Press Releases

Binghamton, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today hosted a roundtable discussion in Binghamton on the need to expand mental health and addiction treatment services in Upstate New York. This roundtable comes as mental health and substance use treatment providers in the Southern Tier struggle to keep pace with the growing demand for services.  

Rep. Molinaro was joined by Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Nancy Williams, Broome County’s Mental Health Commissioner, Sarah King, Broome County’s Dual Recovery Coordinator, Marissa Knapp, Broome County’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator, Mayor of Binghamton Jared Kraham, Megan Crowe, Executive Director for the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, John Barry, Executive Director for the Southern Tier AIDS program, Carmela Pirich Executive Director for the Addiction Center of Broome County, and representatives from the Broome County Sheriff and Binghamton Police Department.

Rep. Molinaro said, “Today, I convened a listening session on mental healthcare and addiction treatment . Our community simply does not have enough resources or personnel to address the growing demand for these services. That needs to change. This is an issue that can transcend politics. I’m going to keep fighting with Republicans and Democrats to expand treatment options and ensure that anyone who needs help is able to access quality care.”

Rep. Molinaro has been a leading advocate in New York for expanding mental health and addiction services. As County Executive, he developed a County Stabilization Center that offered walk-in care for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, and the most comprehensive network of community based mental health services of any county in America. This center became a model for numerous other Stabilization Centers that have opened throughout New York State and is now the model for New York. 

In Congress, Rep. Molinaro has built on this work. He’s advocated for expanded federal funding for local mental health facilities, crisis response services, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Rep. Molinaro is also supporting an effort to build a Stabilization Center in Columbia County.