PROTECT THE CHILDREN — PEF Division 188 Council Leader T.J. Simmons addresses a rally at Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center. — Photo by Rafael Delgado SPEAKING OUT FOR KIDS — PEF and the Children’s Mental Health Partnership rally at Western NY. — Photo by Caroline Esposito

Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Centers in September in opposition to moving the operations into centers for adult patients. — Photo Guy Harriton. Activists: Keep kids with kids PEF members, MH advocates, rally at 3 children’s centers By DENYCE DUNCAN LACY They wore rally signs, buttons and stickers bearing the slogans, “Keep kids with kids,” and “Keep the road to recovery short.” Hundreds of PEF members at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center, Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center, and Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center held coordinated noon-hour rallies outside each of their facilities at noon on September 6, to send another signal to state lawmakers to pass a state budget that keeps the centers separate from facilities for adults. PEF President Roger Benson joined Region 9 Coordinator Neila Cardus and a slew of other union members and mental-health advocates at the Rockland rally. “The state’s proposal to consolidate Rockland Children’s Center with the Rockland Psychiatric Center for adults threatens to shortchange children with mental illness,” Benson said. “We’re here to tell state lawmakers to keep kids with kids, in mental-health centers designed for them.” The three rallies were scheduled to influence state lawmakers who would be returning to Albany in September to finalize the annual state budget. As with previous rallies, the goal was to ensure New York’s elected representatives preserve the current locally based services. “Our members are concerned that the clients and families who rely on these facilities will be left with less than adequate treatment options if these psychiatric centers close their doors,” Benson said. “And until state lawmakers and the governor agree on a new state budget that excludes these proposals, there is still a very real threat that these doors will close. We’re here to remind the public that we need these children’s hospitals in our communities.” Nearly 100 union members and advocates took part in the rally at Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center led by Region 1 Coordinator Joyce Degenhardt, PEF Vice President Ken Brynien, and PEF Division 167 leader Tom Grace. And dozens of PEF members and supporters joined Region 11 Coordinator Alan Schulkin and Division 188 Council Leader Thomas “TJ” Simmons at the Queens Children’s Center rally. The Communicator Home Page