NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
Mental Health Services for Children in Rural Communities

PURPOSE:
To examine the availability and quality of mental health services for children in rural communities

Wednesday
May 29, 2013
10:30 AM
Hamilton Hearing Room B
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY

Rural areas are especially susceptible to disparities in mental health services. Specialty mental health treatment is often even more difficult to obtain, including specialized mental health services for children.

This hearing will examine the availability and quality of mental health services provided to children residing in rural areas of the state. The Committee is seeking testimony on the type of services provided in rural communities, barriers to accessing treatment, and the needs of communities in order to provide adequate services. Furthermore, the Committee is interested in learning about innovative ways in which rural areas attempt to address barriers to mental health services for children.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees’ interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Aileen Gunther
Member of Assembly
Chair
Assembly Standing Committee on
Mental Health and
Developmental Disabilities



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Mental Health Services for Children in Rural Communities are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to:

Katie L. Birchenough
Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Room 422 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: birchenoughk@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4371
Fax: (518) 455-4693
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on Mental Health Services for Children in Rural Communities to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities on May 29, 2013.
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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