County Conversations

Reimagining Mental Health Care After the Pandemic

Today’s conversation focuses on mental health services and how they have changed throughout the pandemic.

NYSAC’s Multimedia Specialist Kate Pierce is joined by Teisha Cook, Director of the Mental Health Department in Madison County. The county has recently launched a Mental Health Task Force amid an increase in crisis calls, which is discussed in the episode.  

NYSID: Serving Counties, Making a Difference

We’re happy to be joined by our partners from the New York State Industries for the Disabled for this episode to talk about how counties can meet procurement needs and create meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities.

Jennifer Lawrence and Katie Tucci of NYSID join NYSAC’s Deputy Director Mark LaVigne to discuss the affordable products and services NYSID offers and the positive impact of a workforce that includes empowered individuals with disabilities.

Rescuing 9-1-1 Funding

Today’s conversation focuses on how county 9-1-1 operations are currently funded, the diversion of surcharge fees at the state level, and what it means to run a 9-1-1 dispatch operation. Joining NYSAC’s Legislative Director Ryan Gregoire for the conversation is Steve Sharpe, Director of Emergency Communications for Genesee County. 

NYSAC thanks our sponsor, PERMA.

Economic Impact: County Leadership & the COVID Pandemic Part III

This episode is the third in a series NYSAC has produced that chronicles the county response to COVID-19.

Seven county executives from Onondaga, Dutchess, Rockland, Chemung, Rensselaer, Broome, and Orange Counties share stories of the economic impact of the pandemic on New York’s counties and how County Executives worked to manage the economic disaster in their communities and lead the local recovery. 

Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive and President of the New York State County Executives’ Association provides an introduction for the episode.

For more information on Our Darkest Hours: New York County Leadership & the COVID Pandemic, visit NYSAC’s website.

Previous Episodes - Part I: The Early Days | Part II: Into Action

NYSAC thanks our sponsor for this episode, Three+One Advisors

Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Today’s episode features a conversation on the final weeks of the state legislative session. You'll hear from Dave Lucas, Ryan Gregoire, and Patrick Cummings from NYSAC's Legislative team to discuss the outcome for top county priorities during this session, along with other key concerns on the horizon.  

NYSAC will release a report on bills the legislature passed that details the impact of this legislative session on New York's counties, which will be available at nysac.org/advocacy.  

NYSAC thanks our sponsor, MEGA. 

The Right to an Attorney: The County Role in Indigent Legal Services

All counties in New York are required by the state to provide and pay for the criminal defense counsel for those that cannot afford this service themselves. This episode features a conversation about providing indigent legal defense services at the county level, and the office that monitors, studies, and makes efforts to improve the quality of services provided under Article 18-B of county law.

Joining NYSAC’s Counsel Patrick Cummings are Bill Leahy and Patricia Warth from NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services. After serving as Director of ILS for ten years, Bill is retiring, and Patricia will be taking on the position.

 

NYSAC thanks our sponsor, Nationwide Retirement Solutions. 

NYMIR 101 - The Basics of Municipal Insurance

Local government operations are fraught with risk. From parks and playgrounds, to law enforcement and landfills, how can counties manage and secure affordable coverage for the risk associated with the essential services they provide?

In this episode, NYSAC’s Deputy Director Mark LaVigne is joined by Kevin Crawford, NYMIR’s Executive Director, and Susan O'Rorke President of NYMIR’s management company, Wright Risk Management for an primer on what major risk management issues county governments are facing, how premium pricing is set for local governments, and how NYMIR is uniquely equipped to handle coverage and risk management services for counties.

Visit NYMIR.org for more information.

Commemoration Celebrations and the Role of County Historians

This episode features a conversation on commemorating the 200^th anniversary of the founding of Livingston County. Joining us to discuss bicentennial celebrations and the unique function of local historians is Livingston County Historian Amie Alden. 

 

Visit Livingston County’s website to read more about the celebrations planned for the community. 

 

NYSAC thanks our sponsor, NYSTEC. 

An Rx for Savings: County Prescription Discount Card

This episode features a conversation on pharmacy benefits management, the role of pharmacies in vaccination efforts throughout the state, and a prescription discount card program that has cumulatively saved NY residents across 49 counties over $277 million on over 7.3 million prescriptions.

Joining NYSAC’s Deputy Director Mark LaVigne for the conversation are representatives from a long-standing partner of NYSAC’s, ProAct, a division of KPH Healthcare Services.

Visit www.proactmedsavings.com/proact/ny for more information on the Prescription Savings Program.

Into Action - County Leadership & the COVID Pandemic Part II

This episode is the second in a series NYSAC is producing that chronicles the county response to COVID-19.

Seven county executives from Chautauqua, Rensselaer, Onondaga, Monroe, Ontario, Erie, and Montgomery Counties share stories of innovation and adaptation as county leaders stepped up to provide residents, businesses and first responders with the equipment and information they needed to stay safe and do their jobs.

Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive and President of the New York State County Executives’ Association provides an introduction for the episode.

NYSAC thanks our sponsor, LetsGetChecked.