Molinaro: Collaboration key to mental health, addiction services

The INTERSECTIONS: Policy, Program, and Practice Exchange recently featured Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro on its weekly podcast to discuss the county’s response to better serve families affected by addiction and mental health issues. Having the government partner with other organizations in the community is key, the county executive said.

“We know that addiction is an illness, it’s not a crime. No one wakes up and chooses to be dependent on some substance. So we’ve really transformed the way we deliver services in the county. We start by meeting people where they are on their path toward and in recovery. And that’s meant partnering with a lot of agencies like Mental Health America and others to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ve tried to create the broadest network to connect with people in a way that helps them. We believe in saving lives. I think what we’ve done in this county has been effective, but we have so much more to do.”

Andrew O’Grady, executive director of Mental Health America of Dutchess County, and one of the podcast’s moderators, praised Molinaro for his efforts at improving collaboration among organizations to better serve those who need them.

“Marcus has been a champion in my opinion on issues related to all sorts of disabilities, including addiction. And I couldn’t be more blessed knowing I have the support of an executive who doesn’t just talk the talk, but walks the walk,” he said. “We have too many silos, and they don’t talk to each other. We’re breaking down those silos.”

Held Tuesdays at 2 p.m. INTERSECTIONS weekly video podcasts are moderated by Elissa Gwilliam, mindfulness teacher and director of The Center for Balanced Living at Hudson Valley Healing Center; Dr. L. T. Force, Ph.D., LCSW-R, co-founder of National Organization of Adult Addictions and Recovery (NOAAR) and Director of the Center on Aging and Disability Policy at Mount Saint Mary College; and O’Grady, LCSW-R and executive director of Mental Health America of Dutchess County.

The conversation also explored the need for organizations to work more closely with friends and family of those affected.

“It’s about saying to the partners in the individual’s life, ‘Here are the tools. This is what your friend/family member is dealing with. This is how you can be helpful,’ ” Molinaro said, adding that stigma surrounding addiction or mental illness is a serious issue. “We’ve got to break down that stigma, and that means going to family members and saying, ‘He didn’t choose to be an addict. He isn’t choosing to overdose.’ You can’t ostracize that individual. You’ve got to find out where they are on the path and be there when they need you.”

The county executive continued, “I’m saddened by the loss of life, but I also know that at some point during the life of an individual who ultimately sadly may lose their life in the struggle, they reached out to somebody. I hope it wasn’t me and I missed it. We need people to think that way and to know that the other end of a phone number or text message or an email is somebody there to help. Government is not the best tool, but we are one of the tools, and we have to be used effectively.”

Force agreed that recovery should include personal networks as well as the greater community.

“I think that it’s clear — and this is the message that we want to get across — that you don’t have to recover in isolation,” said Force. “Addiction is an isolating process, but you don’t have to recover alone. It’s the individual, the family network, it’s the community, it’s the role of government. It’s a collaboration. You can’t do it alone, and you don’t have to do it alone.”

He said the exchange was designed to use technology to reach those who need help in ways that can get through to them.

“The goal of this exchange is exactly what we’re doing, taking this concept and conversation about aging and addictions and highlighting it to a national level talking about how is it going to be delivered now with technology, now with the COVID response.”

INTERSECTIONS launched its 15-week video podcast series at the end of June. It focuses on the many faces of addiction and seeks to raise awareness of addiction, mental health services, resources and programs.

The INTERSECTIONS: Policy, Program and Practice Exchange, a community-based initiative, was established in response to quarantine guidelines issued by New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was developed to provide adults presence, support, and hope from a virtual interactive platform. It is designed to bring awareness to addiction and mental health issues as well as remedies available for those affected. Topics range from the perspective of policymakers, program developers, practitioners and peers on the local, state and national level.