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Spotlight – Community Mental Health Agencies
Patricia Gallo Goldstein, the leading social worker at the Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies, was asked recently to share her insights into the range of programs offered by the Coalition’s member agencies, and the role and contributions of professional social workers.
Patricia Gallo Goldstein, LMSW, Deputy Executive Director
What
is the Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies?
The Coalition is the umbrella advocacy organization of New York City’s
not-for-profit mental health community. Currently we represent 112 member
agencies, primarily in New York City, and a few based in Westchester.
Coalition agencies operate clinic treatment, continuing day treatment,
partial hospitalization, intensive psychiatric rehabilitation and children’s
day treatment programs; outreach programs, drop-in centers, Clubhouses,
ACT and case management programs, residential programs and services for
individuals with co-occurring and psychiatric and addictive disorders.
We truly represent the entire continuum of services for people with mental
disabilities.
We also have programs that serve special niche populations, like RAICES,
a program that serves Hispanic elderly; or Aids Center of Queens County,
a program for individuals who have mental illnesses and are also HIV positive.
Such programs address New York City’s diverse needs. It empowers
consumers to know about the variety of programs available to meet their
special needs.
Despite the fact that membership is diverse, the Coalition represents
all its members and speaks with one strong voice to lobby or engage in
advocacy – which is absolutely essential. Another great benefit
of membership is the ability to share knowledge and resources, to work
together to help shape crucial policy, and to inform not only our members,
but also our regulators and all of state, city, and federal partners.
What roles do social workers play in your member agencies?
Social workers play very prominent roles. Whether it’s a BSW, or
a MSW, or those who have more advanced degrees such as the DSWor PhD,
they function as clinicians, case managers, community liaison workers,
outreach workers, policy analysts, and more. Senior level program positions
are often filled by social workers; they also fill many of our agencies’
management and executive director positions. The required internships
of a social work degree equip graduates with a diversity of skills, which
makes these individuals excellent candidates for a variety of positions.
Based on a workforce survey conducted by the Coalition several years ago,
we know that the preponderance of hires in mental health agencies is social
workers.
What opportunities are there for social workers interested in
being employed in mental health agencies?
Every type of program that I previously mentioned hires social workers
and the need is great. In fact, in New York City alone, 120 voluntary
agencies operate four hundred and three Article 31 programs, and 9 State
Office of Mental Health agencies operate forty-six Article 31 programs.
(Community-based mental health outpatient service providers in New York
State are certified by the SOMH in accordance with procedures established
in Part 551 of the Mental Hygiene Regulations. Article 31 programs include
clinic treatment programs serving children and adults; continuing day
treatment programs; day treatment programs serving children; partial hospitalization
programs and intensive psychiatric rehabilitation programs). Aside from
the Article 31 programs, another 261 licensed mental health programs operate
in New York City, most of which hire social workers. In addition, large
numbers of programs, such as many residential programs, are unlicensed.
What challenges do the agencies face and how does this affect
the employment of social workers?
The Coalition continues to advocate for an annual rate increase for the
mental health sector which would help stabilize agencies and the mental
health workforce, a key factor in consumer rehabilitation. Unlike other
healthcare sectors, community mental health agencies do not receive an
increase to help them keep up with the rising costs of providing services.
In early 2005 the mental health sector was shocked when Catholic Charities
of New York announced the closure of its five mental health clinics, joining
other agencies who have found it onerous to financially maintain under-funded
clinics. Organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to subsidize
their clinics with philanthropic dollars.
We are extremely proud that our efforts led to a rate increase for Article
31 clinics and for supported housing programs in this year’s State
budget, but more work lies ahead. If we want to avoid the closure of programs,
disruption of continuity of services to consumers and the loss of jobs
in the sector, we need to seek some cost-based funding mechanism.
What about opportunities to obtain the LCSW?
I believe that the new licensing changes will present some major obstacles
to both individuals and agencies. In the current market, recent graduates
who probably have student loans to repay are going to take the job that
presents itself. If the position is not in an Article 31 program, an individual
may find it difficult to meet some of the onerous requirements under the
new regulations related to client contacts per week and mandatory supervision
by a LCSW. I’m afraid that an unanticipated consequence of the changes
will be increased staff turnover as individuals strive to find the job
that fulfills all of their license requirements. Staff turnover is not
only detrimental to consumers but erodes the stability of the organization
as well.
I hope that all eligible MSW’s will take advantage of the “grandparenting”
provision, which expires September 2005; it allows an individual to obtain
the LMSW or LCSW without taking an exam.