Reflecting on 20 Years of Advocacy

The Parent Support Network Is Formed In 1989, both the federal and state government put their money on the table and the Mental Health Association in NYS, Inc. (MHANYS) received a grant to hire a parent, to connect parents to each other across the state, and to develop a newsletter to address families' needs.

The Stage Is Set As part of that grant, five parent advisors were hired to work with families in the five regions of the state.

The Stage Is Set By 1993, there were six parents working with the Parent Support Network to inform, educate, support, advocate with, and organize the families in New York. That same year, the Parent Support Network won a three year grant from the National Center for Mental Health Services in Washington, D.C., to develop a statewide, parent run, not-for-profit organization.

The Steering Committee The Director of the Parent Support Network, a parent of a child with a serious emotional disorder, put together a steering committee of ten parents to develop a statewide parent support organization.

The Steering Committee Each parent advisor and another parent from each of the five regions across New York were brought together to develop a mission statement and by-laws for the newly named Families Together in New York State.

The Steering Committee The steering committee also developed an initial plan for the organization and started the incorporation process. Over this two year period, Families Together went from being a good idea to becoming a reality.

The Expanded Board In April 1995, the Families Together steering committee was ready to expand the board. New board members were chosen and officers elected. In 1995, Families Together became an official state organization of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

Movement To Independence Paige Pierce was hired as Executive Director in Parent Advisors become part of the FTNYS family.

Movement To Independence Ten Chapters of Families Together in New York State began to grow, beginning with Long Island Families Together (LIFT).

Movement To Independence

In partnership with Albany County under a SAMHSA-funded System of Care Grant: Three Family Resource Centers were opened. Families Together in Albany County was created.

Movement To Independence Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI) legislation passed and was signed into law. FTNYS received a grant from the van Ameringen Foundation and an impact study on Custody Relinquishment was released to the legislature & state agencies.

Movement To Independence In the years to follow, FTNYS: Hired a Statewide Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative Coordinator to manage Tier III activities Partnered with NYS Education Department to institute Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) in school districts across the state. Partnered with Nassau County and received a System of Care grant from SAMHSA, which was named No Wrong Door.

2005 The Madison Avenue building is purchased & renovated for our new offices.

Here comes YOUTHPOWER! From 2000 – 2005, the youth movement grew strong. FTNYS received support from OMH to develop a youth program and the first Statewide Youth Coordinator was hired.

Here comes YOUTHPOWER! In 2006, the first annual Youth Speak Out was held at the FTNYS Annual Conference. In 2007, YP! became a cross-disability network, a State Partner of the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN), and held its first Statewide Youth Leadership forum.

Moving Forward FTNYS chairs the Timothy’s Law Campaign, organizing families and other advocacy communities to carry our voice and change parity laws that were affecting families.

Moving Forward In 2009, Timothy’s Law is passed & signed by the Governor.

Moving Forward OMH partners with FTNYS & Columbia University to implement a statewide training called the Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) We hired a statewide training coordinator and trained over 20 trainers from across the state. Now, nearly 450 family advocates have been trained through the program.

Moving Forward SAMHSA funds FTNYS to implement a Statewide Family Network to connect peer support workers, families, youth, parent advocates, and service providers with each other and provide opportunities for technical assistance.

Moving Forward FTNYS joins the NYS Success Implementation Team to support broad-scale operation, expansion and integration of Systems of Care through the creation of sustainable infrastructure.

Moving Forward SAMHSA continues to recognize family peers as a cross-systems force, providing funding for FTNYS to develop deeper collaboration and promote skill sharing between peers in addiction recovery, adult peers in mental health recovery and family and youth peers.

Moving Forward FTNYS continues to be major force pushing for cross-systems systems integration and planning. FTNYS represents the family voice at every opportunity, participating on Cross-Systems Commissioner Meetings, pushing for the creation of Children’s Behavioral Health Medicaid Redesign Committee, and identifying opportunities for family members to join advisory councils.

In July 2013, FTNYS embarks on a campaign to organize stakeholders and advocates to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18 and reform the juvenile justice system. Early on, the campaign worked to gain the Governor’s support.

Governor vows to pass legislation during his 2014 State of the State Address.

Governor releases Youth, Public Safety and Justice Commission Report and introduces them in full as part the 2015 Executive Budget.

Here we are! Families Together in New York State has over 40 employees Parent Advisors, Chapters, and Members represent every corner of New York State and our voice is heard.

Here we are!

We remain committed to our mission to ensure that every family has access to needed information, support, training and services by providing a strong voice for families of children with social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

Thank you!