The New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health (CCBH) is pleased to announce that the 2025 CCBH Annual Policy Forum will take place on October 16, 2025 at Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY.
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The forum will include a keynote speaker and several timely presentations from stakeholders, subject matter experts and more in the children's behavioral health sector. The full agenda will be shared soon!
agenda
8:30am – 9:00am
Continental Breakfast and Networking
9:00am – 9:10am
Welcome
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Kayleigh Zaloga, President & CEO, NYS Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health
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Maria Cristalli, CEO, Hillside & Chair, Board of Directors, NYS Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health
9:10am – 10:15am
Keynote Speaker: Chad Shearer, Senior Vice President for Policy and Program, United Hospital Fund​
Chad Shearer is UHF’s senior vice president for policy and program, overseeing UHF’s work across the coverage and access, quality and efficiency, and clinical-community partnerships focus areas, as well as UHF conferences and grantmaking.
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Before joining UHF in 2014, Chad was at the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs, where he was deputy director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health Reform Assistance Network, a project coordinating technical assistance to 11 states on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion provisions. He was also a lecturer in public affairs at Princeton, teaching a capstone policy workshop. Chad has served as a senior program officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies, where he helped shape its Medicaid Leadership Institute, an intensive training program for selected state Medicaid directors. He was served as the legislative director for Congressman Pete Stark, Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Chad holds both a law degree and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa.
10:15am – 10:30am
Break
10:30am – 11:30am
Whole Person Supports for a Better System of Care
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Courtney Burke, Consultant, Sachs Policy Group
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Maria Cristalli, CEO, Hillside & Chair, Board of Directors, NYS Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health
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By prioritizing person-centered care and aligning regulatory requirements with system financing, a cohesive framework that supports individuals living fulfilling, independent lives can be created. Hear about a statewide Coalition and the work stakeholders are engaged in to support a better system of are for those individuals with I/DD and mental health.
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11:30am – 1:00pm
Access and Barriers to Care for New York's Youth with Complex Needs
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Representatives, Health Management Associates
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Kayleigh Zaloga, President & CEO, NYS Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health
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Kathleen Brady-Stepien, President and CEO, COFCCA
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Ron Richter, President and CEO, JCCA (invited)
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Vanessa Threatte, Executive Director, NYS Council on Children and Families (invited)
CCBH and COFCCA are working collaborative on a project to look at a target population of youth with complex behavioral health needs in New York. Join these panelists to hear about analysis conducted to date on the services they access and the gaps or barriers to care that result in unmet needs and escalating conditions.
1:00 – 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Integrated Care for Children and Families: Partnering with Social Care Networks for Optimal Results
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Nicole Bryl, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Health Home of Upstate New York (CHHUNY)
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Meghan Weygant, COO, Hudson Valley Care Coalition
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Connecting children and families to medical and behavioral health services is key to achieve overall well-being. Hear how health homes and social care networks are working collaboratively to meet all needs of New York's children and families.
3:00pm
Closing Remarks & Adjournment
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Kayleigh Zaloga, President & CEO, NYS Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health
Registration & Hotel
Registration Information:
CCBH Members: $195.00/person
Non-Members: $245.00/person
Hotel Information:
Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel
660 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Group Rate: $149.00 | Deadline for Reservations: September 24
The group rate is not guaranteed for reservations made after September 24. 

To reserve:
Click here or call 518-869-8100 and refer to Group Code BCQ
sponsor & exhibitor opportunities
If you or an organization you work with is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at this event, click here to view our Sponsor & Exhibitor Prospectus for more information.