[NYAPRS Enews] Colleagues Honor Retiring Suffolk County Director Tom MacGilvray

[Harvey Rosenthal]

NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS is pleased to join all of our members and friends in
Suffolk County in their honoring the lifetime achievements of retiring
county mental health director Tom MacGilvray. Tom's visionary leadership
has had statewide impact, most notably for his strong support of housing
innovations, recovery-centered initiatives like PROS and his championing
of voluntary crisis alternatives. Best of luck to you Tom...we'll miss
you greatly!

 

Suffolk Colleagues Honor Retiring County Director

 

Agency directors, family and recipient advocates, State and Local
facilities staff and Regional colleagues all are extending their
gratitude and best wishes to Tom MacGilvray, retiring Director of the
Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services. MacGilvray
worked for the County for 38 years, the last 13 as the Division
Director. Under his tenure, MacGilvray has long been recognized as a
visionary and recovery-focused leader who welcomed and inspired
innovation, particularly in the face of his County's unique challenges.
His accomplishments include:

*	In the face of rapid downsizing and closures of state hospitals,
worked with OMH to ensure that individuals were provided proper housing,
treatment and supportive services;
*	Facilitated the merger of County Divisions of Substance Abuse
and Mental Health into one Division; 
*	Ensured the use of a collaborative, person-first approach to the
mandated implementation of the AOT program;
*	Developed programs to promote alternatives to incarceration and
supportive jail aftercare for people with psychiatric disabilities;
*	Fostered strong collaboration with the Suffolk County Police
Department resulting in effective crisis intervention and diversion
initiatives; 
*	Negotiated and helped agencies navigate County-wide conversion
of CSS and Reinvestment funds and outpatient licenses to PROS;
*	Provided oversight of County-run clinical services including
development of interventions for high-risk addicts with co-occurring
psychiatric illnesses;

"Tom is widely appreciated as a person who has been forthright and
candid about challenges and who welcomed thoughtful debate and
progressive ideas. Recipients, families, and providers have been
fortunate to have such a responsive and expert leader through a period
of time of such dramatic change" said Michael Stoltz, Executive Director
of Clubhouse of Suffolk and a co-founder of the County Coalition of
Mental Health Service Providers (and Chair of the NYAPRS PROS Task
Force). 

Mr. MacGilvray's County Division Deputy Art Flescher added, "We wish Tom
well in his much deserved retirement, but his absence will create a void
in leadership which will be difficult to fill.  Among his numerous
accomplishments was his willingness to fully embrace the rehabilitation
and recovery philosophy of PROS in the face of multiple challenges and
risks associated with being the largest early adopter county.  Suffolk
County has come out the other side with a creative and vibrant system of
PROS services and Tom can be justifiably proud."

Dr. Davis Pollack, a long-time mental health advocate (and past NYAPRS
award recipient) noted that "Tom has been a man of integrity, character
and commitment who dedicated himself to improving the quality of life of
people with mental illness and to support NAMI and the entire family
movement.  We wish him all the best for a happy and healthy retirement."

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