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Contact: Gail Donovan
Donovan Communications
718-399-2122
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW HEALTH COMMISSIONER VISITS
BROOKLYN PSYCHIATRIC CENTERS
BROOKLYN, NY—February 11, 2002—The staff and clients of Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers, Inc., were honored with a visit on February 6 from Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, the newly appointed Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Alcoholism Services.
Since he was sworn in as commissioner on January 29, Dr. Frieden has been touring health and mental health programs in all five boroughs, with Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers being the only mental health facility in Brooklyn on his schedule.
Serving the clients “that’s the most important thing,” Dr. Frieden said, explaining why he was visiting health facilities throughout the city so soon after assuming his new position. “The services are here for the people who use them, and mental health issues are particularly critical after September 11.”
Dr. Frieden had separate meetings with groups of clients from Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers’ clinics in Williamsburg and Bushwick, youth from the agency’s Children’s Assertive Community Treatment Team and Central Brooklyn Initiative Program at Erasmus High School, a group from the Clearway Program, and the agency’s Consumer Advisory Committee. During the meetings Dr. Frieden took notes and spoke fluent Spanish to the agency’s Spanish-speaking clients.
“He was extremely sensitive and engaging,” said Dr. Pamela D. Straker, executive director and CEO of Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers. “He’s willing to listen and interested in learning. It was so important for him to have the opportunity to speak to the people who actually use the services. We look forward to working with the commissioner.”
Dr. Frieden will be acting Commissioner of Mental Health until July 2002, when the Department of Health and Department of Mental Health are merged. At that time, Dr. Frieden will become the Commissioner of the merged entity, which will be known as the Department of Public Health.
Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers, founded in 1907, provides borough-wide mental health services to Brooklyn’s most vulnerable residents through its clinics in Bushwick, Canarsie, Flastbush-Sheepshead Bay, Williamsburg-Greenpoint, and downtown Brooklyn and the borough’s public schools. Its diverse staff of more than100 professionals makes more than 54,000 visits annually to adults, seniors, and their families, which enable clients to function as productive students, employees, parents, and family members.
More information about Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers is available from 718-875-5625 or at www.bpcinc.org.