Honor Andrea Kocsis’ Service

Assembly Resolution No. 406 BY: M. of A. Otis COMMENDING Andrea Kocsis, LCSW, upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition after 38 years of distinguished service to Human Development Services of Westchester on May 11, 2017 WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Andrea Kocsis, LCSW, upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition after 38 years of distinguished service to Human Development Services of Westchester (HDSW) to be celebrated at The May Gourmet Gala on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at the Coveleigh Club in Rye, New York; and WHEREAS, This auspicious event will also celebrate the opening of the Human Development Services of Westchester Living Room, a mental health crisis respite service; and WHEREAS, A graduate of Smith College, Andrea Kocsis earned her master's degree from Columbia University School of Social Work; she also has training in alcoholism and substance abuse counseling, and is certified in acupuncture detoxification; and WHEREAS, In 1979, Andrea Kocsis began her long and distinguished career in human development services as a Social Worker at HDSW; she then held the position of Supervisor until she was appointed Executive Director of Futura House Foundation in 1997; in this capacity, she was instrumental in the successful merger of Futura House Foundation with Human Development Services of Port Chester, becoming the Executive Director of HDSW; and WHEREAS, Since 1999, HDSW has grown over 300%; currently, the agency serves over 3,000 individuals and families throughout Westchester County, providing quality psychiatric, rehabilitative, health, residential, and community stabilization services to Westchester County residents; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Andrea Kocsis, HDSW serves its clients and the community through a unique combination of interrelated programs; the Care Management Program provides services to persons recovering from psychiatric or chronic illnesses so that they may maintain their stability in the community; and WHEREAS, Moreover, HDSW assists individuals to access and coordinate needed treatment and recovery services, enrich their support system, prevent crises, and meet emergency service needs; the program includes Homeless Outreach, working to help individuals with serious mental illness living in Westchester County's homeless shelter system to move successfully into permanent housing; and WHEREAS, The Residential Program serves individuals recovering from mental illness with supportive housing throughout Westchester County, assisting residents to improve self-care and life skills so they may attain self-sufficiency; residents live in both transitional community residences and treatment apartments, and in permanent, independent housing; and WHEREAS, Many clients have been homeless for long periods of time; among these are 49 families and over 100 children ranging in age from birth to 18, whose parent are recovering from mental illness; and WHEREAS, Recovery Services include HOPE House, located in Port Chester, which provides a place where people recovering from serious mental illness can find the support and resources they need to return to or pursue employment, education, or receive social engagement services and peer support; and WHEREAS, HDSW is about to open The HDSW Living Room, a Day Respite hospital diversion service for persons in acute mental health distress, the first such service in Westchester County; the agency has also established a care management pre- and post-release program for women with mental health issues who are inmates at the Westchester County Jail; and WHEREAS, In addition to her exceptional work at HDSW, Andrea Kocsis has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University and at New York University, and is co-author of The Halfway House, On the Road to Independence; and WHEREAS, Dedicated to her profession, Andrea Kocsis has held the title of Chairperson of the Community Services Board of the Westchester County Department of Community, and has served in numerous positions of the Board of Directors of the Association for Community Living, a statewide organization of providers of housing and rehabilitation services in New York for persons recovering from psychiatric illnesses; and WHEREAS, Currently, Andrea Kocsis holds the position of Secretary on the Board of Directors of the New York State Care Management Coalition, and is Secretary on the Board of Directors of Coordinated Behavioral Health Services (CBHS), a collaboration of nine like-minded preeminent values-based nonprofit provider agencies of behavioral health and IDD services in the Hudson River Region of New York State; they came together to maximize the intellectual capacity and resources of their members in an effort to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing health care system in order to develop business initiatives to provide value driven outcome-based services required for integrated healthcare delivery; and WHEREAS, A vital part of her community, Andrea Kocsis is a participant of the Port Chester/Rye NAACP, and previously served as President of the Rye City Lions Club; and WHEREAS, Andrea Kocsis renders faithful, conscientious and valuable service to Human Development Services of Westchester; in her capacity as CEO, Andrea Kocsis serves with loyalty, honor and distinction; and WHEREAS, In her official acts, Andrea Kocsis governs by a keen sense of duty and always shows a unique grasp of human problems; during her tenure with HDSW, she has truly earned the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Andrea Kocsis, LCSW upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition after 38 years of distinguished service to Human Development Services of Westchester; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Andrea Kocsis, LSCW.