| New York State Office of Mental Health Recipient Advisory Committee (RAC) |
| The Committee shall consist of the Director of Recipient Affairs who shall not have the right to vote, and at least 15 members appointed by the commissioner. Members shall be appointed only if they have demonstrated an active interest in and who have utilized mental health services. Members will be appointed who represent and reflect the diversity of cultural, geographic and service populations around the state. Members shall be appointed for terms of three years of service provided, however, that of the members first appointed,one-third shall be appointed for one year terms, and one-third shall be appointed for two year terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments for the remainder of the un-expired terms. No person shall be appointed member of the committee for more than six years in any period of twelve consecutive years. The designation of a member as chair shall be made annually. The committee shall have no executive, administrative or appointive duties. It shall, in cooperation with the Director of Recipient Affairs, obtain broad grassroots input from recipients, establish statewide goals and objectives, promote choice and shall advice the commissioner on matters related to development, implementation and operation of the public mental health system. The advisory committee shall have the power to consider any matter relating to the improvement of the state mental health program and shall advise the commissioner of mental hygiene in any matter relating to the performance of their duties with relation to persons with mental illness on policies, goals, budget and operation of mental health services. The committee shall establish such sub-committees as deemed necessary by the chair with the advice from the Director of Recipient Affairs. Such committees shall consider matters related to the various populations served, and programs certified by the office, as well as other matters, including planning, fiscal and consumer affairs. The committee shall meet at least four times in each full calendar year. The committee shall meet at the request of its chair or the commissioner. All meetings shall be open meetings. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for all expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties. The committee shall assist the commissioner of mental hygiene with the development of state plans. To ensure the full use of existing specialized and generic services in the community, to ensure that all providers and appropriate local governmental agencies are involved, and to ensure that local services to individuals with mental health concerns and their families are readily available and accessible, the committee shall periodically assess the local planning process and make recommendations thereon to the commissioner and to the Director of Recipient Affairs. The committee shall assist the Director of Recipient Affairs in creating and expand networking opportunities for recipients and recipient organizations across NYS. |
| PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES Foster inclusiveness and responsive to individual recipients and grassroots networks. Identify collective vision through consensus building processes that will assist with the prioritization of needs within the mental health system. Foster and increase opportunities for recipients to speak directly for themselves. Create, expand and offer technical assistance on opportunities for individuals to achieve greater independence and integration into the social fabric of the communities in which they wish to live. Support the expansion of self-help along the continuum of activities that an individual accomplishes on their own, to self-help groups, then the peer-run self-help agencies. Expand knowledge and access to information which will support recipients to achieve their goals. Create and expand networking opportunities for recipients and recipient organizations across NYS. |
