"As the Chairman of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I'm overjoyed by today's news. For years, my Western New York colleagues and I have advocated on behalf of our vulnerable population at the WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center. I am pleased to hear that Gov. Cuomo and the Commissioner of OHM have changed their position and listened to not only numerous local officials but also to the local community. We worked closely with local officials and advocates to point out the merits of keeping the center in West Seneca and the challenges posed by moving a population alongside adult offenders. As stated overwhelmingly by the patients and families it serves, West Seneca offers a welcoming environment and a record of success. There was no clinical reason to consolidate or move, and I'm thankful that these arguments have been heard and that years of hard work has paid off." 

###