With the work of this Task Forces gathering pace, Community Access hosted — on Friday, January 18 — a Community Feedback Forum Livestream for a chance to inform its decision-making process. How should crisis services in NYC be reformed, and what should be the role of community-based networks and mental health supports? These are pressing questions, which people with lived experiences of using crisis, emergency, and 911 services should be integrally involved in answering.
Event Details
After welcome remarks and an opening presentation by Steve Coe, contextualizing the work of the NYC Crisis Prevention and Response Task Force so far, small-group facilitated brainstorm sessions each focused on specific topics — aimed at informing the recommendations of the Task Force, and culminating in a 90 minute Livestream summarizing key ideas and strategies:
Presentations
This Livestream features the following presentations & presenters:
- (1) Steve Coe:
- Former CEO, Community Access
Crisis Prevention and Response - Overview (PDF)
Responding to a Psychiatric Crisis - A Vision for Public Health Reform in NYC (PDF)
- (2) Chelsea Swift:
- CAHOOTS Crisis Counselor, White Bird Project
CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) is a national model mobile crisis intervention in the Eugene-Springfield Metro area. CAHOOTS is dispatched through the Eugene police-fire-ambulance communications center, and within the Springfield urban growth boundary, dispatched through the Springfield non-emergency number. Each team consists of a medic (either a nurse or an EMT) & a crisis worker (who has at least several years experience in the mental health field). CAHOOTS provides immediate stabilization in case of urgent medical need or psychological crisis, assessment, information, referral, advocacy & (in some cases) transportation to the next step in treatment.
Crisis Assistance: Helping Out on the Streets (PDF)
- (3) Betsy MacLean
- Executive Director, Hester Street
- & Esther Kang:
- Independent Human-Centered Design Strategist; Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Hester Street is an urban planning, design and development nonprofit that works to ensure neighborhoods are shaped by the people who live in them. We offer planning, design and community development technical assistance to community-based organizations, government and other agencies. Our goal is equitable, sustainable and resilient neighborhoods and cities.
Equitable Strategies for Code Enforcement (PDF)
- (4) Carla Rabinowitz,
- Advocacy Coordinator, Community Access
- Ron Dyer & Christina Sparrock:
- CCIT NYC Coalition Members
Reforming Crisis Services in NYC - Recommendations (PDF)
More Info + Get Involved
Re-Thinking the Police Response to Crises
By Community Access
Responding to a Psychiatric Emergency: A Vision for Public Health Reform in New York City
By Discussion Paper by Community Access
AM New York:
You Can't Just Snap Out of a Mental Health Crisis
1/21/19 article recapping event
NYN Media:
Communities for Crisis Intervention Team Training has some ideas to improve ThriveNYC
3/25/19 article featuring recommendations from the forum
New York Times:
Chirlane McCray, de Blasio's wife, Is Questioned Over His 'Revolutionary' $1 Billion Mental Health Plan
3/22/19 article featuring Community Access
For additional information, please contact:
Carla Rabinowitz
Advocacy Coordinator
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
212-780-1400, ext. 7726