Cuomo Will Reconsider Closing Down Sagamore Psych Center

John Mitty Monday, December 30, 2013

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that he will reconsider the decision to close down Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center.  Nine senators united to protest the decision, including Kemp Hannon, John Flanagan, David Carlucci, Jack Martins, Philip Boyle, Ken LaValle, Dean Skelos, Carl Marcellino, Lee Zeldin, and Charles Fuschillo Jr. 

Sagamore is the only psychiatric center on Long Island that provides inpatient care for children ages 9-17 who suffer from severe psychological problems.  Services include hospitalization through the day, inpatient and outpatient treatment, crisis response, support services, and more.  In their joint letter to the governor, the senators stated, “As the only state inpatient beds for children and adolescents on all of Long Island, the safety net that Sagamore provides must be maintained.”  If Sagamore is closed, there will be no recourse for the children who need the center to maintain their psychological well being.  Originally the services were to be transferred to the Greater New York Children’s RCE in Queens and the Bronx, but that hospital is slated for closure next July.  A petition on Change.org to save the hospital now has more than 7,500 signatures.  Parents and other concerned Long Islanders are encouraged to contact the governor and ask him to reverse the decision.  He will need to make his choice by April 1st to meet budgeting deadlines.  

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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