| Westchester County Separating Babies from Bathwater |
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| Tuesday, 29 December 2009 20:21 |
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While New York City and Nassau County have been quite public about restructuring their health and human services, Westchester County was quietly doing some very, very innovative things. That’s the view of several nonprofit leaders we spoke to for an assessment of outgoing County Executive Andrew Spano’s administration. Spano, a Democrat who held office for twelve years, makes way for Republican Rob Astorino, another surprise victor in November’s taxpayer revolt at the polls.
Provider agency executives credit Spano for picking several good administrators in key spots, including Department of Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon, and then giving them the support and leeway needed to get the job done. Nonprofits point to significant investments in preventive services and a willingness to develop new programs targeted towards specific problems or populations in need. Several agency executives reported on exciting new initiatives developed at the request of, and in collaboration with, County agencies.
Astorino ran for County Executive and lost to Andy Spano four years ago, after serving one term in the County Legislature. Since then, he has worked as station manager and progam director of The Catholic Channel on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio and hosts a weekly show from St. Patrick’s Cathedral with New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. “I have known Rob for as long as I have lived in this area,” says Christina Rohatynskyj, Executive Director of the Food Bank for Westchester. “He is a very, very decent man. He has always been kind, generous and concerned. He is very aware of what is going on in the community and I know he means well and wants to do the right thing.” Astorino’s campaign platform was one of streamlining government and reducing taxes. Depending on the details, these may not be the most promising set of policy priorities for the human service sector. “It is a real challenge when you set yourself a goal of not allowing any increase in property taxes at all,” says one nonprofit leader. “How are you supposed to pay for services?” “We have to hope that his administration won’t throw out the baby with the bathwater,” says one executive director. “There are a lot of very good initiatives in place here. We don’t want to lose them.” Providers are hoping that “streamlining government” may translate into the continued creation of innovative and effective community-based programs. The Legislature’s recent approval of the County’s 2010 budget may offer some breathing room for Astorino to familiarize himself with the nuts-and-bolts issues confronting county departments and services providers. It may also create a window of opportunity for human service advocates and providers to begin making their case on the best ways to structure services while continuing to meet critical needs. The new budget already includes some “streamlining” of government by merging the Departments of Health and Community Mental Health into one agency – a Spano budget proposal which had taken many service providers by surprise. “Is this a good thing? I don’t know,” said one agency executive. “If it means that the focus on mental health programs gets lost, that isn’t a good thing.” Providers are particularly concerned about any negative impacts given the planned restructuring of mental health services being undertaken by the State Office of Mental Health. Adding to concerns are complaints by New York City providers that a similar merger of the Health and Mental Hygiene Departments had contributed to a serious slowdown in the processing of nonprofit provider contracts. Also eliminated were a number of other administrative positions – although not as many as initially proposed by one group of legislators following the election. Finally, the budget documents referred to the “transfer of non-mandated programs to local providers.” Astorino reportedly has begun assembling advisory groups – including representatives of the nonprofit community -- to begin offering advice on policies and appointments. Providers and advocates are ready and willing to help. “We hope we can be useful to him in understanding the issues impacting children in our county,” says Cora Greenberg, Executive Director of the Westchester Children’s Association. “We want to be helpful in any way we can,” says Jeremy Kohomban, CEO at The Children’s Village. “It is essential that the County and nonprofit agencies work together for the benefit of the children and families of Westchester.” For the moment, there is no need to rush on finding a replacement for Department of Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon. His contract runs through 2013. Will he stay? Or, will he go?
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“These guys were pretty decent,” said one nonprofit executive. “There was a lot of stuff going on here. Andy Spano cared about human services.”
What will the inauguration of Rob Astorino as County Executive mean for human service providers? Once again, it is a question that is hard to answer – at least so far. 
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