URGENT UPDATE: The New York State Office of Mental Health has just announced a groundbreaking initiative, allocating $6 million to fund health-led behavioral health crisis response teams across the state. This funding aims to enhance community responses to mental health emergencies, following the tragic 2020 death of Daniel Prude in police custody during a mental health incident in Rochester.
The announcement was made on Monday, as officials emphasized the pressing need for reform in how behavioral health crises are managed. The funds will enable the establishment or expansion of at least three dedicated response teams—one in a rural area, one in a suburban location, and another in an urban community—all staffed by trained behavioral health professionals and peer support specialists.
According to the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), grants of up to $2 million will be available to support new teams or enhance existing ones.
“By establishing a health-led system of response, we can help communities to safely and compassionately address those individuals who experience a behavioral health crisis,”
stated Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the OMH and Chair of the task force. This pilot program is a direct response to the recommendations set forth by the Daniel’s Law Task Force, aiming to create a more compassionate and effective crisis response model throughout New York.
The funding comes on the heels of the task force’s report released last December, which recommended establishing standardized protocols for responding to behavioral health emergencies. This initiative will ensure that when someone contacts 911 or 988 regarding a mental health crisis, a specialized team trained in crisis services will respond, with law enforcement involvement only if there is a threat of violence.
State Senator Samra Brouk, a key advocate for the legislation, expressed her commitment to improving mental health responses.
“Since the tragic death of Daniel Prude in 2020, I have fought for the passage of Daniel’s Law to ensure that we implement a compassionate, peer-led mental health crisis response system across New York State,”
she stated. Brouk highlighted the importance of providing voluntary services for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use crises, emphasizing the need to end the criminalization of these emergencies.
The immediate implications of this funding are significant. Communities across New York will soon have access to dedicated resources and professionals trained to handle mental health crises effectively, aiming to reduce the burden on law enforcement and provide care that is trauma-informed and compassionate.
As this initiative rolls out, all eyes will be on the effectiveness of these teams. Will they provide the necessary support to those in crisis? The state’s commitment to mental health reform is clear, and this funding marks a critical step forward.
Stay tuned for further updates on the implementation of these crucial crisis response teams and their impact on New Yorkers in need.
