Mark A. Smith will participate in 2009 Families Together in New York State Annual Conference
Mark A. Smith, Managed Care director at New Directions Youth and Family Services, will participate in a roundtable discussion at the 2009 Families Together in New York State Annual Conference. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at the Marriott Hotel, 737 Madison Avenue, Albany.
The topic will be how to improve the behavioral health systems for children. The panelists will discuss creating timely and efficient treatment systems for children on the autism spectrum or children who have other behavioral health issues.
For example, in New York State, youth with dual diagnoses (such as a mental health disorder and a developmental disability including autism spectrum disorders) who require services from two agencies often receives services from only one because of the way the system is structured.
These system changes may produce cost savings that allow the system to address the unmet needs of other children and families in New York State.
The purpose of the 2009 Families Together Annual Conference is to ensure that every family has access to needed information, support and services for children and youth who struggle with behavioral, emotional and social challenges.
This year’s conference will be dedicated to those families who have practiced resilience during times of adversity. The conference will include an opening session with keynote speaker Neville Morris, primary author of the PASS Program, a curriculum that is used in New York State to motivate adolescents in making better choices to improve the outcomes in their lives. It will also include workshops, an awards luncheon and a poster session, as well as the fourth annual Speak Out, which gives youth the opportunity to voice their perspectives, opinions, concerns and hopes for the future.
For more information, visit www.ftnys.org.
April 14, 2009