New York State is developing a plan to strengthen intensive home- and community-based services for children and youth with significant behavioral health needs.
The Children’s Mental Health Settlement Agreement will guide how we improve services to make sure children and youth under age 21 receive timely and quality care while remaining at home with their families and in their communities, whenever possible.
The plan will focus on:
Our goal is to better support the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families across New York State.
Community input is essential to this work.
The state is inviting youth, families, providers, advocates and community members to attend the NYS OMH/ DOH Children's Settlement Community Feedback Session Report Out webinar.
During this webinar we will share the major themes and recommendations from the completed community engagement sessions. This webinar represents one phase of our community engagement efforts. More opportunities to provide your input will be offered in the future.
The webinar will take place on Monday, November 23, 2026, from 10:00-11:00am.
If you are unable to attend, the webinar will be recorded and posted to this webpage.
Community Stakeholder Feedback Sessions
The state hosted opportunities to learn about the settlement and share feedback on how services should be implemented. Virtual and in-person sessions were held in July, August and September 2026.
Your feedback will help inform the development of the plan and ensure it reflects the needs of the communities we serve.
Completed Sessions:
| Location | Date | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Central Region Liverpool, NY |
July 22, 2026 6:00-8:00pm July 23, 2026 9:00-11:00am |
In-person |
| Western Region Rochester, NY |
August 6, 2026 6:00-8:00pm August 7, 2026 9:00-11:00am |
In-person |
| Hudson River Region Newburgh, NY |
August 11, 2026 6:00-8:00pm August 12, 2026 9:00-11:00am |
In-person |
| Long Island Region Brentwood, NY |
September 17, 2026 6:00-8:00pm September 18, 2026 9:00-11:00am |
In-person |
| New York City Region New York, NY |
August 24, 2026 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm August 25, 2026 9:00 am – 11:00 am August 25, 2026 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
In-person |
| Virtual | July 27, 2026 10:00-11:30am | Virtual |
| Virtual | August 13, 2026 4:00-5:30pm | Virtual |
| Virtual | September 2, 2026 2:00-3:30pm | Virtual |
| Virtual | September 3, 2026 5:00-6:30pm | Virtual |
| Virtual | September 22, 2026 5:00-6:30pm | Virtual (Spanish Speaking) |
Community Feedback Session Materials: Improving Access to Intensive Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families
Introduction to the Children’s Mental Health Settlement Agreement Webinar | March 25, 2026
Join our email list to get updates about the Children’s Mental Health Settlement, plan development, and engagement opportunities.
How to Join the Email List
If you would like to share comments, recommendations, or suggestions related to the Children’s Mental Health Settlement agreement, please email: ChildrensMHSettlement@omh.ny.gov.
The IAC serves in an advisory capacity to the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Department of Health (DOH). It provides feedback and recommendations to inform the development of the Implementation Plan.
Committee Membership
Membership includes representatives from:
| IAC Member | Organization |
|---|---|
| Matthew Barron | NY Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) |
| Jill Benson | JBFCS |
| Elizabeth Bruce | NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, Inc |
| Nicole Bryl | Children's Health Home of Upstate New York (CHHUNY) |
| Gabriela Burgos | Parent To Parent New York State |
| Marnie Davidoff | NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| Jennifer Fuchs | SCO Family of Services |
| William Gettman | Northern Rivers Family of Services |
| David Goldstein | New Alternatives for Children |
| Jessica Grimm-Gonzalez | The Children's Village |
| Brad Hansen | Families Together in NYS (FTNYS) |
| Christina Hauptman | Healthy Minds Healthy Kids, Hands Across Long Island |
| Dr. Jennifer Havens | NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYC Health and Hospitals |
| Todd Karlin | Astor Services |
| Carolyn May | NYS Office of Children and Family Services |
| Angel Mendoza, MD | NYC Administration for Children's Services |
| Heather Mermel | UnitedHealthcare |
| Jackie Negri | NY Care Management Coalition |
| Dr. Warren Y.K. Ng | NY Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center |
| Mimi Phillips | Families Together in NYS (FTNYS) |
| Raysa Rodriguez | Citizens' Committee for Children of New York |
| Sherri Romano | The Child Center of NY |
| David Rossetti | Mental Health Association of Columbia & Greene Counties |
| Jodi Saitowitz | The Collaborative for Children & Families (CCF) |
| Patricia Schaap | Cortland County Department of Mental Health |
| Austin Serio | ShockTalk |
| Sara Taylor | BIPOC Peeeeeek |
| Michelle Woolever | Molina |
| Thalia Wright | Monroe County Department of Human Services |
| Kayleigh Zaloga | NYS Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health |
Representatives from OMH, DOH, and each child-serving agency participating in the interagency “State Leadership Workgroup” will attend IAC meetings.
The Workgroup includes members from:
IAC Meetings Notes