OMH is developing a new, agency-wide strategic plan to better align its organizational operations and resources, with its broader mission and goals. This process has included the review and validation of our agency mission, values and vision; the identification of major goal areas for the agency; and the mapping of all organizational functions and domains to the agency’s four core lines of business. The aim of this work is to better align our existing organizational resources and program activities with the goals of the agency.

Promote Wellness, Prevent Disease

OMH is expanding health and behavioral health preventive interventions throughout the State. Key to this is enhancing mental health services for children and helping families find comprehensive and community-based services more easily. These research-based practices have been proven to improve lifetime recovery and wellness outcomes, while reducing long-term financial costs in healthcare and social service systems.

GOALS

• Increase mental wellness and prevent disorders through maternal, early childhood, and community-level interventions
• Implement early identification and intervention strategies for children at risk of or experiencing early symptoms of mental/emotional distress
• Strengthen pediatric primary care capacity and competency in treating children with mental/emotional disorders
• Support growth of school and community mental health collaboration
• Rebalance the children’s mental health system to reduce avoidable ER and inpatient utilization
• Identify, Promote, Address Social Determinants of Mental Health
• Reduce the incidence of suicide attempts and completions
• Reduce the progression and severity of psychotic disorders in the population
• Reduce the smoking rate in individuals diagnosed with mental illness
• Improve identification and management of depression in primary care settings

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Provide Housing for Individuals with Mental Illness

OMH supports the operation of over 40,000 units of housing across New York State. Housing is a proven pathway to recovery for individuals with mental illness. Through the expansion of supported housing, OMH is building the foundation upon which lives can be rebuilt and recovery can take place.

GOALS

• Increase the number and rate of adults with mental illness in permanent housing situations
• Increase “through-put” in congregate and licensed housing to better support inpatient discharge planning
• Increase adult and child crisis and respite capacity as alternatives to inpatient (diversion and/or step-down)
• Increase options for children and adolescents who require temporary removal or respite from their permanent or family housing situations

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Improve Safety, Reentry, Recovery, and Connections to Care

OMH is committed to supporting individuals with mental illness who are justice-involved or at risk for adverse incidents during critical transitions in care. This ensures their safety and the safety of our communities. OMH is focusing on its fundamental role as a provider of safety net services for the most seriously ill and underserved to build a stronger, safer New York.

GOALS

• Reduce the likelihood of individuals being “lost to care” and the negative events associated with disengagement from treatment
• Reduce criminal justice system involvement for individuals with serious mental illness
• Improve the continuum of care for individuals in prisons, forensic hospitals, and with forensic status in State PC’s as they transition back to community living

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Develop the Public Mental Health and Health Care Workforce

Approximately 3.1 million New Yorkers live in federal and/or state designated mental health shortage areas. As federal healthcare reform drives the growth of community behavioral health services, and parity increases individuals’ eligibility for such services, the demand for New York’s existing mental health workforce has increased. To improve timely service access, OMH is adopting a comprehensive strategy to expand the mental health workforce. OMH will leverage and build primary and traditional healthcare workforce competencies and promote resiliency and recovery through better training of the workforce.

GOALS

• Increase size of the available labor pool/pipeline to serve MH consumers
• Increase recruitment and retention of qualified staff
• Integrated and redesigned provider systems for greater efficiency and synergy across practice areas, including technological advancements
• Increase mental health treatment and recovery support skills across health and human service sectors
• Increase healthcare provider awareness of social determinants of health
• Improve understanding of workforce needs
• Advance parity and professional identity of direct service professionals

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Raise Awareness and Reduce Stigma

Stigma remains one of the largest barriers to obtaining proper mental health care for New Yorkers. Many people misunderstand the nature of mental illness and New York’s mental health system. To combat stigma and promote engagement with the mental health system, OMH will employ a comprehensive strategy to educate New Yorkers on the signs and symptoms of mental illness, how to access treatment and recovery supports, and work to offer culturally competent care to diverse communities across New York State. We will continue our efforts to address stigma that discourages individuals from seeking help.

GOALS

• Increase mental health literacy in the population
• Reduce the prevalence of stigma for mental health issues
• Enhance the understanding of mental illness among the general population
• Reduce disparities in access for cultural groups less likely to seek or obtain necessary care
• Greater consumer, family, and peer-direction in developing and operating MH services

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Advance IT Infrastructure and Quality Management

Supporting all mental health provider infrastructure for billing, EMR and outcomes management. Advancing performance management, process improvement and quality oversight.

GOALS

• Facilitate provider participation in modern healthcare financing and service provision
• Support mental health finance, policy, planning, and program decision-making with user-informed business intelligence tools
• Improve efficiencies in mental health service and administrative functions

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Advance Research and Evidence-Based Practices

OMH has resources available for research and development of thought leadership.  The responsible use of these resources is part of this strategic plan. 

GOALS

• Advance research by the NYSPI and Nathan Kline Research Institute that promotes OMH priorities and goals
• Propose, vet and launch new research initiatives with agency strategic planning and goals in mind
• Identify and support approaches to implement new evidence-based practice within targeted parts of the system of care
• Align new research activities with priority areas identified by OMH’s newly created Integrated Health and Wellness Institute, which is charged with advancing a strategic approach to quality care, improved outcomes and system change

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Make Community-Based Recovery a Reality

OMH is redesigning the mental health system to better support recovery-oriented care, improve overall population health, and increase the access to quality mental health services across the state. Together, these changes will provide new and innovative services and supports for New York residents living with mental illness.

GOALS

• Identify and reduce unnecessary inpatient and emergency department utilization
• Improve care coordination for hospitalized individuals, increase rates of successful transitions to community-based care, and decrease inpatient lengths of stay
• Optimize community tenure for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance
• Increase access to the right services, at the right time, and in the right amount
• Reform and redesign mental health financing toward integrated recovery-oriented delivery systems and value-based payment methods
• Strengthen service systems to support quality and sustainability
• Transform the state hospital system

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