PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Stephanie Marquesano, Founder and President of The Harris Project
2:16:37
ยท
6 min
Stephanie Marquesano, founder of The Harris Project, testified about the importance of addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in opioid crisis response efforts. She emphasized the need for integrated care, prevention programs, and systemic changes to improve treatment outcomes.
- Highlighted the lack of specific funding for co-occurring disorders in current opioid settlement spending plans
- Shared successful initiatives from Westchester County, including integrated prevention curricula and school-based treatment programs
- Advocated for legislative action to create a single state agency overseeing both mental health and addiction services
Stephanie Marquesano
2:16:37
Good afternoon, Chair Lee and Chair Narcisse and council members.
2:16:41
Thank you so much for inviting me to testify today.
2:16:44
My name is Stephanie Marchesano.
2:16:45
I am founder and president of an organization called The Harris Project.
2:16:49
We focus specifically on prevention, treatment, and systems transformation around co occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
2:16:56
I started The Harris Project in 2013 after the accidental overdose death of my son, Harris.
2:17:01
He was 19 years old.
2:17:02
Every residential treatment program said he had this thing called co occurring disorders, and they treated it.
2:17:08
They never got to the mental health piece that would drive each and every recurrence in use.
2:17:13
I will say that I'm a member of the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, where I was thrilled when attorney Leticia James ensured that the words co occurring disorders were included 6 times in the language of the law.
2:17:25
The frustration for me on the board is that each and every time there is public opportunity for comment, I attend in the city.
2:17:33
I attend up in Albany.
2:17:34
Members of the community consistently talk about mental health and trauma being drivers for use.
2:17:40
While we made over an overarching theme, co occurring disorders, there is yet to be one single RFA that includes co occurring disorders as far as dollars.
2:17:50
There's now a sheet that they blow into the RFA where you demonstrate your co occurring capability.
2:17:55
But without funds to support developing competency, it's really a futile effort.
2:18:00
On a more positive note, I cochaired the Westchester County co occurring system of care committee.
2:18:05
We are truly leading the nation on integrated services from prevention to treatment to systems transformation.
2:18:13
Our jails are are fully integrated.
2:18:15
We work in peer certification that's fully integrated.
2:18:18
We work with our unhoused population.
2:18:21
And so I'm here to say that success is possible, doctor Li.
2:18:26
Each and every time you talked about the siloed and fragmented systems, I thought we are making small steps.
2:18:32
It is really, really challenging.
2:18:33
You asked about legislative opportunities.
2:18:36
We know that 3 years ago, more than 1200 individuals across the state of New York participated in 10 work groups where, overwhelmingly, they wanted a single state agency that included OASIS and OMH, and that did not happen.
2:18:49
They are now talking about a single license.
2:18:52
I am an attorney by training.
2:18:53
2 agencies interpreting the same license will never get it the same way.
2:18:58
And so I really encourage you all to consider strongly joining the movement.
2:19:03
Westchester and the Mid Hudson region are leading the way in integrated care.
2:19:07
I'm doing work now with Nassau in Suffolk County.
2:19:09
They are developing co occurring system of care committees.
2:19:12
The commissioner in Westchester and I just presented to Monroe County.
2:19:16
I've been in the Mohawk Valley, and I believe that the time is right for really making this happen.
2:19:21
I wanna give you some examples of concrete things that work that you can begin to think about today.
2:19:27
So opioid response dollars being spent in Westchester County, there is $1,000,000 committed to prevention, partnership to end addiction, and the Harris Project.
2:19:36
My organization are working with our coalitions and Pace University to create a first of its kind three session health curriculum, parents and guardians in English and Spanish, school staff, faith leaders, community leaders.
2:19:49
It's going really well.
2:19:50
The pilot is amazing.
2:19:51
The feasibility study is moving forward.
2:19:54
We're now partnering with BOCES to actually train health teachers, student assistance counselors.
2:19:59
What I will say is this, and it's not so popular.
2:20:02
A lot of the traditional prevention programs are no longer racially and culturally competent.
2:20:06
They are now sticking SEL programs as an appendage to those.
2:20:10
We have the first of its kind integrated evidence based, hopefully, prevention curriculum.
2:20:15
Evidence based treatment, we are utilizing something called Encompass, single once a week integrated therapy for teens and young adults.
2:20:23
It is delivered in school and community settings.
2:20:25
If you have school based mental health satellites and I've presented in Queens, actually, to one of the school districts.
2:20:32
If you can deliver services in the least restrictive environment and keep your young people engaged, and if they can get to care because it's delivered right in their school, home run, co occurring.
2:20:42
49 a half percent of our young people have a mental health challenge.
2:20:45
1 in 2 people with a substance use issue also have a mental health challenge.
2:20:49
21,000,000 people in this country have co occurring disorders.
2:20:52
Most have never heard of it.
2:20:53
Harm reduction.
2:20:55
A lot of talk today about supplies.
2:20:57
Supplies is not the only thing that goes with harm reduction.
2:21:01
Access to non abstinence based treatment and care keeps people connected.
2:21:07
While medication for opioid use disorder is key, SAMHSA will tell you it is part of a an integrated plan.
2:21:13
It is not a plan.
2:21:14
Just giving people medication alone without not offering them access does not do it.
2:21:20
Wraparound supports.
2:21:21
I'm gonna say one of the saddest moments for me sitting here today as a family member who had a child who died was listening to the testimony about the supports that you give for families whose or and loved ones who've had people who have died.
2:21:34
What are we doing to support the families to create possibilities for hope and recovery?
2:21:39
We need to move away from from mutual support groups, looking at things like community reinforcement and family training, invitation to change, shifting the narrative from punitive blame and shame to opportunities where families and loved ones can support individuals who are struggling.
2:21:55
Workforce development is a really key component of this.
2:21:58
These are not about trainings.
2:22:00
These are about really investing in clinical consultations, supervision, support.
2:22:05
And you look and you think, I'm a Brooklyn girl, and so I'm from Canarsie.
2:22:10
And so for me, I know that this city may be big, but Westchester County, while we're small, is a very, very diverse county.
2:22:18
Our programming, our availability of services go from Mount Vernon up to Bedford, from horse country to very urban.
2:22:25
And and so what I really want you to think is there's a lot of possibility.
2:22:31
You don't just have to stop the bleeding.
2:22:34
This is money that is really designed not just to throw good money after bed.
2:22:37
It's to really invest in innovation.
2:22:39
So, thank you for the opportunity.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:22:43
Thank you so much.