NEW PILOT PROGRAM
Officials announce mental health court; provide coronavirus update
N.Y. » Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy touched on an array of topics during his Friday morning press briefing. McCoy provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing vaccination clinic at the Times Union Center. Plus, the county executive unveiled the first-ever mental health court for the Third Judicial District of the City of Albany.
On the pandemic data, McCoy confirmed three new deaths attributed to the virus. A man and a woman in their 80s, and a man in his 90s were among the victims. The death toll for Albany County stands at 351 since pandemic tracking began last March.
McCoy noted 77 new positive cases. Encompassed within the new cases were 26 who had close contact with positive cases, 44 who did not have a present clear source of infection, and seven are healthcare workers or residents of congregate settings.
There are 601 active cases in the county. The number of people under mandatory quarantine increased to 1,441. Conversely, 57 cases were cleared for recovery and release.
There were three new hospitalizations overnight, and there are presently 48 county residents hospitalized from the virus. Plus, there are currently six patients in the ICU.
On vaccinations, McCoy noted Times Union Center point of dispensing (POD) alone, they have administered more than 5,200 first doses and more than 2,200 second doses. Those do not include the 400 sent to the Center for Disability Services, the 100 allocated to Koinonia Primary Care Practice and all those delivered through the Mohawk Ambulance Service partnership.
"We have an abundance of people that come and assist us every week in a volunteer capacity. These are health professionals and others that give of their own time to come down and assist us with this very herculean task of vaccinating thousands of people." — Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, Albany County Department of Health Commissioner
Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen commented on the hard work of their team in helping to vaccinate people.
“We have an abundance of people that come and assist us every week in a volunteer capacity,” Whalen said.
“These are health professionals and others that give of their own time to come down and assist us with this very herculean task of vaccinating thousands of people,” Whalen explained.
“[Thursday] about 1,600 people were vaccinated. We can’t do this alone and your time means the world to us,” Whalen added regarding those assisting in the vaccination process.
Whalen also announced the next vaccination clinic at the Times Union Center will be Monday, March 1. Those vaccinations will only be for the 1b essential worker category and those with the listed comorbidities.
Additionally, during the briefing, McCoy was joined by Deputy Chief Administrative
Judge for Justice Initiatives of the State Office of Court Administration Judge Edwina Mendelson, County Department of Mental Health Director Dr. Stephen Giordano, and Deputy Albany County Executive Daniel Lynch to announce the new mental health portion in the Third Judicial District Court of the City of Albany.
“I first brought attention to the need for a mental health court in Albany during my State of the County Address in 2016,” McCoy said. “It’s been a long five years since then, but I couldn’t be more proud to launch this pilot program today, helping to prevent the criminalization of mental illness. Studies have shown that 56% of adults are living with some form of mental health issue that goes untreated.
“This initiative will be able to divert low-level, nonviolent offenders away from incarceration and into the treatment they need.”
“If we can stop people from slipping through the cracks and reoffending by connecting them with counseling, addiction treatment, medicine management or whatever else they may need, we can potentially stop more serious crimes and make our community safer,” McCoy added. “This is a victory for equity in the system.
“There are too many people to thank, but my staff, Judge Breslin, Judge Mendelson, OCA and so many others played indispensable roles in making this happen today.”
Judge Mendelson echoed those sentiments and voiced her joy at the creation of the mental health court.
“Historically just involved individuals who had mental illness faced making one of two choices in court. To plead guilty or go to trial,” Mendelson said.
“And because of their illnesses and their associated risk factors, either of these choices frequently resulted in longer terms of incarceration or harsher non-jail sentences that for others who are charged with similar offenses in the general population who don’t have those issues or concerns,” Mendelson explained.
“Mental health courts provide a welcome third option. Diversion to treatment,” Mendelson added.