August, 2011
Inside This Issue:
Medical Updates | Legally Speaking | Promoting Quality Services | Promoting Quality Services for Children and Adolescents |
Promoting Cultural Competence | From the Field | Facility Spotlight | 10th Anniversary of September 11
Medical Updates
The treatment of mental illness is complicated. There are numerous medication options, increasing treatment costs, and complicated primary and physical health considerations to take into account. Ever more, we are aware of the growing importance of effective recipient-provider communication to facilitate the goals of recovery in treatment. In many areas of industry -- such as airlines, construction, and finance -- checklists are used as a powerful tool to manage complexities. Despite increasing recognition of their importance, checklists remain under-utilized in behavioral health.
Legally Speaking
Implementation of Behavioral Health Organizations
Promoting Quality Services
Lessons Learned from the Positive Alternative to Restraint and Seclusion Conference
Nearly 200 people attended the PARS (Positive Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion) Lessons Learned Conference on May 24 and 25, 2011 at the Grand Hotel in Poughkeepsie, New York. Attendees represented Residential Treatment Facilities, State-operated and Article 28/31 hospitals serving adults and children, New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Central and Field Offices, and consumer and advocacy organizations.
Promoting Quality Services for Children and Adolescents
Many people don't realize that mental health issues exist in young children and new mothers. The earlier these problems are detected, the better the outcomes for the children, families and communities.
Promoting Cultural Competence
Developing Regional Multicultural Advisory Councils Statewide
The Bureau of Cultural Competence (BCC) has begun a journey visiting the five regions across New York State to develop Regional Multicultural Advisory Committees (MAC) within local communities.
From the Field
Suicide Prevention Initiative: Postvention Program Offered In Central NY Region
As part of the New York State Suicide Prevention strategy to achieve the goal of helping to make communities suicide safe, a Connect postvention train-the-trainer session was held in the Central New York Region on March 21-23, 2011. Supported by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Connect is a suicide postvention training program that is a planned response after a suicide to help with healing and to reduce the risk of further suicide incidents that could occur in response to the original loss.
Facility Spotlight
MyPlate Nutritional Guide Replaces the Food Pyramid: One Dietician's Review
On June 2, 2011, the United Stated Department of Agriculture released MyPlate 
, a nutritional guide replacing the Pyramid icon used for the past 19 years. This new tool uses a plate and glass divided into 5 food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, protein and dairy.
10th Anniversary of September 11
9-11 Healing and Remembrance Program
In the aftermath of the devastation and horror of the World Trade Center attacks many, many OMH staff offered their services to support those in need at Ground Zero and beyond. Working through assistance centers and later via Project Liberty, OMH workers demonstrated a level of commitment, compassion, and expertise that was a key to beginning the long process of recovery and healing. The 10th anniversary of 9-11 may be a difficult time both for those who have suffered losses directly and for those in our OMH our community as a whole. To respond to some of those needs, the 9-11 Healing and Remembrance Program is working to assist in making the remembrance process a bit easier.
OMH News is published monthly for people served by, working, involved or interested in New York State’s mental health programs.
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