The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced a plan that would include OMH Regional Centers of Excellence in Rockland County.
State Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester), who is the chairman of the State Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee, praised the plan, which is part of a restructuring of the existing bureaucracy with a goal of providing better community-based care. The state is consolidating 24 mental health facilities into 15 Regional Centers for Excellence over the next three years.
The Rockland Psychiatric Center and Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center, both in Orangeburg, are being consolidated to form the Lower Hudson Regional Center for Excellence. The Nathan S. Kline Institute at 140 Old Orangeburg Road in Orangeburg will be the Nathan Kline Research Center of Excellence.
"I am absolutely thrilled that OMH has decided to base part of its regional operations right here in Rockland County," Carlucci said. "This is also a huge win for the people of the Hudson Valley living with mental illness and their families, who depend upon quality care and treatment. I can think of no more fitting place better suited to meet the needs an the mission of the Regional Centers for Excellence."
The Regional Centers for Excellence will include community service hubs created to improve oversight of state operated outpatient service providers.
Editor's Note: This report has been updated to clarify the makeup of the Regional Center for Excellence in Orangeburg.
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