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Hochul Announces $90 Million for Youth Mental Health Services in ����������
September 25, 2024 12:00 PM / Updated: September 25, 2024 8:25 AM

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced nearly $90 million in funding to bolster mental health services for young people across the state, aimed at addressing complex mental health issues in adolescents. The initiative, distributed over five years, will support six service providers across different regions of ���������� in an effort to reduce extended hospital stays and provide more personalized, community-based care for youth between the ages of 11 and 17.
The funding, administered by the State Office of Mental Health (OMH), is part of a new program focused on critical time interventions. These services aim to offer one-on-one support to help stabilize children and their families, reducing reliance on emergency departments and psychiatric facilities.
“���������� is taking an innovative approach to tackle the complex mental health challenges facing our youth,” said Governor Hochul. “By investing in one-on-one support in communities across the state, we’re giving children a better chance to recover and thrive in environments that meet their specific needs.”

Six providers selected for new intervention program
OMH will distribute roughly $14.5 million to each of the six service providers: Northeast Parent and Child in Schenectady County, ACCESS CNY in Onondaga County, Hillside in Monroe County, Rehabilitation Support Services in Orange County, Essex County ARC, and the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference in Broome County. Each organization will receive $100,000 in start-up funding to kickstart these vital services.
The program focuses on using “critical time intervention,” a method designed to support individuals during periods of transition. This includes providing mental health and behavioral therapy, interpersonal and rehabilitative skills training, vocational planning, family or caregiver education, and service coordination. In some cases, the program will offer transitional residential settings where children can stay for up to 120 days.
These residences, which can house up to eight children each, are intended to be a temporary solution, helping youth stabilize their support systems before returning to their communities.

Preventing unnecessary hospital stays
Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan highlighted the importance of keeping youth in community settings rather than relying on emergency departments or psychiatric hospitals. “This program offers intensive services in a welcoming, healing environment for youth and families. It reflects Governor Hochul’s commitment to improving mental health services across ����������,” Sullivan said.
Children and teens with complex needs, such as those dealing with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, often face long delays in being discharged from hospitals while waiting for appropriate community services. Extended hospital stays can have a negative impact on young people, especially when their needs do not require inpatient care but rather community-based support.
A report from the Healthcare Association of ���������� State in February 2023 underscored this issue. The survey, conducted across 52 hospitals, found that more than 500 individuals, including children, were kept in hospitals for a month or more after they were ready for discharge. The report called for crisis respite transition programs to address the gap in services for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, which is precisely the area this new initiative seeks to address.

Cross-agency collaboration
The new program is a collaborative effort involving multiple state agencies, including the Office of Children and Family Services, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Education, and the Council on Children and Families. These agencies worked together to design a model that integrates their services to provide holistic support to children with complex needs.
Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden praised the governor’s initiative. “Governor Hochul has consistently shown that she is listening to families and service providers. This funding will provide much-needed resources to keep families together and ensure children can transition smoothly from hospitals back into their communities.”
Similarly, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Acting Commissioner Willow Baer acknowledged the positive impact this funding will have. “By addressing gaps in care, we can help reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and minimize disruptions to families.”

Addressing mental health challenges in schools
State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa highlighted the rising mental health challenges faced by students, citing increases in depression, anxiety, and isolation. “Access to mental health services is essential for the well-being of our students,” Rosa said. “Together with Governor Hochul, we are committed to providing the vital support and resources needed for our children to thrive.”
In addition to direct mental health services, the program also offers educational and vocational planning for youth, ensuring that young people with complex needs can continue developing the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Legislative support and community impact
The announcement has drawn praise from state legislators, with State Senator Samra G. Brouk emphasizing the importance of minimizing family trauma and avoiding prolonged hospital stays. “With this investment, ���������� is moving in the right direction by providing individualized care for young people who need it most,” Brouk said, while also acknowledging that more work is needed to fully address these challenges.
Assemblymember Aileen Gunther echoed these sentiments, stressing that the funding will have immediate effects on both children and overstretched emergency departments. “Our young people are the future, and by investing in comprehensive, community-based care, we are alleviating burdens on our hospitals and psychiatric programs,” Gunther said.
Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of ���������� State, also praised the state’s commitment to addressing this urgent need. “Too many adolescents with complex mental health issues are stuck in hospitals because they lack safe discharge options,” Grause said. “This program will provide critical support to some of our state’s most vulnerable youth.”