Earlier today I testified (via Zoom) before a joint committee of NYS lawmakers interested in learning more about the impacts of COVID-19 on the care recipients served by OMH and OPWDD providers.  The hearing was hosted by Assembly Mental Health Chair Aileen Gunther who was joined by several of her colleagues who sit on the Assembly MH Committee.  Generally I prefer to speak from the heart rather than reading testimony so I prepared an outline of the issues and wanted to touch on during my allotted time.  I thought I would share the outline with everyone as a potential tool for your use when speaking with lawmakers and state decision makers regarding the plight of our system of care before and during COVID-19, and what we need to ensure the sustainability of our system going forward.