Providing care for a loved one with a disability, either a child or an adult, can cause great strain on families, marriages, and a caretaker's health and wellbeing. It is commonly understood that the quality of life of the person with a disability is greatly enhanced by the health and wellbeing of their caretakers and loved ones. Over the years New York State has invested in programs and services to support families who struggle to care for their disabled loved ones. Over $63 million is funded in the 2010 - 2011 enacted budget to fund family support services. The Family Support Services program is offered to almost 43,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and to 17,000 families with a loved one with psychiatric disability.

The purpose of this hearing is to review programs and services that are currently funded through the budgets of OMH and OPWDD that provide supports to families in an attempt to understand the depths of services provided, identify any gaps in services, determine and the benefits of such programming. This hearing will focus on programs and services administered or funded through OMH and OPWDD.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing regarding family support programs funded in the New York State Budget for individuals with disabilities are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to: