Support Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention in Tompkins County
Published on January 30, 2025
Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) seeks individuals with a passion for addressing issues regarding mental health and substance use to join the Tompkins County Community Services Board (CSB) or serve on one of the CSB’s various subcommittees. The CSB has multiple vacancies and invites interested candidates to apply. The Board encourages individuals who seek public involvement in mental and behavioral health issues impacting our community to apply.
The CSB is a volunteer board that serves as the governing body for the Mental Health Local Governmental Unit (LGU). Under New York State law, the CSB is responsible for developing the community's preventative, rehabilitative, and treatment services to ensure continuity of care for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and those experiencing or recovering from substance use disorders. The CSB has 3 subcommittees: Substance Use Subcommittee; Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee; and Mental Health Subcommittee.
The current vacancies include:
- Community Services Board: 1 vacancy
- Mental Health Subcommittee: 3 vacancies
- Substance Use Subcommittee: 2 vacancies
- Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee: 1 vacancy
Whole Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa stated, “Participation on the Community Services Board or one of its subcommittees is a great opportunity to gain professional experience, expand your knowledge of local services and policies, and play an important role in the decision-making process of local mental health services. If you have a focused interest in developmental disabilities, substance use, or mental health needs, we invite you to apply for one of our subcommittee vacancies. We are particularly interested in applications from people who have lived experience of these topics, as well as professionals or interested community members looking to make positive impacts in local mental health and well-being programming.”
Applicants must complete an Advisory Board Application form to indicate interest in serving on a CSB Subcommittee. The form may be obtained from the County Legislature office, located at the Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building (Old Court House), 121 E. Court Street, Ithaca. The entrance is on the Dewitt Park side of the building. The application form is also available for download. Please call the County Legislature office with any questions at: (607) 274-5434.
For more information about Advisory Boards, visit: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/Government-Resources/County-Legislature/Advisory-Boards
After the application is submitted, candidates may be interviewed prior to recommendation, and they must be approved by both the CSB and the County Legislature. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
For more information on the CSB, please contact Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health, at (607) 274-6200 or via email at hayers@tompkins-co.org.
Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.
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