parity is one of the biggest social justice issues of our time,” said Matthew Shapiro, Associate Director, Public Affairs, NAMI-NYS. “People living with mental illness and addiction are being discriminated against with separate and unequal treatment by insurance providers. New Yorkers are fortunate to have a strong advocate in Andrew Malekoff, who is bringing awareness to this issue and is fighting for access to recovery support services. NAMI-NYS is honored to recognize Andrew as a Parity@10 Champion.”
Andrew Malekoff receiving the award from Ariel Coffman, Board Member of NAMI-NYS
Parity@10 refers to a three-year campaign seeking compliance to the landmark 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, a federal law that mandates equal insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as compared to other medical benefits covered by the plan. Unfortunately, insurers are not complying with the law and enforcement has been inadequate, leaving millions of Americans at risk.
In an attempt to draw attention to these discriminatory practices, in December 2017, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center released Project Access, a year-long research study that asked 650 Long Islanders about the ease or difficulty of accessing mental health and addictions care. Some of the key findings:
Almost half of the participants said that it was more difficult finding help for mental health or substance use problems than finding help for physical illnesses, especially when they were in crisis.
Nearly 40% said that their insurance company did not have an adequate number of providers.
Two thirds told us that their insurance company was not helpful to them in finding a suitable provider for themselves or a loved one.
NAMI’s Shapiro called the Project Access study “eye-opening for many and a true catalyst for the reforms which are necessary to create a more mentally healthy New York State.”
Accepting the award on behalf of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Malekoff told the audience, “The difficulty people have getting mental health and substance use care is not simply a matter of stigma —it’s a civil rights issue and often a matter of life and death.”
Malekoff also acknowledged the dedication of the NAMI members and other advocates who were present at the conference. “Every fight needs a voice, and it’s good to be in a room with so many people who are raising their voices in this most worthy battle.”
To find out more about the Guidance Center’s work, call (516) 626-1971 or visit www.northshorechildguidance.org. The website features a Project Access tab where readers can learn more about advocating for mental health parity and also share their own stories.
Generous donors support the organization’s Latina Girls Project
November 13, 2018
Roslyn Heights, NY, November 13, 2018—On Wednesday, November 7, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center hosted a celebration honoring John and Janet Kornreich, founders of the John and JanetKornreichCharitable Foundation, who fund the monthly outings that are such a big part of the Latina Girls Project.
The Guidance Center’s Latina Girls Project is an innovative program that employs rapid response to emergency calls; individual, group and family therapy; and monthly outings and other activities, all designed to tackle the epidemic of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and suicidal ideation in young Latinas.
Guidance Center Associate Executive Director Regina Barros-Rivera, who heads up the Latina Girls Project, describes how critical the trips are to the success of the program: “In addition to individual and family therapy, monthly outings to places such as museums, theater and other cultural sites are crucial to the Latina Girls Project’s ability to transform these girls’ lives. The trips serve to boost their confidence and sense of independence. They also discover that there’s a great big world of opportunity out there for them, which allows them to feel hopeful about their futures.”
The event Wednesday night, which featured moving speeches from several of the girls who’ve participated in the program, was not only a celebration of the girls’ success but also an opportunity to honor John and Janet Kornreich.
All of the attendees expressed their profound gratitude to the Kornreiches, who were very touched by the girls’ expressions of how profoundly the outings helped changed their lives.
As one girl put it, “The therapy helped my mother and I communicate and become very close, and the monthly outings showed me a world I never would have seen. I felt that I wanted to be a part of the larger world. The trips gave me the feeling that I could be truly happy in my life.”
Barros-Rivera said that the Kornreiches were “angels,” explaining that John walked into the Guidance Center one day and said “tell me how I can help.”
Toward the end of the celebration, both John and Janet Kornreich told the girls that they were so proud of them and that they should be proud of themselves.The couple also pledged their continued support for the Latina Girls Project.
“We are deeply grateful to John and Janet for their dedication and contribution to this very important Guidance Center program,” said Malekoff. “They make these trips possible, and the trips make the girls see wonderful possibilities in their lives.”
To find out more about the Guidance Center’s work and how you can help, please visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call (516) 626-1971.
Words matter. Today, this is no more evident than in the incendiary rhetoric spoken – and tweeted – that has contributed to American citizens being pitted against one another.
There is a growing sentiment that the mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue that took the lives of 11 congregants was fueled by hate speech that ignited the shooter’s growing rage.
Although that subject is being abundantly covered in the media, it is the words associated with another kind of shocking death that I wish to draw attention to here.
When someone takes their life, they are most frequently reported to have “committed suicide.” Commit is a word that connotes a criminal act. Yet, suicide is not a crime.
Desiree Woodland, a mom who lost her son to suicide shared her experience in a National Alliance on Mental Illness publication. “My son did not commit a crime. He believed the only way to end the unbearable pain was to end his life. He died because he didn’t have the words to express the deep psychological/biological turmoil he was experiencing.”
If not a crime, is suicide an immoral, depraved or sinful act? It isn’t if it is the consequence of mental illness, unbearable stress, or trauma.
Nonetheless, family members who are survivors of suicide loss report the experience of others speaking in hushed tones around them. Some people refer to suicide as a selfish act, the result of poor parenting, a deficit in the family or all of the above.
At the same time that there is a growing demand to tone down divisive and hateful rhetoric in order to prevent interpersonal violence, there needs to be discussion about mental illness and suicide.
According to Denver psychotherapist Dr. Stacy Freedenthall, “If changing our language can help suicidal people to feel safer asking for help, then changing language can save lives.”
In academic journals there appears to be an inclination to use the term “completed suicide.” However, committed and completed are terms that advance the stigma and shame related to suicide and should be avoided.
Increasingly there is preference to the expression “died by suicide,” which avoids the judgmental undertone of “committed suicide.”
Perhaps a contributor to The Mighty, a digital health community created to empower and connect people facing health challenges and disabilities, said it best: “By shifting our language around suicide, we have the power to reduce some of the massive shame carried by survivors of suicide. If you feel scared or helpless about what to say to someone who’s lost someone to suicide, take comfort in knowing that, by changing your language about suicide, you’re offering an act of kindness.”
Honorees Michael and Andrea Leeds, state Sen. Todd Kaminsky and Guidance Center Executive Director Andrew Malekoff. (Photo courtesy of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center)
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s 65th Sapphire Anniversary gala raised over $620,000 to support the Guidance Center’s mission to bring hope and healing to children and their families who are experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. The Oct. 25 gala, which honored philanthropists Andrea and Michael Leeds and Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity, marked the most successful fundraising event in the Guidance Center’s history.
Guest speaker Linda Beigel Schulman.
The event included speaker Linda Beigel Schulman, the mother of Scott J. Beigel, one of the teachers killed in the shooting in Parkland, Florida. Her speech brought everyone to their feet.
Honorees Andrea and Michael Leeds and Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity drew supporters from as close as Long Island and as far away as California.
Andrea Leeds has been a Board Member at the Guidance Center for more than 20 years. She and her husband Michael are dedicated philanthropists, and they have supported many causes both on Long Island and across the globe.
Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity, hosts an annual holiday shopping event that supports more than 100 not-for-profit organizations, including the Guidance Center. The event, which this year takes place from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2, has raised nearly $12 million since its inception in 1996.
Many contributed to planning the gala including co-chairs Matilde and Cliff Broder and Rosemarie and Mitchell Klipper, journal co-chairs Jo-Ellen Hazan and the recently deceased John J. Gutleber, who passed away unexpectedly in September, and auction co-chairs Deirdre Costa Major and Charles G. Chan. The Mistress of Ceremonies was News 12 Long Island’s Carol Silva.
Guidance Center Executive Director Andrew Malekoff, Americana’s Deirdre Costa Major and Guidance Center President Nancy Lane.
“We are extremely grateful to our honorees, speaker, mistress of ceremonies, donors, sponsors and all who worked so hard on the gala committee,” said Guidance Center Executive Director Andrew Malekoff. “For 65 years, we have been dedicated to providing mental health services to all children and families, regardless of their ability to pay. And because of the generosity of everyone involved, we will be able to continue to provide the best in care to the community.”
Powerful images that depict disturbing events in ways that literature alone cannot can be illuminating and healing. Following are three descriptions of different media that capture recent man-made disasters, still very close to the surface for many of us.
The first, Please Stand By, is an example of cartoon art in the aftermath of 9/11. The second, The Last Lockdown, is about a sculpture created after the mass school shooting in Parkland, FL. Both illustrate the fear-inducing paralysis of traumatic events. The last, Memorial Rock Garden, describes bereaved children painting stones to memorialize their deceased dads.
Please Stand By
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America, several artists joined together to produce a soft cover book titled 9/11: Artists Respond. It is a collection of art, sequenced to showcase the artists’ response to the terror that befell the world.
One nine-frame piece entitled “Please Stand By…,” by Jeph Loeb and J. Scott Campbell, features a girl of about 8 years old watching cartoons on television. By the third and fourth frames, the image on the screen changes to a live feed of the Twin Towers ablaze.
As the little girl stands transfixed, stuffed animal in hand and her face less than 12 inches from the screen, the commentator announces, “We interrupt this program to take you live…”
The little girl turns away and cries out, “Mommy!” The next three frames begin with her mother dropping a basket of laundry. Then, with her face contorted in anguish, she embraces her daughter to shield her from the unrelenting televised images.
The final frame is a close up of the little girl asking, “Mommy, when are the cartoons gonna come back on?”
The Last Lockdown
The next image is a haunting statue, as described by journalist Josh Hafner, of a “small girl cowering beneath an open school desk, clutching a leg as she gazes into the distance with a look of fear in her eyes.”
The sculpture was created by Manuel Oliver, an artist who lost his 17-year-old son Joaquin in the Parkland, FL, mass shooting earlier this year.
As Oliver said, “It’s too late for us to save Joaquin from gun violence, but through art, my family and I are making sure that we protect the rest of the kids out there.”
“Talking about the trauma is rarely if ever enough,” advises noted trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk. He points to the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem and the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., “as good examples of symbols that enable survivors to mourn the dead and establish the historical and cultural meaning of the traumatic events to remind survivors of the ongoing potential for communality and sharing.”
Memorial Rock Garden
In 2002 at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, a group of boys and girls who lost fathers in the attack on the World Trade Center decorated stones to be placed in a memorial rock garden.
The kids in the bereavement group sat together around a table covered with newspaper. In front of each of them was a large smooth oval-shaped stone. They decorated the stones with unique designs of paint and glitter, each one a personal remembrance of their fathers.
“Mine is painted gold,” beamed Mack. “I painted it gold because my dad is like gold to me.”
A heart framed Jenny’s design, “because my dad will always be in my heart.”
On Seth’s stone were two intertwined hands, a small one and a larger one that showed “me and my dad were best friends.”
Victoria painted a fire hat and said, “My dad is my hero.”
We might do well to remember that when funding cuts threaten to decimate arts programs in schools there is more at stake then we might imagine. The impact of the arts is not measured by standardized tests and its value is incalculable.
Andrew Malekoff is the Executive Director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families.
I recently attended a seminar led by Dr. Cynthia Kaplan, director of Trauma Training & Consultation within the Child and Adolescent Services at McLean Hospital of Boston.
Dr. Kaplan addressed the issue of childhood sexual abuse. She incorporated the story of a young woman, Kayla Harrison, a survivor of CSA and a two-time Olympian Gold medalist in judo for the United States.
Many years ago CSA was only heard about in whispers as opposed to in-depth reports by investigative journalists. Today reports on CSA perpetrated by what seem like otherwise model citizens – religious leaders, coaches, teachers, seem commonplace.
Dr. Kaplan made a strong point about how we caution children in the strongest terms to “stay away from strangers,” yet 90 percent of children and adolescents, who are sexually abused, know their abuser.
Kayla’s book, “Fighting Back: What an Olympic Champion’s Story Can Teach Us about Recognizing and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse – and Helping Kids Recover,” co-authored by Drs. Kaplan and Aguirre, contains excerpts from Kayla’s personal journal.
She wrote about her experiences throughout the course of her abuse, including about how she was groomed by her coach.
“By the time I was nine or 10 I started traveling with the team to local tournaments. At night when the whole team would watch movies I would snuggle up next to him. He would put a blanket over us and then one day things went further and he guided my hand to touch him.”
About one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
The impact of CSA can be felt by survivors throughout their lifetime.
According to Dr. Kaplan, what complicates the healing is that CSA is not visible, not transparent. Consequently, survivors may not get the support they need and are often left to struggle and mourn alone.
When film director Steven Spielberg created the Shoah Foundation, which strives to capture the testimony of Holocaust survivors, he discovered that many of them had never told their stories before.
They often avoided doing so because they had a deep sense of shame and distress which they often believed could or would not be understood by others.
After the filming they reported feeling a sense of relief at finally having told someone. They finally felt heard.
Being truly heard requires another person to bear witness. Living with the hurt in silence can compound traumatic stress and lead to destructive and even fatal behaviors including drinking, drugging, self-harm and suicide.
Disclosures of CSA require professional support. When survivors lose their ability to control disclosures, the emotional impact can be devastating.
Even in the best of circumstances, says Dr. Kaplan, following disclosure individuals often feel more distressed and have trouble managing emotions. They may begin to lose faith in the world and can feel re-traumatized by the disclosure experience itself.
It is significantly more likely that a child will disclose if they know they are likely to be believed and do not feel blamed and also if they are helped to anticipate the potential legal repercussions of breaking their silence.
Believing that they will be protected by the adult they disclose to goes a long way. Particularly when they are able to maintain at least some control over the disclosure process, preserve their anonymity to the extent possible and sustain a level of confidentiality.
Surprising as it may seem, children also need to feel free to express their concerns about what will happen to the offender, as it is a complicated relationship with the victim having mixed feelings that survivors need time to process.
There is hope. As Kayla said, after many years and support from her new coaches, parents and mental health professionals, “I began to see my way out of the darkness and towards the light until I could again see the flame of the Olympic torch shining with my very own eyes.”
Andrea and Michael Leeds and Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity® will be the honorees at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s 65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala, which will take place Oct. 25 at the Garden City Hotel.
Andrea Leeds has been a board member at the Guidance Center for more than 20 years. She and her husband Michael have taken a leadership role in philanthropy and have been passionate, dedicated and committed supporters of the Long Island community.
Every holiday season, Americana Manhasset supports more than 100 not-for-profit organizations during its annual Champions for Charity® holiday shopping benefit, which this year takes place from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. (Visit championsforcharity.org for free registration.) Since its inception in 1996, Champions for Charity® has raised nearly $12 million.
The co-chairs for this year’s gala are Matilde and Cliff Broder and Rosemarie and Mitchell Klipper. Journal co-chairs are Jo-Ellen Hazan and the recently deceased John Gutleber, who passed away unexpectedly in September. Auction co-chairs are Deirdre Costa Major and Charles Chan. The Mistress of Ceremonies is News 12 Long Island’s Carol Silva.
The gala will feature delicious food, live music, dancing and auction and raffle prizes. The speaker will be Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son Scott Beigel was murdered during the Parkland, Fla. tragedy.
“For 65 years, the Guidance Center has been committed to providing essential mental health services to all children and families, regardless of their ability to pay,” says Executive Director Andrew Malekoff. “The generous support of our honorees, donors and sponsors at the gala will help us maintain the highest standard and quality of care to our community.”
All proceeds will benefit the Guidance Center. To learn more about becoming a sponsor or an underwriter or purchasing tickets, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org/events, call 516)-626-1971 ext. 337 or email development@northshorechildguidance.org.
65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala to Honor Andrea and Michael Leeds,
Americana Manhasset Champions for Charity®
Roslyn Heights, NY, October 12, 2018 — North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is proud to announce that Andrea and Michael Leeds and Americana Manhasset Champions for Charity® will be the honorees at the 65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala, which will take place October 25th at the Garden City Hotel.
Andrea Leeds has been a Board Member at the Guidance Center for more than 20 years. She and her husband Michael have taken a leadership role in philanthropy and have been passionate, dedicated and committed supporters of the Long Island community.
Every holiday season, Americana Manhasset supports more than 100 not-for-profit organizations during its annual Champions for Charity® holiday shopping benefit, which this year takes place from November 29 through December 2.(Visit championsforcharity.org for free registration.) Since its inception in 1996, Champions for Charity® has raised nearly $12 million.
The co-chairs for this year’s gala are Matilde and Cliff Broder and Rosemarie and Mitchell Klipper.Journal co-chairs are Jo-Ellen Hazan and the recently deceased John J. Gutleber, who passed away unexpectedly in September. Auction co-chairs are Deirdre Costa Major and Charles G. Chan. The Mistress of Ceremonies is News 12 Long Island’s Carol Silva.
The gala will feature delicious food, live music, dancing and fabulous auction and raffle prizes. The speaker will be Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son Scott Beigel was murdered during the Parkland, Florida tragedy.
“For 65 years, the Guidance Center has been committed to providing essential mental health services to all children and families, regardless of their ability to pay,” says Executive Director Andrew Malekoff. “The generous support of our honorees, donors and sponsors at the gala will help us maintain the highest standard and quality of care to our community.”
All proceeds will benefit the Guidance Center.To learn more about becoming a sponsor or an underwriter or purchasing tickets, please visit www.northshorechildguidance.org/events, call (516) 626-1971 ext. 337 or email development@northshorechildguidance.org.
About Us:
As the preeminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of children (from birth – age 24) and their families. Our highly trained staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors and other mental health professionals lead the way in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, training, parent education, research and advocacy. The 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. For 65 years, the Guidance Center has been a place of hope and healing, providing innovative and compassionate treatment to all who enter our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about the Guidance Center, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call (516) 626-1971.
(From left) Honorees Andrea and Michael Leeds, Congressman Tom Suozzi, honorees Rita and Frank Castagna, state Sen. Todd Kaminsky and honoree Deirdre Costa Major contributed to the success of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s 65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala.
