Closing Doors. Killing Hope.
• Institute for Basic Research
• Elmira Psych Center
• Hutchings Psych Center
• Middletown Psych Center
Budget would hit
mental health services hardest
By SHERRY HALBROOK
As usual, the state Office of Mental Health would take
the biggest budget hit with a net loss of 950 positions,
and 611 of those jobs abolished.
The proposed budget also calls for massive service cuts
and consolidations, and other measures that would impose
hardships on remaining clients and staff.
The state Assembly’s analysis of the budget proposal
indicates 343 positions would be eliminated in connection
with facility closings.
However, 361 of the 1,323 staff at Hutchings, Elmira and
Middletown psychiatric centers would remain at those
sites to provide outpatient services. And another 619 of
the staff would transfer to the facilities receiving the
relocated patients.
Mohawk Valley PC would receive patients from Hutchings
and Rockland PC would get those from Middletown. And
patients at Elmira would be transferred to Rochester.
No more enhanced
salaries
The proposed budget would end new salary enhancements for
psychiatrists and nurses at OMH.
These include the geographic and shift differentials,
increased minimum hiring rates and increased minimum
salaries for advanced qualifications — all measures
used by OMH to recruit and retain staff in local job
markets where the regular state pay is not competitive.
Employees who already receive these enhancements will
keep them. But the enhancements will not be expanded to
include other titles or worksites, and will not be
offered to new hires or transfers.
Reassignments
far flung
The governor is again asking for legislation to make the
OMH commissioner the sole appointing authority at that
agency.
Currently the director of each psychiatric center is its
appointing authority, which keeps reassignments fairly
close to home. If the commissioner were given sole
appointing authority, he could reassign staff anywhere in
the state as their only alternative to layoff.
Research
facilities to merge
The proposed consolidation of the state’s two
mental-health-research facilities — the Nathan Kline
Institute in Rockland County, and the New York
Psychiatric Institute in New York City. Just two labs
would remain open at Nathan Kline, but under the
direction of NYPI.
The budget calls for cutting 113 positions in research
and 25 in administration and finance.
Shared staffing
would end
The budget would end the sharing of 315 OMH staff with
county and municipal mental-health programs. The local
governments would get higher cost reimbursements to
partially compensate for the loss of staff.
The affected state employees could work at their state
worksite or go to work for the local agency. But some
county officials say the higher state reimbursement rates
would cover the salaries, but not the benefits for these
employees who are often the linchpin of local services.
Research
facility would close, youth program end
The state budget proposal includes the abolition of 218
positions at the state Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities, although these would be
offset by increased staffing for other programs.
Most of the abolished positions would be at the Institute
for Basic Research (IBR) on Staten Island, slated to
close by July 1.
The IBR is the state’s only institution devoted to
getting at the underlying causes, treatments and
prevention of developmental disabilities, mental
retardation and the relationships between such diverse
conditions as Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.
The budget would also end the Youth Opportunity Program
which encourages young people to discover their own
career potential by helping people with disabilities.
— Sherry Halbrook
See related budget links below:
• Office of Mental Health
(OMH)
• Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD)
• Office of Children and
Family Services (OCFS)
• Transportation Department (DOT)
• Office of General Services (OGS)
• Department of Environmental
Conservation (ENCON)
• Education Department (SED)
• Vocational Education Services to Individuals with
Disabilities (VESID)
• Health Department (DOH)
• Department of Corrections
Services
• Division of Parole (DOP)
• Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV)
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
New pact ends 20 years of
sick-leave inequity
PEF wins $1.75 million for
members
Downstate members to save on
fares
Stay in the know with
contract talks
Early Retirement window is
closing fast
Budge
Breakdown
PEF fires back against
proposed budget
Program, job cuts in
proposed state budget
• Office of Mental Health
(OMH)
• OMRDD
• Office of Children
and Family Services (OCFS)
• Transportation Department (DOT)
• Office of General Services (OGS)
• ENCON
• Education Department (SED)
• VESID
• Health Department (DOH)
• Department of
Corrections Services
• Division of Parole (DOP)
• Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV)
Departments
President's Message:
Stopping job-killing layoffs
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety: Working
conditions symposium
Member Mobilization:
Exposing weakest links
Nurses' Station: LobbyDay
plans for May 5th
Health Notes: Expanded
coverage for women
Retirees In Action:
Death-benefit coverage
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
DVD on members’
accounts of workplace violence
Hidden talents emerge among
members
State AFL-CIO offers
scholarship
Election Board meeting
DCAAccount user? File IRS
form 2441
2003-2006 Elections
Corrected Definitions
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
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