Mental Health, Office of
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Mission
The Office of Mental Health’s (OMH) mission is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on facilitating hope and recovery for adults and children with serious mental illness or emotional disturbances.
Organization and Staffing
The Office of Mental Health (OMH) has a Central Office in Albany, which oversees State Operated and Local Programs, and the State directly operates 24 psychiatric facilities. The Local Programs are delivered by a combination of local government and community-based service providers; oversight is provided by OMH's Central Office program and fiscal staff, and by five regional Field Office Directors, who work with local Directors of Community Services, regional program and fiscal staff, and report to the Commissioner. The overall workforce is projected to increase by 40 FTEs to 13,717.
Budget Highlights
The Executive Budget provides $4.4 billion All Funds appropriations, a net increase of $131 million (3.1%), reflecting increased capital authority, the investment in community-based services, minimum wage and residential stipend enhancements.
The Executive Budget builds on Governor Cuomo’s effort to expand community services and transition individuals to more appropriate and cost-effective community settings. With substantial investments in community-based services made in recent years, OMH developed new mobile crisis teams, established first episode psychosis programs, provided additional peer support services, and funded the expansion of supported housing units throughout the State. The expansion in community-based capacity since FY 2015 has resulted in 50,700 new individuals receiving services and funded over 1,305 supported housing beds. Since FY 2015, the success of these community investments has resulted in the reduction of over 650 unnecessary, vacant inpatient beds. The Budget continues to improve quality and expand capacity of services in the community. Specifically, the Budget will:
- Enhance Support for Existing Residential Programs. The Budget provides an additional $10 million for existing supported housing and single residence occupancy programs. This investment will help preserve access and maintain current housing capacity as the State brings new housing units online through the Empire State Supported Housing Initiative. Since FY 2014, funding to enhance support for these existing housing programs has increased by over $50 million annually.
- Expand Community-Based Services. The Budget continues to support the expansion of community-based programs serving individuals in less restrictive settings that are closer to family and other natural supports by efficiencies in operating inpatient programs. New investments offset by equivalent spending efficiencies in inpatient and other services will bring the full annual investment since FY 2015 to more than $100 million.
- Support High-Need Individuals. The Budget provides an additional $10 million for specialized supports, such as peer support and in-reach, to engage individuals with mental illness who require a higher level of care to transition and live successfully in the community. These resources will be utilized for individuals currently residing in impacted adult homes.
- Invest in Infrastructure. The Budget provides an additional appropriation of $100 million to support the replacement of the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center in Orange County, which includes buildings over 100 years old and not designed for current standards of care. The Budget also includes $60 million to maintain and preserve community-based residential facilities that allow people with mental illness to live in the most integrated setting possible.
- Establish Jail-Based Restoration Programs for Certain Defendants. The Executive Budget establishes the authority to provide mental health restoration services to inmates in jail awaiting trial. Currently, defendants who are deemed incompetent to stand trial are treated at an OMH inpatient psychiatric hospital until they are restored to competency and returned to jail to await trial. This cycle often repeats itself with multiple inpatient stays at a psychiatric hospital, extending the time individuals are detained prior to trial. OMH will work with counties on a voluntary basis to develop specialized residential treatment units within their jails, ultimately reducing the time individuals with mental illness spend in jail awaiting justice. The Executive Budget invests $850,000 to assist up to two county jails in making any necessary infrastructure improvements to provide these separate treatment units. This program has been identified as a best practice by the National Judicial College, and has been implemented successfully in ten other states including California, Virginia, and Colorado.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
Briefing Book – Mental Hygiene (PDF)
Program Highlights
New York State has a large, multi-faceted, public mental health system that serves more than 800,000 individuals each year. OMH operates psychiatric centers across the State, and also regulates, certifies and oversees more than 4,500 programs, which are operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies. These programs fall into four major categories:
- State Operated Services: OMH operates two world-renowned Research Institutes and 22 psychiatric centers that provide over 3,800 inpatient beds for Adult, Children and Youth, Forensic, and Sex Offender populations. The agency also runs 83 outpatient clinics, 1,298 residential beds, and a range of community programs in State prison settings. As part of their ongoing transformation efforts, OMH continues to transition individuals with mental illness to more integrated community-based settings. These efforts have allowed OMH to decrease State operated census and workforce over the last five years without compromising clinical care.
- Adult Residential Programs: For individuals with mental illness, safe and affordable housing is an essential element of recovery. OMH oversees a large array of adult housing resources and residential habilitation programs in New York State, including congregate treatment, licensed apartments, single room residences, and supported housing. Each residential setting is designed to provide the supports and services necessary for individuals to live in the least restrictive setting possible.
- Adult Non-Residential Programs: OMH contracts with local governments and non-profit agencies to provide community-based services and supports for individuals with mental illness. The agency supports outpatient programs, including clinic treatment, crisis intervention, emergency services, advocacy and support, and other community services that promote recovery.
- Children and Youth Programs: OMH oversees a variety of programs to support children and youth, and their families, including inpatient programs, residential treatment facilities, and community-based services and supports.
| Category | Available FY 2019 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2020 |
Change From FY 2019 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 2,285,758,000 | 2,285,033,000 | (725,000) | 1,815,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 1,544,514,000 | 1,576,049,000 | 31,535,000 | 33,792,000 |
| Capital Projects | 434,472,000 | 534,472,000 | 100,000,000 | 2,857,910,000 |
| Total | 4,264,744,000 | 4,395,554,000 | 130,810,000 | 2,893,517,000 |
| Program | FY 2019 Estimated FTEs 03/31/19 |
FY 2020 Estimated FTEs 03/31/20 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration and Finance | |||
| General Fund | 275 | 275 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Internal Service Funds | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Adult Services | |||
| General Fund | 8,269 | 8,269 | 0 |
| Capital Planning | |||
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 683 | 683 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | |||
| General Fund | 1,393 | 1,393 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | |||
| General Fund | 2,629 | 2,669 | 40 |
| Research in Mental Illness | |||
| General Fund | 407 | 407 | 0 |
| Total | 13,677 | 13,717 | 40 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Funds | 8,606,000 | 8,606,000 | 0 |
| General Fund | 2,255,535,000 | 2,253,835,000 | (1,700,000) |
| Internal Service Funds | 2,597,000 | 2,597,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 1,538,000 | 2,513,000 | 975,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 17,482,000 | 17,482,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,285,758,000 | 2,285,033,000 | (725,000) |
| Adjustments: | |||
| Transfer(s) To | |||
| Civil Service, Department of | |||
| General Fund | 197,000 | ||
| Employee Relations, Office of | |||
| General Fund | 442,000 | ||
| Appropriated FY 2019 | 2,286,397,000 | ||
| Program | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration and Finance | |||
| Enterprise Funds | 8,606,000 | 8,606,000 | 0 |
| General Fund | 92,567,000 | 92,567,000 | 0 |
| Internal Service Funds | 2,597,000 | 2,597,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 1,538,000 | 2,513,000 | 975,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 3,954,000 | 4,402,000 | 448,000 |
| Adult Services | |||
| General Fund | 1,492,506,000 | 1,492,506,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 6,298,000 | 5,850,000 | (448,000) |
| Children and Youth Services | |||
| General Fund | 248,263,000 | 248,263,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | |||
| General Fund | 331,957,000 | 330,257,000 | (1,700,000) |
| Research in Mental Illness | |||
| General Fund | 90,242,000 | 90,242,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 7,230,000 | 7,230,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,285,758,000 | 2,285,033,000 | (725,000) |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 39,460,000 | 0 | 38,362,000 | 0 |
| Adult Services | 769,345,000 | 0 | 711,223,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | 137,499,000 | 0 | 125,452,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | 196,255,000 | (1,500,000) | 164,376,000 | (1,500,000) |
| Research in Mental Illness | 48,916,000 | 0 | 47,965,000 | 0 |
| Total | 1,191,475,000 | (1,500,000) | 1,087,378,000 | (1,500,000) |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 841,000 | 0 | 257,000 | 0 |
| Adult Services | 4,777,000 | 0 | 53,345,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | 2,464,000 | 0 | 9,583,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | 2,396,000 | 0 | 29,483,000 | 0 |
| Research in Mental Illness | 78,000 | 0 | 873,000 | 0 |
| Total | 10,556,000 | 0 | 93,541,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 53,107,000 | 0 | 1,118,000 | 0 |
| Adult Services | 723,161,000 | 0 | 94,500,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | 110,764,000 | 0 | 12,973,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | 134,002,000 | (200,000) | 11,379,000 | (200,000) |
| Research in Mental Illness | 41,326,000 | 0 | 3,787,000 | 0 |
| Total | 1,062,360,000 | (200,000) | 123,757,000 | (200,000) |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 979,000 | 0 | 26,300,000 | 0 |
| Adult Services | 2,496,000 | 0 | 121,227,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | 680,000 | 0 | 14,215,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | 600,000 | 0 | 6,900,000 | 0 |
| Research in Mental Illness | 30,000 | 0 | 8,025,000 | 0 |
| Total | 4,785,000 | 0 | 176,667,000 | 0 |
| Program | Equipment | General State Charges | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 800,000 | 0 | 22,788,000 | 0 |
| Adult Services | 2,653,000 | 0 | 477,558,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | 864,000 | 0 | 78,182,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | 1,000,000 | 0 | 108,767,000 | 0 |
| Research in Mental Illness | 300,000 | 0 | 27,814,000 | 0 |
| Total | 5,617,000 | 0 | 715,109,000 | 0 |
| Program | Special Departmental Charges | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 1,122,000 | 0 |
| Adult Services | 24,727,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | 3,850,000 | 0 |
| Forensic Services | 5,356,000 | 0 |
| Research in Mental Illness | 1,370,000 | 0 |
| Total | 36,425,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 18,118,000 | 1,423,000 | 3,044,000 | 475,000 |
| Adult Services | 5,850,000 | (448,000) | 0 | 0 |
| Research in Mental Illness | 7,230,000 | 0 | 1,915,000 | 0 |
| Total | 31,198,000 | 975,000 | 4,959,000 | 475,000 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Finance | 15,074,000 | 948,000 |
| Adult Services | 5,850,000 | (448,000) |
| Research in Mental Illness | 5,315,000 | 0 |
| Total | 26,239,000 | 500,000 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 1,490,408,000 | 1,511,848,000 | 21,440,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 46,326,000 | 56,421,000 | 10,095,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 7,780,000 | 7,780,000 | 0 |
| Total | 1,544,514,000 | 1,576,049,000 | 31,535,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Services | |||
| General Fund | 1,243,091,000 | 1,264,531,000 | 21,440,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 38,810,000 | 48,905,000 | 10,095,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 7,780,000 | 7,780,000 | 0 |
| Children and Youth Services | |||
| General Fund | 247,317,000 | 247,317,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 7,516,000 | 7,516,000 | 0 |
| Total | 1,544,514,000 | 1,576,049,000 | 31,535,000 |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Mental Health Facilities | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 6,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 0 | 41,601,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 65,722,000 | 65,722,000 | 0 | 513,589,000 |
| Executive Direction | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,445,000 |
| Maintenance and Improvements of Existing Facilities | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,791,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,044,201,000 |
| Non-Bondable Projects | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 0 | 6,045,000 |
| State Mental Health Facilities | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 86,750,000 | 86,750,000 | 0 | 147,428,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 275,000,000 | 375,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 1,096,810,000 |
| Total | 434,472,000 | 534,472,000 | 100,000,000 | 2,857,910,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019