Community Services Board

About the Community Services Board 

Each county in New York State is required under NYS Mental Hygiene Law (Title E, Article 41) to have a Community Services Board (CSB). The primary function of the CSB is to develop and approve the local services plan for mental hygiene services and advocate for services in Tompkins County. Members are appointed by the County Legislature. Whenever practical, membership shall include a licensed physician and a licensed psychologist, but at least two members shall be licensed physicians.

The CSB has separate subcommittees for Mental Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disabilities.

Meetings

Meetings of the Community Services Board (CSB) occur on the first Monday each month at 5:30 pm in the Tompkins County Mental Health Center, 6th Floor Board Room, or via Zoom. If you have any questions or wish to verify a meeting day and time, email Karan Palazzo or call her at 607-274-6250.

• 2023 Meeting Dates (PDF)

CSB meetings are available on YouTube.

• Watch live streamed.
• Watch recorded meetings on demand.

CSB Meeting Dates, Agendas, and Minutes

Community Services Board Subcommittees

Subcommittee meetings
 

These are responsible for program planning by identifying areas of strength and need in the community including participation in the development of the local community services plan for the disability they represent. Their recommendations are taken to the Community Services Board for its consideration.

The subcommittees are:

• Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee, for services to the intellectually and developmentally disabled
• Mental Health Subcommittee, for services to the mentally ill
• Substance Use Subcommittee, for services to those suffering from substance use disorder

Each subcommittee consist of nine members each with four-year terms. Each subcommittee has six community member seats and three mental health board representative seats.

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Advisory Board Application

If you are interested in serving as a member on an advisory board, please fill out this application and send it by email to www.tompkinscountyny.gov/legislature, fax to 607-274-5430, or mail to Tompkins County Legislature, 121 E Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Applications can also be found on the County website or can be picked up in person. We can also send an application by mail or by email to interested persons.  We recommend that applicants attend a meeting. Contact Tompkins County Mental Health at 607-274-6250.

Community Services Board

There are 15 CSB members with four-year terms. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve.

• 1 Certified psychologist or licensed physician (may be filled with at-large if no psychologist or physician applies)
• 1 Licensed physician (may be filled with at-large member if no physician applies) and
• 13 At-large members.

CSB Subcommittees

Each subcommittee consist of nine members each with four-year terms. Each subcommittee has six community member seats and three mental health board representative seats.

Local Services Plan 2024-2028

The Tompkins Mental Hygiene Local Services Plan for 2024-2028 was developed by a workgroup composed of the Chair of the Community Services Board, Chair and Co-Chairs of the Mental Health, Substance Use and Developmental Disabilities Subcommittees and the Director of Community Services. The workgroup solicited feedback from community members, local provider agencies, and Community Service Board and subcommittee members through a Local Services Plan Priority Needs Survey conducted in May and June 2023.  A total of 106 service providers, 163 community members and 10 board and subcommittee members participated in the survey.  Survey data related to mental hygiene services identified in the Community Survey completed by Public Health Services of Whole Health in July 2022 was also reviewed by the workgroup.  There were 1,569 community members who participated in this survey.

Open and download the Local Services Plan 2024-2028 here.

Related page

Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan