01 Nov CP State welcomes Dr. Sharon Carpinello to the team

The former OMH Commissioner will guide mental health strategy for Affiliates

Cerebral Palsy Associations of NYS is proud to announce that former NYS Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Sharon Carpinello is joining our team to guide our mental health advocacy strategy and serve as a consultant to support Affiliates.

With the increasing expressed need of the prevalence of mental health issues in the people we support and the barriers presented in the State’s current siloed funding and oversight, Sharon will be an invaluable resource for CP of NYS and our Affiliates as we navigate these issues and identify strategic options to better meet the growing needs.

This proactive step to better support our Affiliates comes at a time of great change in the disability movement and we believe Sharon’s wealth of knowledge and experience is truly a case of “the right person at the right time” in our system’s evolution. In the years since she was the Commissioner of OMH, Sharon has remained an advocate for people with disabilities. Her roles in the legislature as a mental hygiene staff consultant and principal analyst includes analysis and negotiations of the Executive Budget as it pertained to people with developmental disabilities, substance abuse problems, serious mental illness and people who are incarcerated.

Dr. Carpinello has devoted much of her life to people with developmental disabilities and mental illness. Her motto about wellness is: “at home, in the community, at work, in school and with friends”. We’re fortunate to have her on the team. Please join us in welcoming her to the CP family!