DCS/LGU Resources

Local Services Planning Process and Guidelines

One of the primary responsibilities of the LGU under Article 41 of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) is to develop and annually submit a Local Services Plan (LSP) to each NYS mental hygiene agency. The Mental Hygiene Agencies are the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The LSP establishes the local priorities, needs and outcomes for the LGU in the coming year and the metrics used to measure the outcome.  

LGUs have been conducting local planning since the 1970s. The process has evolved into an electronic format through the County Planning System (CPS) which allows local planners to access relevant and timely data resources to conduct needs assessments and planning using one standardized format for all of the three agencies. The Mental Hygiene Planning Committee includes representatives from the OMH, OASAS and OPWDD, the NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors (CLMHD), and LGUs. The committee meets regularly to guide and update the local planning process to reflect changes and to develop resources that support the work of county planners. This collaboration enables LGUs to conduct local planning in a more integrated fashion that creates system-wide improvements in the quality of services and supports to individuals, families and communities.

LOCAL SERVICES PLAN OVERVIEW 2024 AND BEYOND:

Below are links to the 2026 Plan forms and surveys. Links to the forms were sent by email on March 20, 2025, and included the passwords for accessing the forms. If you did not receive the email containing the password information, please contact oasasplanning@oasas.ny.gov. 

Each agency is also preparing 2026 State Agency Planning Priority Guidelines to inform you of Statewide initiatives and strategic directions. We will distribute these over the next few weeks as they become available.

Below are the links to the four forms comprising the 2026 LSP. The deadline is June 30, 2025. If you need an extension, please contact oasasplanning@oasas.ny.gov and state the date you would like the deadline extended to. When requesting an extension date, please keep in mind the more timely all LSP submissions are received, the more time State agencies have to read, analyze, and incorporate the LSPs into statewide planning efforts.

The forms comprising the 2026 Local Services Plans are:

• Goals and Objectives Update Form: https://oasas.formstack.com/forms/albany 

The 2026 Update to the 2024-2027 Local Services Plan will be submitted through an electronic platform. This Update form provides LGUs with the opportunity to submit status updates and descriptions of the progress made towards meeting the Goals and Objectives outlined in the 2024-2027 LSP. The URL for the Update form is unique to each LGU and contains the 2024-2027 LSP and the 2025 Updates for reference while providing 2026 Updates to the Plan.

As Local Services Plans are implemented on a four-year cycle, most Goals and Objectives will be stated in the initial four-year plan with status updates and descriptions provided in subsequent Updates. External circumstances, such as a change in DCS, or new local challenge, can create situations where goals and objectives may need to change during a planning cycle. In recognition of this situation, there is a separate form that provides the option to add a new Goal and/or Objective(s) to your planning submission for the 2024-2027 cycle. This optional form can be found here:  https://oasas.formstack.com/forms/2026_new_goals_and_objectives_optional

Please keep in mind there is a limit of 10 Goals and 10 Objectives per Goal. If needed, there is an additional option to drop a Goal or Objective in order to make space for a new Goal or Objective.

1. Needs Assessment Form: https://oasas.formstack.com/forms/2026_needs_assessment

LGUs fill out Needs Assessments annually to ensure that the needs of communities are regularly assessed, and planning updates are accordingly adjusted.

The Needs Assessments and Goals and Objectives forms are related in that, Goals from the Goals and Objectives Form may address Needs identified on the Needs Assessment form. In order to eliminate duplication of effort, if a Need is addressed by a Goal, then it does not need a descriptive paragraph on the Needs Assessment form. 

• 2026 Mental Hygiene List of OMH Providers to Promote Interagency Collaboration:  https://oasas.formstack.com/forms/2026_omh_provider_list

In 2024, the LSPs added the ability to include a list of OMH. Listing the provider programs in your community on your LSP, that is approved by OMH, will create a nexus with OMH and allow for the disclosure of protected health information to promote collaboration across programs. Please know that while responses to the electronic form are required, uploading an OMH provider list is an optional opportunity for your LGU. To view the LSPs with OMH provider lists, please visit: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/planning/local-services-plans.html

For more information, please visit: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/guidance/hipaa-mhl-33-13-field-guidance.pdf or contact planning@omh.ny.gov

The electronic form provides a section to select one of the following:

1) Upload a new or updated OMH list of provider programs within your county;

2) Use the same OMH list of provider programs within your county that was submitted in 2024 and posted on https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/planning/local-services-plans.html; or

3) Decline to upload an OMH list of provider programs (for LGUs who did not submit a list in 2024 and do not want to submit a list in 2025).

1. Addiction Services Jail Based Supports County Financial Plan:  https://oasas.formstack.com/forms/addiction_jbs_county_financial_plan

OASAS annually collects information from LGUs on jail-based addiction services funding.  Previously, OASAS collected this information via a paper form. Beginning this year, the Addiction Services Jail Based Supports County Financial Plan will be an electronic form, collected at the same time as the LSPs. While responses to this form will not be included as part of the 2026 Updates to the 2024-2027 LSP, the information collected through this form will be utilized for addiction planning.

2026 Agency Planning Priority Guidelines for the NYS Office of Mental Health. Pages 1-5 provide a general overview of the LSP process for all mental hygiene services and, starting on page 6, we have added updated information to help with “Planning for Mental Health Services.”

As described on page 3 as well as on page 11, counties may choose to include a list of service providers in your Local Services Plan. In 2024, an additional feature was added to the LSP submission process to allow for LGUs to upload a list of service providers. This year, in the LSP submission process you may select to keep that same provider list without making a change, choose to upload a new or updated list of providers, or choose not to include a list of providers in your LSP. If you opt to upload a new or updated list of providers, we ask that you use this Excel template for submitting your list. To assist in the formulation of your list, you have the option to request the OMH Office of Planning send you an export of providers licensed, designated, or funded by OMH, located in your county. 

Lastly, here are a few tips for utilizing the electronic forms:

• It is highly recommended to use a separate word document to draft responses to the LSP forms, then paste them into the electronic form, rather than composing your plan directly in the online form.
• Each form contains a “save and resume” link so that you may pause working on the form and come back to it later. However, the “save and resume” feature has some important limitations:
  • The “save and resume” feature provides a unique link to your partially completed form, as well as an option to email yourself the link. We recommend copying the unique link and saving it in your records, in case the email does not work.
  • The “save and resume” unique link remains active for 30 days, after that time any saved responses will no longer be available.
  • Responses to the forms cannot be retrieved without the “save and resume” unique link.
  • File uploads will not save using the “save and resume” feature, so if you intend to upload supporting documentation, wait until you are ready to submit your forms.