Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State is undertaking a massive $1 billion overhaul of the mental health care system that will dramatically increase access, reduce wait times, and ensure appropriate levels of care statewide. Adopted as part of the FY2024 State Budget, this multi-year plan will:
As a starting point, the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) hosted dozens of community engagement sessions statewide and gathered feedback from roughly 1,700 New Yorkers on challenges they face and measures that can be taken to improve the mental health care system. Based on this input, the agency is soliciting proposals and awarding funding to:
In accordance with the plan, OMH adopted comprehensive guidance to establish the expected standard of care for evaluating and discharging individuals with behavioral health conditions. Now finalized, the agency is working to codify these practices into state regulation.
OMH has released roughly $861 million in procurements associated with the plan through 2023. Among the accomplishments during the first eight months, the plan has expanded inpatient care by 700 beds statewide and awarded funding to dramatically increase outpatient community-based programs, including 137 new school-based mental health clinic satellites and 13 new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.
OMH is highlighting grant opportunities, funding awards and other components of the plan, including: