OMH uses $6M to build behavioral health crisis response teams

ALBANY | The New York State Office of Mental Health has announced the availability of $6 million for communities statewide to build a health-led behavioral health crisis response system as part of recommendations from the Daniel's Law Task Force report. The funding will help establish or expand at least three teams – including one in a rural, one in a suburban, and one in an urban community – that use trained behavioral health professionals and include peer support to provide a safe, compassionate response for New Yorkers in crisis. "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," Office of Mental Health Commissioner and task force Chair Dr. Ann Sullivan said. "This pilot program is a step toward fulfilling a key recommendation in the task force report by building a health-led behavioral health crisis response model that will better serve our communities statewide." The state funding is aimed at either building or expanding a crisis response system in communities to use teams with trained behavioral health professionals and including peer support staff. The resulting system will be trauma-informed, community-based, and prioritize racial equity, cultural humility, and harm reduction for New Yorkers across their lifespan. OMH is providing grants of up to $2 million to establish a new team or expand a team already in operation. The goal is to have at least one of these teams established in a rural, a suburban, and an urban community. In December, the Daniel's Law Task Force issued recommendations for developing a statewide model for a health-led behavioral health crisis response. The recommendations included establishing health-led teams using standardized protocols for behavioral health crisis response and piloting initiatives that recognize the unique character of New York communities. Established by legislation in response to the death of 41-year-old Daniel Prude in 2020, the task force was charged with developing recommendations to guide behavioral health crisis response and exploring avenues for related diversion services. Following its inaugural meeting in August 2023, the task force studied presentations on different behavioral health crisis response models to inform their work and conducted numerous listening sessions to gather input. The task force recommendations called for the state to establish a protocol so that 911 or 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline calls involving a behavioral health crisis receive a health-led response by individuals specifically trained in crisis services. Specialized teams would then be dispatched to mental health or substance use calls, and on behavioral health wellness checks, according to the task force recommendation. The task force recommended establishing pilot programs in large, medium, and small cities, as well as rural areas, and focusing on developing sustainable models. As these teams are implemented, communities should develop partnerships – including with individuals having lived experience – to participate in designing the system of care, assess the available resources, and work to develop a network of quality accessible services.

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OMH uses $6M to build behavioral health crisis response teams

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