As part of Westchester County’s ongoing effort to develop a Co-Occurring System of Care (COSOC), the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) presented its annual Fall Forum at the Westchester County Center. This year’s theme was Pathways Forward: Westchester County Co-Occurring System of Care: Innovating Prevention, Treatment, Recovery and System Transformation.
The Forum was an opportunity to bring together over 430 service providers, agency CEOs, hospitals, schools, CBOs, State & Local Elected Officials, and leaders from Mid-Hudson Counties to learn about Westchester County’s leadership in the realm of co-occurring systems of care – a model that is being replicated across the United States. Commissioner of the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Dr. Chinzano Cunningham and Executive Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Office of Mental Health Moira Tashjian addressed the crowd.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “I want to thank our Department of Community Mental Health, under the leadership of Commissioner Michael Orth, for bringing us together today to share ideas to make our system of care even more inclusive. It is impressive to see over 400 people gather to learn from each other, discuss what is working and what needs improvement, so that change can happen at all levels of government.”
Commissioner of DCMH Michael Orth said: “The statistics are staggering. But the effort that DCMH has made with its partners in COSOC have been beyond life changing. I want to thank County Executive Latimer for his steadfast support of our Department, and for the needs of those that face co-occurring disorders. Our partnership with the many groups that provide services, especially Stephanie Marquesano of the harris project, have pushed Westchester to the forefront of co-occurring care and those in need are better off for it. But we can always do more. So I thank everyone who was involved in today’s program – for their insights, their reflections and their commitment to improve outcomes.”
In 2017, Westchester County created the Co-Occurring System of Care (COSOC) committee, bringing together behavioral health providers, peers, County government, health centers, schools and community organizations to enhance the efforts in co-occurring practices and services through prevention, harm reduction, use of evidence-based treatment, peer services, and recovery supports. Integrating both screening and treatment for mental and substance use disorders leads to better quality of care and outcomes for those living with co-occurring disorders. During Latimer’s tenure, the committee has continued to grow and flourish, making Westchester County a leader in the development of programs addressing co-occurring disorders.
The conference included multiple breakout sessions, which were as follows:
- Youth, Families, Schools & Communities Prevention, Early Intervention & Engagement
- Effective Harm Reduction Strategies currently used in Westchester County
- Building & Sustaining a Co-Occurring Capable Workforce
- Integrating Behavioral Health & Criminal Justice Crisis & Diversion–Co-Occurring Approaches
- The Role of Peer Services in Co-Occurring Competent Care
- Innovative Housing Solutions for Individuals with Co-Occurring Disorders
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), one in two individuals with substance use issues also struggles with mental health challenges. Additionally, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that more than 20 million individuals in the US have co-occurring disorders. Additional statistics are as follows:
- 49% of US youth will face a mental health challenge
- 22% of US youth will have a mental health disorder with “significant impact”
- 50% of lifetime mental health disorders begin by age 14, 75% by age 24
- Approximately 20% of youth in need of mental health services receive them
- Approximately 50% of youth receiving services for their mental health have a co-occurring substance use disorder
- Approximately 65% of youth receiving treatment for substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental health disorder
Founder and President of the harris project Stephanie Marquesano said: “This event holds personal significance for me, taking place on the 11th anniversary of my son Harris’s death by accidental overdose at 19. His challenges with co-occurring disorders is what drives me, and today’s forum demonstrates the critical importance of addressing this issue. I am grateful to the elected officials, state and local agencies, school and community leaders, providers, and those personally impacted by co-occurring disorders who participated. Their presence underscores the shared commitment to transforming our system of care. Together, we’ve issued a powerful call to action, exploring policy and budgetary opportunities that can advance prevention, treatment, and recovery. This collective effort is a meaningful step toward ensuring better outcomes for individuals and families affected by co-occurring disorders. We have already been doing incredible work on this in Westchester County, and I’m hopeful that the momentum from today will lead to real, lasting change.”