Key facts
- A study found many participants in New York's assisted outpatient treatment program felt desperate and unaware of alternatives.
- Researchers suggested expanding voluntary services could achieve similar outcomes with fewer harms.
- The findings challenge Governor Kathy Hochul's push to expand Kendra's Law.
- The state's Office of Mental Health stated the program helps reduce hospitalizations and improve community safety.
- The study was commissioned by the state and its findings were published on the Office of Mental Health website.
A recent study commissioned by New York's Office of Mental Health has cast doubt on the effectiveness and necessity of Kendra's Law, which allows for assisted outpatient treatment. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the Human Services Research Institute found that many participants in the program felt desperate for assistance and were unaware of available alternatives, contradicting the state's narrative that the law is primarily for individuals who refuse treatment.
The findings present a political challenge for Governor Kathy Hochul, who had advocated for expanding the civil commitment laws. The study concluded that enhancing voluntary services and providing more information about them could yield similar outcomes without the "attendant harms" associated with court-ordered treatment.
Despite the critical conclusions, a spokesperson for the Office of Mental Health stated that assisted outpatient treatment is a vital component of the state's care system, helping individuals live safely in their communities and reducing hospitalizations. The office indicated it would review the findings and recommendations.
The report, which is over 400 pages long, was published on the state agency's website this week. Kendra's Law is set to expire on June 30, 2027, unless the state Legislature approves another extension.