Michael B. Friedman is Director of The Center for Policy, Advocacy, and Education of The Mental Health Association of New York City.  He is also the founder and Chairperson of The Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York, an advocacy and education organization dedicated to the improvement of geriatric mental health policy and practice.  In addition, he teaches courses on health policy and professional identity at Columbia University School of Social Work as well as a course on mental health policy at Columbia’s School of Public Health.
 
In a career which has spanned 40 years, Mr. Friedman has served as Director of Network Development for The Department of Psychiatry of New York Presbyterian Hospital, Regional Director (Deputy Commissioner) of the New York State Office of Mental Health, Executive Director of The Mental Health Association of Westchester, Director of Operations of The Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services; and Program Director, The Bridge, Inc.  In the late 60’s and early 70’s, he taught philosophy at a number of colleges in the NYC area.

Mr. Friedman has been extremely active in the community over the years, working with numerous advisory and advocacy groups at the local, state, and federal levels.  He is a Past President of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, was Chairman of the Hudson River Planning Advisory Committee of the Office of Mental Health, was Vice-Chairman of the New York City Public Child Fatality Review Committee, and served on The National Institute of Mental Health Services Research Planning Panel to mention just a few of his community service activities.

Currently, he is a member of the NYS Interagency Geriatric Mental Health Planning Council, the Downstate Advisory Committee on Long-term Care, The New York State Adult Home Reform Coalition,  The Campaign for Mental Health Housing Reform, The Mental Health Committee of the New York State Child Action Network, and other advocacy and advisory groups.  He also served on the Health Policy Advisory Committee to the Spitzer Transition Team.

Mr. Friedman has spoken at many professional conferences and published numerous articles and opinion essays.  His topics have included mental health policy and finance, child mental health, geriatric mental health, advocacy, family support, managed care, psychiatric rehabilitation, child welfare, family violence, stigma, and political philosophy.  His recent opinion essays and other material on mental health policy can be found at http://mhaofnyc.org/policyadvocacycenter.html and at http://mhaofnyc.org/gmhany/index.html.

Last updated July 01, 2009.