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.