National County Government Month (NCGM), held each April, is an annual celebration of county government. #NCGM This year's National County Government Month theme is consistent with NACo President Denise Winfrey's focus for the year, Counties RISE!
- RISE! stands for Resiliency, Inclusion, Solvency and Empowerment - and the exclamation point speaks to the enthusiasm and passion with which we tell those stories.
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing current projects and work the Department is involved in within our community. #NationalCountyGovernmentMonth #NCGM
Posted on April 28th:
The Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force is a voluntary body created by an executive order issued by the County Executive in 2016 to address the increasing numbers of opiate deaths. Meetings occur quarterly and are open to the public. Current work involves expansion of harm reduction services, opening additional low threshold treatment options, community education and family support.
The Erie County Children’s Mental Health division has updated our website with the new Office of Mental Health Single Point of Access Universal Referral. There are instructions listed and links to instructional videos to provide assistance on how to complete the forms. Additionally, the site provides insight into the Children’s Single Point of Access (C-SPOA) and contains an up to date Children’s System of Care Services Map. https://www3.erie.gov/mentalhealth/single-point-access-children-spoa-childrens-intensive-services
The Erie County Department of Mental Health operates an Adult Single Point of Access (A-SPOA) for Housing that accepts referrals for all mental health residential programs in Erie County. The SPOA Housing staff works with the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Erie County Medical Center, homeless service providers, and the general community to facilitate transitions into supportive housing for members of our community who are leaving institutional settings, homeless, or just need more support. These programs are in high demand - the A-SPOA processed 1,935 referrals in 2022. In addition, the housing staff collaborates with community providers to discern more efficient and effective ways for the housing system to serve the community, currently taking part in the evaluation process of the homeless coordinated entry system.
The Buffalo United Resiliency Center (BURC) is a Buffalo based community support organization in response to the May 14th, 2022 Tops tragedy. The BURC provides victims, survivors, and responders with supportive spaces for gatherings and community healing. The BURC is a space where people can come to receive support, care, linkage to resources and partakes in activities and events. Supportive Gatherings & Meals, Healing Circles, Therapy Dog Thursday for C district BPD officers, Holiday Toy Drive, Remembrance Week, Wellness Programs and many more. Located at 1140 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo NY 14208 Suite A. Please feel free to stop in for services or call: 716-574-5087 for assistance. Buffalo United Resiliency Center | Buffalo NY | Facebook
Service Link Stop (SLS) located at 120 West Eagle Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, is a judgement-free place for individuals to access programs and services that empower them to stabilize community involvement and live a healthy, successful life. The Service Link Stop (SLS) is a collaborative effort between community agencies/partners and Erie County for a “one stop shop” reentry hub available to anyone in the community who needs linkage and support. The SLS is now partnered with over 60 local agencies/programs, some of whom have staffing onsite, and some are on call or referral basis to assist in the following areas: mental health, behavioral health, substance use, health screenings, health insurance, peer services, mentoring, employment, education, social security benefits, Medicaid/Medicare, outpatient treatment, SNAP/Food Stamps/Public Assistance, legal services, housing assistance. The SLS has many resources and connections available- please stop by or reach out and we will support in any way we can.
SLS Hours are:
Monday and Friday 9am-3pm and
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 9am-6pm.
- See our full press release for April 28 - ECDMH's current projects for the community.
Posted April 11th:
ECDMH is proud to announce the opening of the Kirsten Vincent Respite & Recovery center on April 17, 2023!
The Kirsten Vincent Respite & Recovery Center is having a grand ribbon cutting today, April 11, 2023, at 1pm and will open its doors on April 17th. It’s located at 111 Maple Street, Buffalo, NY in the Fruit Belt neighborhood, for any adult (18 years and older) who may be struggling. It will be a one-stop center to treat a variety of mental illnesses. It will be a safe haven for people experiencing a mental health crisis where they can plan and begin their recovery.
The center is named in honor of Dr. Kirsten Vincent, who died suddenly in 2021. She had a vision for an all-inclusive mental health facility that provided many levels of care. This is a first-of-its kind center offering support across the mental healthcare spectrum, providing an alternative option to a hospital.
Kirsten Vincent Respite & Recovery Center will offer four levels of service, geared toward eliminating the need to transport people across the city in times of crisis and allowing individuals to move between the facility's services as needed. The aim is to get people the support they need in the appropriate setting and, in turn, avoid unnecessary trips to overcrowded and overwhelmed emergency departments.
The ECDMH has supported this extraordinary idea from inception, assisted in the planning stages, facilitated the collaboration of the 3 agencies involved in this dynamic partnership, and has provided the funding for build out and start up costs. We are elated to see this project ready to open and serve the community!
- See our full press release for April 11th - ECDMH's current projects for the community.
Posted on April 6th:
- Looking for a career in the rewarding behavioral health or human services fields?
The Erie County Department of Mental Health is again facilitating a Behavioral Health & Human Services Career Fair to be held on Wednesday, June 7th from 11am-2pm and 4pm-6pm at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Last year we had 50 provider agencies who participated, and we expect a similar attendance this June! Agencies are looking to fill a wide range of clinical, support, residential, peer, and administrative support roles among others. We will be sharing our Career Fair flyer over the coming weeks where you will be able to scan a QR Code with the camera on your phone that will take you to the full list of attending provider agencies with links to their career opportunities to view in advance. Many agencies will be offering onsite interviews so career seekers should be prepared with their resumes. New beginnings await…bring your best and join us on June 7th! - Since its inception in 2016, the Erie County Department of Mental Health (ECDMH) has acted as a co-chair to facilitate the Treatment Workgroup of the Erie County Opioid Epidemic Task Force. Subsequently treatment providers in Erie County have made significant strides to improve and increase access to addiction treatment and support services; including but not limited to:
*Increased peer and family support services;
*Walk-in and same day appointments;
*Greatly expanded medication assistance for Opioid Use Disorder;
*Significantly expanded access to Vivitrol and rapid induction of buprenorphine;
*Doubled the availability of Opioid Treatment Program slots (Methadone Maintenance); and
*Deployed mobile treatment units.
- See our full press release for April 6th - Erie County Department of Mental Health's current projects for the community
