Andrew Cuomo's plans to reform state mental health facilities, is vague, ill-advised and shameful, according to CSEA President Danny Donohue.

Donohue said Cuomo is not heeding his agency's own warning that investments must be made in community care before the psychiatric hospital capacities are reduced.

"Under a vague and misnamed initiative called "Centers of Excellence," Gov. Cuomo is moving forward with the closure and consolidation process without having the appropriate community programs and services in place," he said.

The plan includes the closure of six inpatient wards at the Ogdensburg Psychiatric Center by 2017. And reduces the number of state hospitals from to 24 to 15. Cuomo says the state will focus on community care and outpatient treatments, but Donohue says the plan will hurt patients and their families.

"Purely on a policy basis this is ill-advised for many reasons. But considering the human toll the state's continued irresponsibility takes on individuals and families struggling with mental illness, it is shameful."

Dohohue said no one disputes the need to improve the access and delivery of mental health care in New York or the argument that more and better mental health services are needed in our communities. But he says no one should simply believe those objectives will miraculously result from "further eroding state services and some political double talk about improvements."

Donohue said the proposed reforms stem from political reasons rather than improving health care.

"The vague "Centers of Excellence" proposal just continues the state's empty promises over community mental health services while creating winners and losers in an absurd political game of musical chairs with state psychiatric centers, which provide the backbone of mental health services in many communities."

"Enough with Gov. Cuomo's public policy by news release packaging! We need an actual plan detailing how service gaps will be addressed community by community.

This plan must include a recognition of the state's obligation to provide appropriate long term and intensive care for people with serious and persistent mental illness. It would be foolish for the Cuomo Administration not to utilize the experienced and dedicated state mental health workforce to address this continuing unmet need."