Greenburger Center for Social & Criminal Justice

On October 16th, Francis Greenburger and Cheryl Roberts were honored to accept RUPCO’s 2024 Community Partner Award for the Center’s work on the Columbia County Wellness Hub. The Wellness Hub will provide emergency, temporary and permanent supportive housing for people in need, including those living with mental illness and/or a substance use disorder, or who are chronically unhoused or returning from incarceration.

The Wellness Hub was a primary recommendation of the Task Force, and would not have been possible without the generous donation of land for the Hub by Paul Colarusso of A. Colarusso & Son or the support of Greenport Supervisor Kathy Eldridge whose town will host the Hub. In addition, a $1.5 million grant from the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Chairman Matt Murell, will fund predevelopment work.

“This is a true team effort and like Mayor Johnson often says, a project that will require ‘All Hands on Deck.’ The good news is, many hands are raised and ready to work, and we look forward to seeing this project through to completion.” said Cheryl Roberts. “We cannot thank our partners enough, including Mayor Johnson, the County Board of Supervisors, RUPCO, Paul Colarusso, and our government and non profit service providers.”

“As New Yorkers, we must demand better for our communities. Let us realize the power of skilled, compassionate services to transform lives, particularly for individuals who have become justice-involved due to an untreated mental health condition. By supporting the TNJ Act, we can extend NACT’s transformational impact to people across our state. Together, we can create futures where people receive the support they need when they need it in order to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.” - Megan Kirk

To read more from Megan Kirk, check out her latest Op-Ed on the Queens Daily Eagle website.

The Columbia County Wellness Hub was devised from a county study showing the best ways to fill gaps in care. Once complete, it will provide emergency housing for people with mental health and substance use disorders. To read more from our Executive Directo Cheryl Roberts, check out the full article at publicnewsservice.org 📰

Available now - Executive Director Cheryl Roberts’ op ed: Mental Illness: A Great Leveler.

“While we do not have all the answers yet to mental illness, what is crystal clear is that people living with serious brain disorders can be humanely and effectively treated, even when involuntarily committed if that is truly needed. Most importantly, often they are best aided by having access to supportive housing attached to clinic services, skills training, social opportunities, community and peer support, and medication management.”

See the full article at newyorkdailynews.com 📰

We are pleased to share that the "Michelle Go Act" was introduced in Congress last week. This bill, backed by bipartisan support and authored by Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), aims to expand access to psychiatric care for Medicaid recipients. Named in honor of Michelle Alyssa Go, a beloved NYJL member, this act seeks to address the mental health crisis by repealing the IMD exclusion and allow expanded access to treatment for millions of Americans. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this bill represents a vital step towards recovery.

The NYJL Advocates for Public Policy (APP) committee has advocated and supported this bill. NYJL President Serra Eken said, “The Michelle Alyssa Go Act is a critical first step in offering adequate, consistent care to those in greatest need and improves the community for all New Yorkers. We appreciate that Michelle Go and her dedication to the community can be honored in this way.”

Learn more in Congressman Goldman's press release and the New York Times article that can be found here: https://linkin.bio/thenyjl/

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Available now - Executive Director Cheryl Roberts’ op ed: S*x Offender Rules Need Reform.

“And so I must ask, if ratcheting up collateral consequences increases recidivism while potentially driving the majority of victims underground, where neither they nor their offenders get help, treatment or a chance for reconciliation (where appropriate), in whose interest are these laws enacted?”

See the full article at newyorkdailynews.com 📰

April is Autism Awareness Month. This month, we want to uplift the organizations and individuals that empower everyone in the ASD community to live fully. We believe that acceptance means creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to connect with the support they need.

This weekend, the New York Times published DA Bragg’s op-ed about the state of mental healthcare in NYC and the need for better and more available treatment options for those in crisis. While the DA has committed $9 million to two programs over the past few years, he called on the State to strengthen New York’s mental health infrastructure by building more supportive housing and providing funding to scale the Greenburger Center’s Hope House on Crotona Park, a therapeutic Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) residential treatment facility currently under construction in the Bronx. Visit the NYT website to read more.

So excited to share the below! Thanks to The Fortune Society for celebrating with us.

Help, Not Jail, Now Under Construction for People With Mental Illness | The Fortune Society After 10 years of advocacy, a residence for people with mental illness who would otherwise be incarcerated for felonies is finally on its way to The Bronx.

Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet 1/8 people worldwide are living with mental disorders which can impact every part of their daily lives. This year for World Mental Health Day, we're united behind the theme "mental health is a universal human right". We believe that everyone has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health, including the right to be protected from mental health risks and the right to accessible care. To read more about World Mental Health Day, 2023, visit the World Health Organization website.

Setember is Su***de Prevention Month. This year, we're creating hope through action and reminding everyone that every action, no matter how big or small, can provide hope to those who need it. Swipe to read more from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline.

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Emergency rooms nationwide are inundated with a surge in young patients struggling with their mental health. Urgent action is needed to support community resources and better equip emergency staff. Read more about this public health crisis in NBC News.

Emergency doctors say they cannot handle the growing pediatric mental health crisis. Faced with bottlenecks and backlogs of patients in need of emergency care, doctors say they are unequipped to handle the growing pediatric mental health crisis.

The “Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act" was recently introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Dan Goldman with the goal of strengthening access to mental health care covered by Medicaid. Read more about this important legislation in this Spectrum Local News article.

N.Y. bill aims to bolster services for people with serious mental illnesses Gillibrand and Goldman introduced the bill.

Miami's Diversion Program combines legal expertise with mental health resources and is a huge step towards a more empathetic criminal justice system. Read this PBS Frontline
article to see more about how the model and Judge Steve Leifman's work is creating a more compassionate and effective approach to cases involving people with serious mental illness.

Miami’s Model for Defendants With Severe Mental Illness As WFAE has been reporting, locking up defendants with serious mental illness can make their mental health worse. It’s expensive, and it's often not very effective at reducing crime. In Miami, public officials have been managing defendants with mental illness very differently.

Approximately 20% of new moms are impacted by various postpartum mental health conditions. Today, we remember the unthinkable tragedy of Dr. Krystal Cascetta and urge anyone in need to contact the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline which provides free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish. Call or text the hotline at 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262). If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the National Su***de Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSu***de.com/resources for additional resources.

Postpartum mental health condition likely a factor in murder-su***de of Dr. Krystal Cascetta, sources say Just this week, the FDA approved the first drug specifically to treat postpartum depression.

Mental Health Care IS Health Care!
This week, the Biden Administration and U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury released proposed rules to improve health plan compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. (Federal Parity Act)
The proposal would strengthen parity enforcement and increase access to care.

Biden pledges 'mental health care is health care' with new rule ensuring mental health parity in insurance coverage | CNN Politics President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced new action to guarantee access to mental health care, unveiling a proposed rule that would ensure mental health benefits on private insurance plans more closely mirror physical health benefits.

Effective criminal justice reform cannot truly succeed without simultaneous mental health reform. Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly five times the rate of white Americans. Considering this disproportionate representation of marginalized communities in the criminal justice system, addressing mental health disparities is essential to promote equitable treatment for all. Learn more here:

https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/the-color-of-justice-racial-and-ethnic-disparity-in-state-prisons-the-sentencing-project/

2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of mass incarceration. Since its inception, we've seen jails and prisons become the largest providers. Learn more about the second-class health system for people who are incarcerated in this The JAMA Network article.

For Health Equity, We Must End Mass Incarceration This Viewpoint discusses the health harms to individuals and communities because of mass incarceration in the US and proposes interventions to ensure health equity for all individuals.

Check out Psychology Today ‘s recent article by CooperRiis on "The Benefits of Plant and Animal Caretaking for People with BPD”. This is a great resource for people living with Borderline Personality Disorder and those who care for them.

The Benefits of Plant and Animal Caretaking for People with BPD Why working on a farm, in a garden, or with a pet can promote BPD recovery.

Access to mental health care is not equal for everyone in the United States. Read this .org article to learn about the many barriers that exist for communities and what can be done to address these disparities.

https://www.psychology.org/resources/mental-healthcare-bipoc-communities/ #:~:text=Stigma%2C%20Mistrust%2C%20and%20Cultural%20Attitudes&text=People%20from%20all%20ethnic%20backgrounds,is%20prevalent%20among%20Black%20Americans

The National Museum of African American History & Culture's edition highlights five Black LQBTQ+ trailblazers in history. Click the link below to read about these activists who have made a lasting contribution to LGBTQ+ rights. +

Five Trailblazers You Should Know: Pride Edition Le***an, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan.

Juneteenth is a day for celebration and reflection. We encourage you to get involved in your community and commit to mental health equity every day of the year. And to all those celebrating - have a fun and safe !

In celebration of Father's Day, we are looking back at our panel discussion: “Dads Making a Difference in Mental Health Advocacy”. These Dads have used their lived experience with to advocate and make much needed reform to our and systems. Click our youtube link to hear from these inspiring Dads.

The Defensive Line, Chris Thomas, Garen Staglin, One Mind, Norman Ornstein and the Matthew Ornstein Memorial Foundation

Dads Making a Difference in Mental Health Advocacy: Why these Dads have HOPE and you should too! In our "Dads Making a Difference in Mental Health Advocacy" panel, our panelists Norm Ornstein, co-founder of the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation...