We're taking a moment today to share the following statement — after the sad news that Kate Spade was found dead in her New York apartment yesterday, in an apparent suicide:

Below is our official statement in response to the acquittal of Sgt. Hugh Barry for the death of Deborah Danner, as well as a statement from Trinity Church Wall Street, of which Deborah was a proud member:

We continue to advocate for more training for NYPD officers to improve relations between police and the mental health community. On September 6, I testified before the New York City Council and called on the mayor to revive his 2014 Task Force on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health. Here is my testimony:

Here is my statement in response to today's news that Dwayne Jeune, an emotionally distressed person, was shot and killed by police in his Brooklyn home:

Here is my statement in response to recent legislation extending Kendra's Law through June 30, 2020:

Here is my statement in response to today's news that an NYPD Sergeant has been charged with the murder of Deborah Danner, who was fatally shot in October last year:

Much of Community Access' advocacy work focuses on improving relations between police officers and the mental health community. Back in January, the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD published "A Review of NYPD's Approach to Handling Interactions with People in Mental Crisis." And earlier this month, the NYPD responded to this report. Here, now, is our response to the NYPD:

Please consider joining us on the steps of City Hall on Monday, November 14, for CIT Speak Out — a call for the NYPD to improve its responses to those in emotional distress.

While details are still emerging, we are concerned about the fatal shooting of what has been described in the press as an emotionally distressed woman.

Our 12th annual New York City Mental Health Film Festival was a wonderful event. With 12 films from around the world, as well as appearances by some very special guests, it was a major achievement in our efforts to present mental health issues in a positive light and build a community through film.

“The Violent Mentally Ill.”

I recently marched with Community Access in two parades with a common theme: Pride. On June 28 I walked in the LGBTQ Pride March, and on July 12 I marched in NYC’s first-ever Disability Pride Parade.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in an NYPD CIT (Crisis Intervention Teams) training at the police academy in College Point, Queens. It was a panel discussion. What was I expecting? Massed ranks of uniforms, of course. What did I experience? Plain clothed officers willing to listen to mental health recipients in an effort to become more effective in their jobs.

I’m writing this message on a train to Washington, D.C. At the last minute, I was asked to testify before a congressional committee at a hearing examining H.R. 2646, the “The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act,” better known as the Murphy Bill. The most comprehensive federal mental health legislation in more than 50 years, the bill has attracted both praise and criticism.

Great news! New York officials will allocate $1.5 million to expanding Crisis Intervention Teams across the state.

Many Community Access tenants, program participants, and staff were among 700+ individuals at the NYAPRS 17th Annual Legislative Day in Albany, NY.

I heard talk around the office that “the Russians are coming,” but had no idea I would get to share my story with them

Mayor de Blasio made two important announcements this week, both related to retraining police officers.

I've worked in mental health advocacy long enough to know: (a) don't expect instant results, and (b) it's always a big group effort. That's why it's such a great pleasure to share with you today news of a BIG win. Major de Blasio just announced far-reaching plans to strengthen ties between criminal justice and behavioral health in NYC, which incorporate:

At a City Hall press conference yesterday I helped to launch the Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing, which calls on Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to negotiate a new City-State agreement to create 30,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years. Drawing on the lessons learned during my 35 years at Community Access, I was able to share a simple but important message: supportive housing works and we need more of it.

Governor Cuomo recently signed a $138 billion budget. Buried in this huge sum is a revolutionary new item. Thanks to eleventh hour efforts by a dedicated group of supporters (organized by Community Access), leaders in the state legislature included $400,000 to launch a statewide program to assist police departments in designing and implementing crisis intervention teams (CITs).

On the steps of City Hall yesterday, Community Access joined State Senator Kevin Parker, Brooklyn Borough President (and retired NYPD Captain) Eric Adams, and other members of the 50-strong Communities for Crisis Intervention Teams coalition, at a press conference calling for measures to improve emergency police responses involving individuals with mental health concerns. In spite of persistent rain, the turnout was great - both from supporters of this important cause and from reporters and journalists providing wide-spread media coverage - and everyone stayed to the end.

It all started at 5.30 a.m.! Friday, September 27, at NYC’s Port Authority Bus Terminal…

We (CA’s Training Department) are on our way to Hartford, Connecticut, for a conference about human rights, mental health and activism sponsored by The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA).

NARPA has held an annual educational conference for over 30 years, in which speakers and attendees include people with experiences of psychiatric intervention, advocates, civil rights activists, mental health workers, and lawyers – with many people whose roles overlap.

We’re excited to attend (both of us for the first time), but so early in the morning are wondering Did we make the right decision to attend the conference for only one day? One long day of travelling and workshops!

We arrive at 8:45 a.m. just in time for…

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Key Note Speech

By Jim Gottstein, J.D., from the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights)

(…something we’re especially looking forward to as Community Access sponsored a talk by Mr. Gottstein in 2010 about his work holding Medicaid and psychiatrists accountable for medicating children with unapproved psychiatric medications.)

He introduced his talk by describing the “Transformation Triangle” where (1) public education/public attitudes, (2) strategic litigation (his primary focus as a lawyer), and, (3) creating alternatives to the current system, interact together to create transformation in the mental health system. And he went on to discuss the “Forced Drugging Defense Package,” which can be used to fight against the locking of people up and drugging of individuals against their will. He also shared an exciting recent ruling from the 7th Circuit that rules that prescribing off-label psychiatric drugs to children is Medicaid fraud.

• For more information about PsychRights, 
  go to: www.psychrights.org

Next up, was the Lunchtime Key Note Speech:

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“Changing Paradigms: From Guardianship to Supported Decision Making”

By Judge Kristin Booth Glen

As we sat down to eat, we had no idea just how powerful and inspiring this speech was about to be. Judge Glen shared her vision of different communities – individuals with psychiatric disabilities, individuals with intellectual disabilities, and seniors – advocating together to dismantle the guardianship system in the US. She explored the possibility of utilizing Article 12 of the Convention for the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) as the legal basis for ensuring all individuals have the right to the support they need to exercise their right to make decisions. Few models of supported decision-making exist, she continued, and therefore we should all come together to consider what supported decision-making might look like for individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities.

• To learn more about concerns relating to guardianship, and the work Judge Kristin Booth Glen is doing to counter these, check out “The Ruling That Could Change Everything For Disabled People With Million-Dollar Trusts” in the Village Voice.
• For more information on the CRPD, visit www.chrusp.org, as well as this online petition.

Afternoon workshops were just as rich. Starting with:

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“Holding Law Enforcement Accountable”

We were given examples of how Vermont and Connecticut are working to combat excessive use of force by police officers against individuals with psychiatric disabilities – by focusing on police training, advocating for Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs), and reducing the use of Tasers.

• Find out how Community Access is advocating for CITs in New York City at www.ccitnyc.org
• Further Reading: 
  Vermont State Police Mediate Agreement with Disability Rights Vermont (press release)

Then:

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“Fighting the School to Prison Pipeline: IDEA, 504, and the ADA, and School Discipline”

by Ellen Saideman, J.D.

This session focused on the increasing trend for school discipline to bring minors to the juvenile justice system, even for minor infractions and truancy. She shared how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be used to protect students with disabilities from entering the school to prison pipeline.

Get Involved:

• Ending the School to Jailhouse Track (Advancement Project)
• Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign (Children's Defense Fund)

And finally...

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Mental Health Law

By Susan Stefan, J.D.

An annual talk covering significant developments in mental health law over the past year, ones with both positive and negative impacts on our community.

• 2013 Mental Health Law Update: a comprehensive list of cases, compiled by Susan Stafan

*****Because of Amtrack delays, we didn't make it back to New York City until 12.30 a.m. Not only, though, did the trip take four and a half hours, we had the bad luck of being stuck in the train's quiet car... All we wanted to do was debrief and process our amazing day! We hope this blog post has at least offered a good overview of what we learned - please send us an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you'd like to find out more.

What a day. On January 29, many Community Access tenants, program participants, and staff were among 700+ individuals at the NYAPRS (New York State Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services) 15th Annual Legislative Day in Albany, NY.