ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
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.