New York State Announces $8 Million to Establish Additional Behavioral Health Crisis Response Teams

NEW YORK STATE ANNOUNCES $8 MILLION TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS

Office of Mental Health Funding to Help Four Communities Establish a Behavioral Health-Led Crisis Response System

Pilot Programs to Incorporate Trained Behavioral Health Professionals and the Peer Workforce

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced the availability of up to $8 million to help additional communities statewide build a behavioral health-led crisis response system. The funding will help establish or expand four teams — including at least one in a rural community — that use trained behavioral health professionals and include peer workers to provide a safe, compassionate response for New Yorkers in crisis.   

“By continuing to grow a health-led response system, we can help communities to safely and compassionately support those individuals who experience a behavioral health crisis,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This pilot program is building a health-led behavioral health crisis response model that will better serve our communities statewide, reflecting Governor Hochul’s continued investments in strengthening all aspects of our mental health system.” 

Communities can apply for up to $2 million to either build or expand a crisis response system. The funding is aimed at ensuring these systems are trauma-informed, community-based, and prioritize racial equity, cultural humility, and harm reduction for New Yorkers across their lifespan. 

The funding is available for all counties that were excluded from the first awards in February. Monroe County is also eligible to apply, excluding the city of Rochester, which was among the first awards. 

In addition to Rochester, the Children’s Home of Jefferson County and Central Nassau Guidance were each awarded $2 million in February. All three pilots are implementing a community council to help design their model — a unique structure that ensures individuals with lived experience have input to drive the program from the outset. 

OMH and the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports are also launching the Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center, housed at OMH and funded with $2 million from the FY 2026 budget. This center will develop and support the implementation of standardized protocols for a community-based, public health-led response to behavioral health emergencies and provide training and technical assistance to localities on their crisis plans.    

The pilot programs, Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center and an Advisory Council that began meeting in January were informed by recommendations of the Daniel’s Law Task Force. The task force was charged with developing recommendations to guide behavioral health crisis response and exploring avenues for related diversion services.   

OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “When someone is in crisis, it is critical that they can access appropriate services right away. This is another example of OASAS and OMH collaborating to develop supports that will meet the needs of individuals with a substance use disorder, a mental health condition, or a cooccurring disorder.  This builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to ensure that we are reaching individuals with complex needs and connecting them to the care they deserve, while helping to enhance the quality of life in our local communities.” 

Senator Samra Brouk said, “With Daniel Prude’s birthday last weekend, I am reminded of the urgent need to pass trauma-informed legislation that has the power to transform how our state responds to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. In this year’s state budget and as Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I was proud to fight to advance Daniel’s Law with an additional $8 million in pilot program funding. Now, with the announcement of funding opportunities for four pilot programs, the Office of Mental Health is driving progress forward by supporting compassionate, peer-led responses to uplift our neighbors in crisis. We must continue to build momentum for change and ensure that our most vulnerable New Yorkers are treated with dignity and care when they need it most.”

Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon said, “Earlier this year, New York State awarded grants to help three communities establish pilot programs aligned with the recommendations of the Daniel's Law Task Force. This additional $8 million to fund further programs will ensure that more New Yorkers experiencing a behavioral health crisis have immediate access to help centered in a health-led response approach, with behavioral health professionals and peers on the front lines to de-escalate crises. This will not only make communities safer but also ensure more equitable access to quality behavioral health treatment and services. I thank Governor Hochul and the Office of Mental Health for leading in advancing a more trauma-informed and culturally competent community-based system.”

Assemblyman Harry Bronson said, “The Daniel’s Law Pilot program, funded through this year’s state budget, makes it possible for New York to put into practice the findings from the Daniel’s Law Task Force Report to ensure we adopt resources that successfully meet the needs of people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the state. I am proud to have worked with my colleague, Senator Samra Brouk, to secure a pilot program for Rochester, and thank OMH Commissioner and Task Force Chair Dr. Ann Sullivan along with the Daniel’s Law Task Force members for structuring the RFP so that the funding and implementation for these pilots will go to diverse regions throughout our state. This is the critical next step for establishing a statewide crisis response model that is compassionate, peer-led and trauma informed — and most importantly, accessible to meet the needs of all New Yorkers.”

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