RyeCity REVIEW THE
July 28, 2023 | Vol. 10, Number 30 | www.ryecityreview.com
County to help abuse victims with mental health needs
HEATING UP!
Rye and White Plains square off in a first-round playoff game in the Lakeland Summer League on July 23. The Lakeland league has been running for 16 years and affords high school teams a chance to get valuable experience as they prepare for the upcoming fall season. For story, see p. 16. Photo/Mike Smith
County Parks user survey feedback shared
Westchester County Parks rolled out its park-user survey late last year, and the results are in: 92% of park visitors find value and positive benefits in the Westchester County Parks system! Earlier today, details of the survey were shared at Muscoot Farm’s groundbreaking for its upcoming site work and unveiling of its restored Main House. The Westchester County Parks user survey, which is typically deployed every 10 years, invites users to share their feedback on facilities and how they envision the future of the Westchester County Parks system. Findings included increased park usage across the board when compared to the last survey; as well as visitors’ desires to improve physical health and fitness, mental health and reduce stress, and users are satisfied with the overall value of the Westchester County Parks system. Westchester County Executive
George Latimer said: “The Westchester County Parks system is for our residents, so it is important to hear their feedback and implement it into our plans. According to the survey, Muscoot Farm is one of our most popular parks and investing into its future with the restoration of the house and site improvements, will ensure this generation and generations to come can continue to enjoy the farm and all it has to offer.” The Muscoot Farm Main House restoration was a $3.6 million capital project that included interior and exterior repairs to the building including roof replacement and repair with all leaks addressed, siding and trim replacement and new gutter system, concrete slab and brick patio repair and replacement, refurbished and replaced doors, interior and exterior painting, interior structural and cosmetic finishes with new plastering in addition to refurbishing the hardwood walnut floors.
The Main House is utilized for various events including art shows and with the restoration could include weddings. The additional $10.2 million site improvement capital project will begin this summer and will include new restrooms and wastewater treatment system; reconstructing of gravel and brick walkways; resurfacing and reconfiguring of roads, parking lot and entrance; reconstruction of fences, and repairing drainage. Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commissioner Kathy O’Connor said: “The capital projects at Muscoot Farm are important in maintaining the integrity of not only the park but the park system itself. According to survey feedback, a large portion of our visitors agree that our parks make Westchester a more desirable place to live, and we will continue maintaining and restoring our facilities to ensure that Westchester remains a desirable location.”
In a first-of-its-kind program in New York State, the Westchester County Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) and Social Services (DSS) are joining together to help adults at risk of neglect and abuse, who are also suffering with mental health needs. The departments will begin to jointly respond to calls for assistance for adults who are neglected or abused, and also potentially living with serious behavioral health issues. While DCMH and DSS work under separate state divisions, Westchester County has found that a joint response to the most serious cases produces more effective results for people in need. The staff person began in the position on Monday, July 24. Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “I am proud that in Westchester County, we have developed a model that collaboratively addresses what has become a real need in our communities. We have found that often times, someone who may be trapped in an abusive situation could also be suffering from a serious mental health need. Handling these types of cases requires a very specific response, beginning with de-escalating an immediate crisis, and then connecting an individual to the appropriate services.” Developed by Westchester County employees including DCMH Deputy Commissioner Joseph A. Glazer, and DSS leadership staff, the model combines the skill and function of two separate entities into one cross-systems response. DSS’ Adult Protective Services (APS) provides assistance and services to adults who are vulnerable, and at risk of neglect or abuse. DCMH’s Single Point of Access (SPOA) is responsible for connecting individuals with serious mental health diagnoses to the appropriate services. In 2021, DCMH and DSS began assessing and co-responding to situations where there exists a likelihood that both may be responsible for providing intervention, services and connective supports to vulnerable people in the community. Moving
forward, a staff person from SPOA will be embedded with the staff in APS, working together to find better solutions and coordinated services for those most at risk. DCMH Commissioner Michael Orth said: “As a County and as a department, we know we can do more when we work collaboratively. This is one example of our ability to pool the resources we have to better serve the people in our collective mission.” DSS Commissioner Leonard Townes said: “This kind of interdepartmental collaboration allows us to better address the needs of some of Westchester most vulnerable people with a faster and more focused response. It also shows the kind of initiative and ingenuity we have in our staff at DSS and DCMH, who are thinking outside the box to find better and more efficient ways to help Country residents. I want to thank Deputy Commissioner Glazer and DSS APS Manager Kym Megna for going above and beyond to develop this program.” DCMH Deputy Commissioner Joseph A. Glazer said: “This new model was born of necessity. During and after the COVID lockdown, as the number of overlapping calls between SPOA and APS grew, we decided to put our heads together and figure out the best ways to collaborate. This new model, where a DCMH employee will be embedded right in APS, will better serve some of the most vulnerable people in our county. I applaud our partners in DSS for helping make this work.” The APS/SPOA co-response model will provide the following: • More timely, thorough and complete response • More efficient use of resources • The potential to reduce the growing number of Court-ordered Legal Guardianships currently being filed by Westchester County, a costly and difficult way to put someone in charge of another person’s right to make their own decisions.