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Preventing Forensic Involvement Through Continuous Care
When our behavioral health, housing, and social service systems are unable to adequately meet the needs of people with serious mental health challenges, those individuals too often find their way into the criminal justice system without the treatment and support they need. The path to...
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Dr. Isaac Mawuko Adusu Named 2026 Community Leader of the Year for Advancing Disability Inclusion
Dr. Isaac Mawuko Adusu, a health and human services executive, disability advocate, and frequent contributor to Behavioral Health News and Autism Spectrum News, has been named the 2026 Community Leader of the Year by the Inclusive Leadership Impact Awards, recognizing his work to advance inclusion,...
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Behavioral Health News Spotlight on Excellence: An Interview With Dr. Jorge Petit, Executive Deputy Commissioner and Director of Community Services, Division of Mental Hygiene, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Overview In this interview, Dr. Jorge Petit, Executive Deputy Commissioner and Director of Community Services for the Division of Mental Hygiene at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, discusses what has changed and what remains constant in New York City's behavioral health...
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The Adusu Advocacy Framework: A Strategic Model for Advancing Policy Reform in Developmental Disability Services
Across many countries, systems supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are experiencing significant pressure. Workforce shortages, increasing service demand, and funding constraints have created fragile service environments that test providers, policymakers,...
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New York State Announces Statewide Enhancements to Improve Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Critical Investments from the FY 2026 Budget Standardize 'Enhanced Voluntary Agreements' with Recipients; Improving State Oversight State Also Completes Massive Data Modernization Enhancing Local Coordination and Improving Outcome Monitoring The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH)...
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Mentorship and Leadership in Advancing Behavioral Health Equity
Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, in a working-class family, I learned early that one’s circumstances do not define one’s potential. My grandparents instilled in me the value of perseverance and the belief that education is a powerful equalizer. I was driven not only to advance myself, but also to...
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The Peer Advocate: Role Model, Listener, and Problem Solver for Older Adults
Peer Advocates have changed the way that we practice behavioral healthcare at Service Program for Older People (SPOP) – and have changed the lives of the older adults we treat. SPOP is a community-based behavioral health provider for older adults (55+) based in New York City. We serve...
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Meeting Crisis With Connection: The Power of Peer Specialists on Mobile Crisis Teams
Over the past several years, New York City has increasingly shifted toward community-based responses to behavioral health crises. In the past, individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies were often limited to hospital emergency departments or interactions with law enforcement. While those...
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Workforce Solutions in Behavioral Health: Insights from SMA Healthcare
The Behavioral Healthcare Workforce Crisis The behavioral healthcare sector faces one of the most severe workforce shortages in decades. As of 2023, an estimated 169 million individuals in the U.S. live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, which is projected to worsen by 2037 (National...
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Resisting Unjust Algorithms: Lessons from Maternal Health for Youth Mental Health and Education
In previous installations of this column, I have written about how communities of youth harmed by systemic oppression and inequities rely on peer-to-peer models of care on social media to meet healthcare, safety, and support needs when institutions fail to do so. Namely, queer youth are engaging in...
