In the fall of 1998, James Stone, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Mental Health officially announced the Office of Mental Health's Family Liaison Program (FLP). This statewide program is headed by Rami Kaminski, M.D., Medical Director for Operations/Commissioner's Family Liaison. Working directly with Dr. Kaminski are Joan Shanebrook, ACSW, the Deputy for Upstate and Linda Ligenza, ACSW, the Deputy for Downstate for the FLP. The FLP was established to strengthen the vital working relationship between families and state and local mental health providers.

The FLP works with families and individual consumers of mental health services throughout New York state. The majority of mental health issues involving consumers and their families are resolved by working directly with the local mental health providers. The FLP is an additional resource for families and consumers.

The directors of the Office of Mental Health's five field offices also act as FLP Field Coordinators. They are responsible for resolving issues and concerns to families related to improving the quality of mental health care their regions. They are listed below.

Regional Field Coordinators

NEW YORK CITY FIELD OFFICE
Joseph Lazar, Director
330 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 330-1650
FAX: (212)330-6359

LONG ISLAND FIELD OFFICE
William Schmelter, Ph.D., Director
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
Building 45-3
998 Crooked Hill Road
West Brentwood, NY 11717-1087
(631) 761-2886

HUDSON RIVER FIELD OFFICE
Joe Riley, Director
Hudson River Field Office
4 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 3v Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
Telephone: (845) 454-8229
FAX: (845) 454-8218

CENTRAL NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE
Jeannie Straussman, CSW, Director
545 Cedar Street
Syracuse, New York 13210-2319
Telephone: (315) 472-2187
FAX: (315) 472-5279

WESTERN NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE
Thomas Wallace, CSW, Director
737 Delaware Avenue, Suite 200
Buffalo, New York 14209
Telephone: (716) 885-4219
FAX: (716) 885-4096