LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Institute for Community Living
upon the occasion of its 25th Anniversary Giving Voice to Independence
Gala on May 11, 2011

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the efforts
of organizations which provide vital mental health services to individ-
uals and their families, and in so doing, enhance the health and welfare
of the entire City and State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Institute for Community Living as it celebrates 25 years of facili-
tating community living at its annual Giving Voice to Independence Gala,
to be held at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park on Wednesday, May 11, 2011;
and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1986, the Institute for Community Living, Inc.
(ICL) is a not-for-profit corporation which assists individuals and
families affected by, or at risk for, mental and developmental disabili-
ties with services and support designed to improve their quality of life
and participation in community living; and
WHEREAS, Each and every day ICL works to create accessible and attain-
able possibilities for people who would otherwise live on the margins of
society; and
WHEREAS, Through its more than 100 programs, the Institute for Commu-
nity Living provides evidence-based and best practice innovative treat-
ments, rehabilitation programs and support services annually to over
9,000 adults, children and families in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the
Bronx and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, People come to ICL wanting to reclaim their lives; in support
of that objective the Institute for Community Living also offers over
1,400 housing units and a comprehensive system of clinical treatment
options as well as a short-term transitional housing program for veter-
ans and a Brooklyn shelter for women with mental illness; and
WHEREAS, The Institute for Community Living has recently, in addition,
expanded its mission to address a critical national issue: the 25 year
difference in average life span between people with serious mental
illness, many of whom live with multiple serious health conditions such
as diabetes, asthma and hypertension, and the general population; and
WHEREAS, To this end, through its New York State-licensed health care
clinic and cutting edge health education programs, ICL is teaching
disease management, healthy living, and health care self-management
skills to thousands of men and women who participate in its programs in
the hope that they will live longer with improved quality of life and
will need less costly healthcare over the course of their lives; and
WHEREAS, ICL has also recently turned its attention to often neglected
children and teenagers with behavioral challenges and has begun offering
mental health care in local schools, community residence programs for
teenagers with serious emotional disturbances, and support and advocacy
to hundreds of families who have children with behavioral challenges;
though these programs are new, they are already transforming lives; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished history, ICL has been committed
to providing high quality services and supports to the people it serves,
permitting them to achieve their full potential while living in the
community of their choice; and
WHEREAS, The success of ICL is due in large part to the efforts of its
outstanding administration and staff, whose involvement is, and always
has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthu-

siasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all their endeav-
ors on behalf of the Institute and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations, such as the Institute for
Community Living, which bring greater awareness to mental health issues,
assist people with mental illnesses in their quest for dignity and inde-
pendence, and make it possible for people on the periphery of society to
regain a firm foothold in their community, contribute significantly to
the health and welfare of all citizens and merit the highest commenda-
tion and the recognition and appreciation of all the citizens of the
City and State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Institute for Community Living upon the occasion of its 25th
Anniversary Giving Voice to Independence Gala on May 11, 2011; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Institute for Community Living.