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.