Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a significant investment in mental health resources for New York’s youth, allocating $4.5 million to establish 10 new Youth Assertive Community Treatment (Youth ACT) teams. This investment aims to extend the reach of services for children and youth dealing with serious emotional disturbances. According to the Governor's office, these teams will bolster the network of support for these individuals, potentially benefiting 360 additional youth across various counties, including five teams in New York City.
Catering to young New Yorkers between the ages of 10 and 21, the funded teams will deliver comprehensive mental health services such as youth and family therapy, and medication management, including family and peer supports and skill-building to foster well-being, stability, and re-integration into the community. "Children and youth living with mental illness sometimes require additional care to remain at home or return back into the community," Governor Hochul stated in a press release, affirming the administration's commitment to the mental health of its young population, designating Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and recognizing the achievements of those advancing children's mental welfare during the annual 'What's Great in Our State' event held in Albany.
Describing the importance of the Youth ACT program, New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health President and CEO Kayleigh Zaloga mentioned in a press release, "New York's Youth ACT program fills a critical role in the behavioral health service continuum for adolescents and families, enabling hundreds of young people with significant mental health needs to remain or reintegrate into their families, schools, and communities." These multidisciplinary teams are designed to improve family functioning by providing 24-hour support. They consist of mental health clinicians, psychiatric prescribers, peer advocates, and clinical support staff, all working together to address significant functional impairments and severe symptoms resulting from mental illnesses or serious emotional disturbances.
Highlighting the Youth ACT teams' capacity, New York is now home to 20 Youth ACT teams in 27 counties, as Governor Hochul's administration executes extensive mental health initiatives, including the addition of over 1,200 school-based mental health clinic satellites. Beyond intensive in-home therapy and crisis intervention, Governor Hochul's $1 billion mental health initiative and the FY 2025 Budget aim to significantly enhance access to mental health care, a move that reinforces the state's proactive stance on addressing the mental health crisis among youth.
New York's proactive approach serves as a noteworthy example of investing in mental health initiatives for young people at a crucial stage in their development. The state's growing emphasis on mental health, particularly through these efforts, highlights the importance of such initiatives.
