May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This May – and throughout the year – let us continue to work together to bring awareness to mental health and substance use challenges. Use your voice to change lives!

The weeklong celebration kicks off on May 6, National Nurses Day, and culminates on Friday, May 12. This year, the American Nursing Association will be focusing the entire month of May on four focus areas: Self-Care, Recognition, Professional Development, and Community Engagement.

STATE: A sign-on letter has been drafted by the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation to indicate your support of the legislation to place the process and supported decision-making (SDM) agreements through a new Article 82 of the New York Mental Hygiene Law. The number of signatures on the letter will signify the support for SDM and its importance. 

FEDERAL: As reported by ANCOR, "The U.S. House of Representatives has passed budget reconciliation legislation that if signed into law would create a historic investment in the chronically underfunded Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program.

The New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation is a partner in statewide disabilities advocacy and has shared a comprehensive resource for disabilities advocates to successfully engage in advocacy in New York State.

1.18.22 - As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the following in relation to COVID-19 vaccines: 

This is a powerful opinion piece by Emily Mondschein, the proud mother of two boys, Samuel and Paul. Her youngest son, Paul, was born with Down syndrome.  She is also the Executive Director of Gigi’s Playhouse - Buffalo whose mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all.   We need more of these stories to beat stereotypes and see people as individuals.  Thank you, Emily, for sharing!

Care Design NY members are sharing their employment journey stories to elevate Disability Employment Awareness Month. These stories describe the diverse experiences of people with disabilities and the employers that are benefiting from the dedication these talented individuals bring to their professional roles. 

On October 20, 2021 the Care Design NY Advisory Board testified during a NYS Legislature Assembly Public Hearing held to receive information from relevant stakeholders and examine the availability of employment opportunities for people with all types of disabilities. 

Advocates from The Arc and partner organizations are gathered in front of the Capitol in Washington, DC reading thousands of stories out loud from people with disabilities and their families about the importance of disability services in their lives.

Members and families are at the center of everything we do... Care Managers are the heart and soul of Care Design NY by helping individuals live their best life! Please join us during Care Management Week to recognize their dedication in coordinating care for the almost 28,000 vulnerable individuals enrolled in the Care Design NY Health Home. 

You are invited to recognize Care Managers by sending a "Thank You" message or share a story of how they are making an impact by advocating and helping to coordinate critical supports and services so that you or a loved one may live a quality life.

Aidan demonstrated an interest in painting at a very young age that continues today.  Now in his teen years, Aiden has developed a proficiency in art through the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie NY and is exploring a variety of art mediums. While he prefers acrylics on canvas, he has created collages, Papier-mâché, and watercolors at the Center. Aidan recently entered the five unique and vibrant works below in the Kingston Annual Art competition.

Direct Support Professionals (DSP) are the heart of the country's care economy and they work tirelessly and compassionately to help vulnerable individuals live a quality life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been heroes keeping our loved ones safe!

Join Care Design NY in celebrating Direct Support Professionals (DSP) by recognizing a DSP during DSP Recognition Week (9.12 - 9.18).  Read more to share a short story of how a DSP has impacted or improved your quality of life (or a loved one).  Your story will be featured in Care Design NY's DSP Week celebratory events and communications. 

Jose, a Care Design NY Member, is an artist who communicates visually through Graffiti. His interest began at age 15 when a cousin and high school friends introduced him to the lettering technique in their Bronx neighborhood. Sandra, Care Design NY Care Manager, stated, "I am so proud of Jose, I feel like his mother. He has a great support system. His family is behind him 100% and Alexandra, a member of his wonderful staff is outstanding."

Care Design NY is proud to announce that in just over a year, over 98% of its care management workforce was fully certified through the nationally recognized evidence-based training program, Mental Health First Aid; a three-year certification. 

The Mental Health First Aid public education program was developed by the National Council of Mental Wellbeing to teach course participants how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use disorder warning signs and risk factors in adults. 

Join an upcoming rally to advocate for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and the respect and wages they deserve.

Joe is an artist, poet, songwriter, author, and video producer and often has various projects in the works.  Learn all about Joe, a Care Design NY Member, his mother Carol, and "Carol & Joe's Xtra-Ordinary Life," a long running cable series on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (mnn.org) that was conceived and produced by Joe and his mother.

Care Design NY and Partners Health Plan were proud to sponsor the Special Olympics NY Night of Champions and the “Game Changers” that were recognized for their work on vaccinations, leadership, and support of unified sports.  We were very fortunate to work with NYSID, the Center for Disability Services, and other community partners to prioritize individuals with disabilities for vaccination. 

Click here for the letter to Commissioner Kastner from Kerry Delaney, CEO, Partners Health Plan and Jim Moran, CEO, Care Design NY providing OPWDD with recommendations to guide the planning, resource allocation and evaluation processes on the development of a statewide comprehensive plan of services in accordance with 5.07 of the NYS Mental Hygiene Law for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

Long Island, NY – Today, Care Design NY held a pop-up vaccine clinic exclusively for people in the I/DD community in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access for individuals with I/DD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Long Island pop up was one of many events Care Design NY is holding in an effort to serve the I/DD community as New York works to vaccinate its most vulnerable populations. The Pop-up clinics were held in Bohemia, Brockville, Plainville and Westhampton Beach and provided vaccinations to 500 individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their caregivers. The pop-up comes on the heels of threatening budget cuts to CCOs statewide that would leave programs like Care Design NY without the funding to continue.

Staten Island, NY – Today, Care Design NY held a pop-up vaccine clinic exclusively for people in the I/DD community in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access for individuals with I/DD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Staten Island popup was one of many events Care Design NY is holding in an effort to serve the I/DD community as New York works to vaccinate its most vulnerable populations. The pop-up comes on the heels of threatening budget cuts to CCOs statewide that would leave programs like Care Design NY without the funding to continue.

The Bronx, NY – Today, Care Design NY in partnership with Partners Health Plan held a pop-up vaccine clinic exclusively for people in the I/DD community in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access for individuals with I/DD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bronx pop up was one of many events Care Design NY is holding in an effort to serve the I/DD community as New York works to vaccinate it’s most vulnerable populations. The pop-up comes on the heels of threatening budget cuts to CCOs statewide that would leave programs like Care Design NY without the funding to continue.

ALBANY, NY – Some 250 Capital Region residents with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) received COVID-19 vaccines today at a special vaccination clinic held at SEFCU’s Corporate Center.  This I/DD-specialized clinic is made possible by a unique partnership of community-based organizations dedicated to bringing COVID-19 vaccines to populations challenged with access to the vaccine.