PLATTSBURGH — A trio of agency leaders in Clinton County share equally important roles as presidents of statewide affiliations.
Crystal Carter, executive director for the Office for the Aging; Jay LePage, who heads the county's Department of Social Services; and Paula Calkins Lacombe, the top executive at the Clinton County Health Department, have all been appointed to lead significant state boards.
"We've all served for quite a few years," said LePage, who was recently appointed president of the New York Public Welfare Association.
"We've all participated in these associations and have worked our way up the ranks."
Carter, president of the New York State Association of Area Agencies on Aging, has led the county's Office for the Aging for eight years and believes her participation on the state level helps support her local duties.
"It's important for us to know what is happening at the state level," said Carter, who served on the state association the past two years as vice president.
"It's a chance to do a lot of advocacy and professional development."
As president of the state board, Carter serves all 54 Office for the Aging departments in the state, as well as 3,000 agencies that have connections with the senior-advocacy system.
"We're there for anyone who has concerns about agency services. Association meetings give us an opportunity to hear what is going on locally and statewide."
A lot of focus is being directed to NY Connects, the program that is geared toward helping people access long-term nursing care, Carter added.
PROTECTING vulnerable
LePage has been Social Services commissioner in Clinton County since 1995. The New York Public Welfare Association is the long-time advocate group, having formed in 1869.
"We try to impact social policy, react quickly to proposed legislation and protect the state's vulnerable people," LePage said of his state-related functions.
The association is especially wary of unfunded mandates that can place heavy burdens on rural communities such as the North Country, he added.
"We have a lot of priorities at this time. Right now, we're trying to get through the budget year.
"Our key issues are juvenile justice, child welfare and singles or childless families."
One of the fastest-growing groups he sees in Social Services are younger, single adults struggling with drug and alcohol abuse and mental-health disorders.
HEALTH REFORM
Calkins Lacombe, president of the New York County Health Officials Association, is the most recent appointee of the three and shares her peers' feelings that the state connection is a benefit to the local community.
"It's always an advantage when you have a connection with statewide affiliations. We have opportunities that will directly affect the services we can offer in Clinton County.
"With a presence at the state level, we can impact decisions and make sure the interests of all counties, urban and rural, are served."
The County Health Officials Association works closely with all 57 county offices, as well as New York City, ensuring that services to promote public health and wellness grow across the state.
"Continuing to be strong advocates during these difficult economic times can be challenging," Lacombe said. "Everyone is working hard to make sure our infrastructure stays intact and services continue to be offered."
Staying on top of health-care reform will continue to be a top priority at all levels, she added, noting that public health is always focused on wellness and disease prevention.
OUTSIDE EFFORTS
All three leaders firmly insist that their roles on the state level will not take away from their local responsibilities. LePage said he does a lot of his statewide work via e-mail and conference call and only occasionally needs to travel out of area for state-level meetings.
They all credit the Clinton County legislators for supporting their appointments and their office staff and department-wide employees for providing strong services across the board.
E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
