Behavioral Health Needs Assessment

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Join Us in Shaping the Future of Behavioral Health in Ulster County

Your voice matters! The Ulster County Department of Mental Health, and the Community Services Board, in partnership with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), invite you to participate in the Behavioral Health Needs Assessment project. Together, we can create a system of care that truly meets the needs of our community.

We are seeking to understand local challenges, identify gaps, and develop solutions for a more effective, equitable, and accessible behavioral health system. We need your insights and experiences to ensure the success of this effort.

How You Can Get Involved:

  • Attend public forums/listening sessions
  • Share your experiences in interviews
  • Host or participate in community discussions

Project Overview
Ulster County is committed to strengthening its behavioral health system to meet the challenges of higher-than-average rates of mental health challenges, substance use, and related issues. We have many community and system assets to build on, including a strong network of community providers and initiatives such as Integrated Ulster, the Opioid Strategic Action Team (OSAT), and collaborations with the Sheriff’s Department. The goal of the Behavioral Health Assessment is to evaluate current community strengths and needs so that we can create a comprehensive five-year action plan to enhance services for mental health, addiction, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. This collaborative effort will guide the development of a more effective and accessible behavioral health system that better serves all residents.

Key Goals

  1. Understand Community Needs: Assess the prevalence of mental health and substance use issues and the impact of factors like trauma, racial inequity, housing, and poverty on residents.
  2. Evaluate Resources: Identify available services, workforce capacity, and barriers to access, particularly for historically underserved populations.
  3. Identify Gaps: Pinpoint unmet needs and explore innovative models and best practices to address these gaps.
  4. Develop Actionable Solutions: Provide recommendations to enhance services, policies, and funding strategies for a more resilient and equitable system.

Why It Matters
This project will guide Ulster County in building a system of care that effectively serves all residents, with a focus on reducing disparities, improving access, and addressing the root causes of mental health and substance use challenges.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of behavioral health in Ulster County.

Community Involvement is Key!

This study’s success relies on input from Ulster County residents, especially those with firsthand experience of the behavioral health system. We encourage everyone to share their perspectives during listening sessions or interviews. If you are interested in being interviewed for this exciting project, or willing to hold space in the community for listening sessions, don't hesitate to get in touch with ulsterstudy@hsri.org.

Project Phases and Timeline

Ulster County is conducting a study to evaluate mental health and substance use needs and services, with the goal of creating a more effective and equitable system for mental health, addiction, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. The project will follow four phases:

  1. Phase 1: Project Initiation: Define project goals and engage community partners.
  2. Phase 2: Listening & Learning (Data Collection & Analysis): Gather and analyze data and insights through surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
  3. Phase 3: Sharing Findings (Reporting & Recommendations): Draft report and share results with the community.
  4. Phase 4: Moving Forward (Knowledge Transfer & Closeout): Create a five-year strategy and transfer knowledge for implementation.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Behavioral Health in Ulster County

Your voice matters! The Ulster County Department of Mental Health, and the Community Services Board, in partnership with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), invite you to participate in the Behavioral Health Needs Assessment project. Together, we can create a system of care that truly meets the needs of our community.

We are seeking to understand local challenges, identify gaps, and develop solutions for a more effective, equitable, and accessible behavioral health system. We need your insights and experiences to ensure the success of this effort.

How You Can Get Involved:

  • Attend public forums/listening sessions
  • Share your experiences in interviews
  • Host or participate in community discussions

Project Overview
Ulster County is committed to strengthening its behavioral health system to meet the challenges of higher-than-average rates of mental health challenges, substance use, and related issues. We have many community and system assets to build on, including a strong network of community providers and initiatives such as Integrated Ulster, the Opioid Strategic Action Team (OSAT), and collaborations with the Sheriff’s Department. The goal of the Behavioral Health Assessment is to evaluate current community strengths and needs so that we can create a comprehensive five-year action plan to enhance services for mental health, addiction, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. This collaborative effort will guide the development of a more effective and accessible behavioral health system that better serves all residents.

Key Goals

  1. Understand Community Needs: Assess the prevalence of mental health and substance use issues and the impact of factors like trauma, racial inequity, housing, and poverty on residents.
  2. Evaluate Resources: Identify available services, workforce capacity, and barriers to access, particularly for historically underserved populations.
  3. Identify Gaps: Pinpoint unmet needs and explore innovative models and best practices to address these gaps.
  4. Develop Actionable Solutions: Provide recommendations to enhance services, policies, and funding strategies for a more resilient and equitable system.

Why It Matters
This project will guide Ulster County in building a system of care that effectively serves all residents, with a focus on reducing disparities, improving access, and addressing the root causes of mental health and substance use challenges.

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of behavioral health in Ulster County.

Community Involvement is Key!

This study’s success relies on input from Ulster County residents, especially those with firsthand experience of the behavioral health system. We encourage everyone to share their perspectives during listening sessions or interviews. If you are interested in being interviewed for this exciting project, or willing to hold space in the community for listening sessions, don't hesitate to get in touch with ulsterstudy@hsri.org.

Project Phases and Timeline

Ulster County is conducting a study to evaluate mental health and substance use needs and services, with the goal of creating a more effective and equitable system for mental health, addiction, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. The project will follow four phases:

  1. Phase 1: Project Initiation: Define project goals and engage community partners.
  2. Phase 2: Listening & Learning (Data Collection & Analysis): Gather and analyze data and insights through surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
  3. Phase 3: Sharing Findings (Reporting & Recommendations): Draft report and share results with the community.
  4. Phase 4: Moving Forward (Knowledge Transfer & Closeout): Create a five-year strategy and transfer knowledge for implementation.
  • Public Invited to Help Shape Behavioral Health Services in Ulster County

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    Public Invited to Help Shape Behavioral Health Services in Ulster County | Ulster County

    Public Input Sessions Scheduled for March 19 & 24

    The Ulster County Department of Mental Health and the Community Services Board, in partnership with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), invite residents to participate in upcoming public input sessions for the County's Behavioral Health Needs Assessment to gather information from the community about local challenges, identify gaps, and develop solutions to make the system of care more effective, equitable, and accessible. Behavioral health includes mental health, substance use disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    Upcoming Listening Sessions to hear from residents include both in-person and virtual options. The first in-person session will be held Wednesday, March 19, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, at the Pine Street Family Health Center Community Room, 140 Pine Street in Kingston. Space is limited, and residents are encouraged to RSVP: bit.ly/UCMentalHealth(link is external). A virtual listening session will be held Monday, March 24, 5:30 to 7 PM. Please RSVP, and a Zoom link will be provided. Spanish interpretation will be available at both events. To RSVP for either session, visit bit.ly/UCMentalHealth(link is external).

    The goal of the Behavioral Health Assessment is to evaluate current community strengths and needs so that the County can create a comprehensive five-year action plan to enhance services for mental health, addiction, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This collaborative effort will guide the development of a more effective and accessible behavioral health system that better serves all residents.

    Community participation is critical to ensure the assessment reflects the real needs of residents. Those with firsthand experience in the behavioral health system are especially encouraged to participate.

    “The need for mental health care continues to grow, and this assessment will help us identify gaps in the county so that we can promote a truly comprehensive system of care,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “The success of this effort depends on input from the community, and I encourage residents to sign up for one of the listening sessions and share your insights and experiences.”

    "Our community deserves a behavioral health system that is accessible, effective, and equitable,” said Ulster County Department of Mental Health Commissioner Tara McDonald. “This assessment will help us identify challenges, close service gaps, and build a stronger system of care. We urge residents — especially those with lived experience — to share their voices through listening sessions, interviews, and public forums. Your input is vital in shaping the future of behavioral health services in Ulster County."

    About the Behavioral Health Needs Assessment

    The Behavioral Health Needs Assessment aims to build a stronger, more accessible behavioral health system by:

    • Identifying community needs and examining the impact of social factors like trauma, racial inequity, housing, and poverty.
    • Evaluating existing services, workforce capacity, and barriers to access, particularly for underserved populations.
    • Pinpointing service gaps and exploring innovative solutions to improve care.
    • Developing actionable recommendations to strengthen policies, funding strategies, and service delivery.

    Ulster County is committed to strengthening its behavioral health system to meet the needs of residents in assisting with mental health challenges, substance use, and related issues. The County utilizes a strong network of community providers and initiatives to assist with these challenges, including Integrated Ulster, the Opioid Strategic Action Team (OSAT), and collaborations with the Ulster County’s Sheriff’s Office.

    For more information on the Behavioral Health Needs Assessment, to RSVP for a forum, or to participate in an interview, visit the Participate Ulster website: https://participate.ulstercountyny.gov/behavioral-health-needs-assessment, or contact ulsterstudy@hsri.org.

  • Join a Community Listening Session

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    Upcoming Public Forums:

    Join us for an in-person public Listening Session on Wednesday, March 19, at the Pine Street Family Health Center Community Room, located at 140 Pine Street, Kingston, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Space is limited, so we encourage individuals to RSVP in advance.

    For those unable to attend in person, we are also hosting a virtual public Listening Session on Monday, March 24, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Zoom link provided when you RSVP.

    We encourage Ulster County residents, particularly those with firsthand experience in the behavioral health system, to take part in this important conversation. Your insights and experiences are invaluable in helping us better understand community needs and improve local services. By participating in listening sessions or interviews, you can help shape the future of behavioral health care in our region.

    Your voice matters—help shape the future of behavioral health services in our community!

    For more information or to RSVP/register for the virtual session, contact ulsterstudy@hsri.org.

Page last updated: 26 Mar 2025, 04:20 PM