 The day began with a program in the packed auditorium with speakers including: Secretary for Health and Human Services, Joseph Baker, OMH Commissioner, Michael Hogan, Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair, Peter Rivera and Senate Mental Health Committee Chair, Shirley Huntley
After braving the cold at an outdoor rally, the 28 Options representatives headed to individual legislative appointments to voice their concerns about the proposed changes in funding.
When discussing the Social Security Income benefit, one Options' counselor said,
"You can reduce benefit amounts to cut costs but with it comes a risk…that $24 may go towards things that are currently working to keep people healthy like visiting with family, getting transportation to work or social appointments, paying co-pays, etc. It would be much more expensive to deal with what happens when people are not in a healthy state." |
Albany, NY-- On Tuesday, January 27th, Options' staff and residents boarded a bus before dawn headed to Albany. At stake is a proposal to cut the New York State share of Social Security Income benefits for individuals with disabilities. Options was joined by other Association for Community Living (ACL) agencies and friends from the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) and the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) to present a solid, powerful legislative agenda and "Protect the Mental Health Safety Net."