«It is not acceptable that New York continues to seek cuts in mental health programs, facilities and services,» said CSEA President Danny Donohue,
representing mental health workers in state local, and private sector health care settings.
We have said, since the July announcement, that the RCE plan was ill - thought out and this has caused the people who receive
mental health services and the people who deliver them great anxiety and upset, as there was no prior notification to the
workers and the unions that
represent them of either the initial announcement or yesterday's announcement.
The Local Wellness Committee will
represent all school levels (elementary and secondary schools) and include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the school nutrition program (e.g., school nutrition director); physical education teachers;
health education teachers; school
health professionals (e.g.,
health education teachers, school
health services staff (e.g., nurses, physicians, dentists,
health educators, and other allied
health personnel who provide school
health services), and
mental health and social services staff (e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social
workers, or psychiatrists); school administrators (e.g., superintendent, principal, vice principal); school board members;
health professionals (e.g., dietitians, doctors, nurses, dentists); and the general public.
During that process, the board heard from individuals and associations
representing consumers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, social
workers, psychologists, and others involved in providing
mental health services.