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Mobile Crisis Intervention Plan Receives Unanimous Support and Moves Closer to Approval
Fishkill Road work expected to be completed by close of 2007
by Margaret Sternberg
Director of Social Services Mike Piazza and members of the Mobile Crisis Intervention Task Force received a warm response at the County Legislature's April 10, 2007 Health Committee meeting when they gave an update on implementation of a 24-hour crisis hotline. The proposal for the hotline had been announced during County Executive Bob Bondi's State of the County Address.
Piazza said the Task Force had decided to act incrementally, with the 24-hour crisis hotline being the first step toward a possible mobile crisis team. The task force's proposal would cost a total of $39,000 annually, with a one-time expenditure of $9,500 for education and training to bring the existing Information/ Referral Counselors up to the standards of the American Society of Suicideology. One of the benefits to the program, according to Piazza, is that the police would not be involved, an issue in earlier discussions because of concern that the person in crisis would be further panicked by seeing the police.
The training would move the counselors from providing only an information referral line, which they would continue to provide through 211, to a point of being able to address hotline, mental health calls for Putnam County. Piazza said, once trained, the ongoing cost is $2,500 per month.
"Protocols" that currently exist with 911 would be established for the new hotline with mental health providers and the hospital. A separate number will be established specifically to address crisis calls from Putnam County, and would not go through 211. The program is expected to receive about 250 calls per month and will be evaluated for its effectiveness.
Piazza said a resolution would be prepared for the legislature for approval, and the Health Committee approved the proposal being forwarded for further discussion to the Audit Committee.
In other business, the Committee approved a non-binding tobacco advertising resolution requesting that retailers reduce overall tobacco advertising in their place of business and eliminate tobacco advertising from areas likely to be seen by children. The resolution also notes that the County's Board of Health encourages law enforcement agencies to ensure that all laws regarding signage are observed.
In a corollary idea, a discussion concerning the instituting of a local law that would forbid smoking in a vehicle containing children received tepid support from the County Board of Health based upon questions about its constitutionality. The Committee noted that Rockland County is currently pursuing a similar law, and the Committee decided, based upon the opinion of the Board of Health as well as their own discussions, to postpone action pending more information on the Rockland County outcome.
In the Physical Services Committee meeting of the same evening, Commissioner of Highways Harold Gary reported that he expected the Fishkill Road work to be finished by the end of 2007, adding that a traffic light is expected to be installed during 2008. Committee Chair Vinny Tamagna asked that Gary note the residents' issue with backup flooding they have had to endure due to the catch basins.
A request to approve a transfer of payment resolution for minor renovations on a roof at Veterans' Memorial Park caused Tamagna to admonish Commissioner Gary that the request did not have itemized backup documentation. Tamagna said that he would not approve the request without the documentation and asked that all future requests have the itemized paperwork attached to requests. Tamagna received assurances from Mr. Gary that the paperwork for that request existed and would be provided, and that going forward all paperwork would be provided with funding requests.
The May meetings of the Health Committee and Physical Services Committee will be posted on the PCN&R's website as soon as they become available.
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