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Committee approves contracts and staffing for senior PERS units, youth transitional housing and mental‑health support
Summary
The committee approved a $15,000 amendment for senior personal emergency response units, contracts with Family of Woodstock for transitional youth housing (including expanding eligibility to age 24), clarified funding structure for a preschool special‑education software contract, and created a new OMH‑funded crisis intervention position to support housing stability for people with serious mental illness.
The Ulster County Health, Human Services and Human Rights Committee on April 14 approved a set of contracts and budget amendments affecting seniors, youth and behavioral health services.
Office for the Aging presented Resolution 168, a $15,000 amendment to the county contract with ConnectAmerica.com LLC to cover additional rental, installation, maintenance and monitoring for personal emergency response units (PERS) for older residents for Jan. 1–March 31, 2026. The presenter described the program as a fall-detection and emergency-notification service designed for people who live alone; private‑pay pricing was described as roughly $23–$24 per month. Legislators asked how cellular use affects costs and staff said mobile/wearable options and GPS-capable devices make the service more flexible and have expanded uptake.
Resolutions 200 and a follow-up item (listed as 2011 in the agenda text) approved contracts with Family of Woodstock for two transitional youth programs (Midway 1 in Kingston and Midway 2 in Ellenville) totalling $151,660.83 for the Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 contract year. Department staff said they are working with state Office of Children and Family Services to increase the eligible age from 21 to 24 and to extend maximum stays from 18 months to 24 months to address gaps for older youth aging out of services.
Resolution 203 sought a $72,500 contract amendment with James McGinness & Associates Inc. for preschool special-education software and Medicaid claim processing through June 30, 2027. Deputy Commissioner Rita Wood explained the system supports evaluations, authorizations, electronic records and Medicaid claims processing. During discussion staff clarified there is no county share for the underlying Medicaid claiming program; earlier percentages in the agenda were inaccurate and committee members asked contract management and Ways and Means to align the abstract and contract language to reflect federal/state funding and reimbursement realities.
The committee also approved Resolution 205 to create a new crisis intervention/mental health specialist position using funds from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). Commissioner McDonald described the role as providing technical assistance to residential providers, stabilizing housing for people with severe mental illness, and improving warm handoffs to crisis and community services. Resolution 206 accepted an additional $72,757 in OMH supported-housing funding and Resolution 207 approved a $9,623 amendment to Rehabilitation Support Services funding.
Committee members asked for budget-line clarifications and noted some resolution abstracts contained inaccurate percentages; sponsors agreed to resolve funding‑split language in contract paperwork and Ways and Means.
All of these items were moved, seconded and adopted by the committee.
