Q&A
Discussion of proposed legislation (Intro 986) for mental health professionals in student wellness clubs
0:49:55
·
124 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about DOHMH's support for her proposed legislation (Intro 986) to develop a pilot program involving volunteer mental health professionals in student wellness clubs. DOHMH expresses some concerns and suggests the need for further discussion.
- DOHMH raises concerns about relying on a volunteer workforce to fulfill a mandate
- Potential challenges in implementation and privacy protection are mentioned
- DOHMH suggests the need for further discussions about resources, roles in schools, and alignment with existing mental health services
Rita Joseph
0:49:55
Around my legislation, do you support the proposed legislation?
0:50:04
Are we are we okay?
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:50:05
Yeah.
0:50:06
I'm just I'm just looking.
0:50:07
There's so many numbers.
0:50:08
They're very confusing.
0:50:10
So I appreciate just a moment.
0:50:12
And that's, for DOHMH to develop a pilot program to involve volunteer mental health professionals in student wellness clubs?
Rita Joseph
0:50:20
Correct.
0:50:21
In public and middle school.
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:50:22
Yes.
0:50:23
So we're always working with our New York City public school partners and CBO partners to provide clinical mental health support in schools.
0:50:31
So we are very able to speak to the clinical work workforce aspect of the bill.
0:50:36
And so we do have some concerns relying on a volunteer workforce to fulfill a mandate that could pose significant challenges to implementation, privacy, all of the things that you've just mentioned.
0:50:49
And, obviously, you know, we wanna be able to have further discussions about proper implementation to protect those aspects, that would be involved with
Rita Joseph
0:51:00
with Is there anything you think the bill should have moving forward?
0:51:03
Should it be, improved, clarified before we move forward?
0:51:06
Is there anything?
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:51:08
I do, but I think that also requires us to sort of sit down and I I can't speak to implementation off off the cuff.
0:51:14
Right.
0:51:14
That would be irresponsible of me to do so.
0:51:17
I think it really requires talking about resources, talking about roles in the schools, talking about, you know, what, we really intend to do with, wellness tool kits.
0:51:31
And, you know, we really do emphasize that, obviously, as you know, it's not a replacement for mental health services.
0:51:38
Correct.
0:51:40
It should be very well aligned with mental health services that are provided.
0:51:45
And, we need to make sure, especially since students are involved in those to pilot
UNKNOWN
0:51:51
anything that we do.
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:51:51
So, yes.
0:51:52
I think further discussions are warranted.
0:51:53
Do you have any program or current initiative within the DOHMH
