Q&A
Overview of current mental health staffing in NYC schools
0:19:34
·
4 min
Council Member Linda Lee inquires about the current state of mental health staffing in NYC schools, seeking clarification on the number of schools with social workers and mental health providers. Representatives from DOHMH and DOE provide details on staffing numbers and the distribution of mental health services across the school system.
- Approximately 5,200 school counselors and social workers in NYC public schools
- Every student has access to a school counselor, social worker, mental health clinic, or external partner
- 548 schools have on-site support from the School Mental Health program
- There are approximately 1,800 public schools in total, including various types (e.g., 75, 79, 84 schools)
Linda Lee
0:19:34
Okay.
0:19:34
Thank you so much for sharing your testimony.
0:19:38
Oh.
0:19:38
And we've been joined by council member, Kavan.
0:19:41
Okay.
0:19:42
So I'm just gonna dive right in.
0:19:44
I'm just trying to figure out the best way to do this.
0:19:46
Maybe I'll just go in order of the bill number.
0:19:47
So, regarding, intro 986, which is council member Rita Joseph's bill, Quick question.
0:19:56
So, I just wanna make sure before I ask questions that I have the numbers correct.
0:20:02
So, because last I heard from DOE and DOHMH, I think, at some point last year, And I remember the reason why I remember this is because it stuck out to me so much.
0:20:15
Because, at one hearing we had early on in the year, I think there were about a few 100, 300, 400 schools that had social workers.
0:20:25
And then the next time we had our hearing, I remember they were saying that they all the schools had social workers, whether it's part time or full time.
0:20:32
So I just wanted to make sure, is that still the case or no?
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:20:36
So I'll let my colleague speak to the school, the school social worker, and then I think what you're asking is about mental health external social workers that are in schools as well.
Linda Lee
0:20:48
I think both.
0:20:49
Right?
0:20:49
Because I know yeah.
0:20:50
Yeah.
UNKNOWN
0:20:50
Okay.
0:20:51
She can Perfect.
0:20:51
Yes.
0:20:52
Okay.
Dr. Beverly Logan
0:20:53
Good morning, counselor.
0:20:54
I'm doctor Logan.
0:20:56
I'm the executive director for counseling supports for New York City Public Schools Office of Safety Youth Development.
0:21:03
So currently, between school counselors and social workers, we have about 5,200.
0:21:09
Every student has access to a school councilor, a social worker, a mental health clinic, through external partner, or clinics that are within their their building.
0:21:19
Okay.
Linda Lee
0:21:19
Building.
0:21:20
Okay.
0:21:20
Perfect.
0:21:20
Mhmm.
0:21:21
And, according to this, we have 548 schools, work directly with 548 schools, oversee any mental health providers living services on-site.
0:21:30
Okay.
0:21:31
So for the 500 48 schools, just to clarify, are those the ones that have not just the Article 30 ones, but if you could differentiate?
0:21:40
Because I know that there's school based mental health clinics which are run by the Article 31 providers, and then there's just, schools with either social workers or counselors there.
0:21:49
So is the 548, a combination of those?
0:21:53
Sorry.
0:21:54
So that that's okay.
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:21:55
Yeah.
0:21:55
So it it's complicated.
0:21:56
So that's absolutely fine.
0:21:58
Ask as many questions as you need.
0:21:59
Good.
0:21:59
So the 540 8 schools are schools that have someone from my program, school mental health Got it.
0:22:06
On-site, and it's a capacity issue.
0:22:10
There's 1800 schools.
0:22:12
We already have the capacity to serve, 548, and we provide implementation support in those schools, which means we work with external mental health providers and community based organizations, which can also provide mental health services, on-site in school.
0:22:29
I wanna make the distinction between what school social workers and guidance counselors do versus Yep.
0:22:36
Clinical social workers on-site within an an agency that comes on site into a school, and that includes Article 30 ones and other mental health provider CBOs.
Linda Lee
0:22:52
Nice.
0:22:52
Okay.
0:22:54
Let me just see here.
0:22:56
And then so the 5 how many total not elementary.
0:23:00
How many total, public schools are there again?
0:23:02
It's 1,000 how many?
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:23:04
So, in districts well, do you wanna talk about the and there's approximately 1540 ish 15 okay.
0:23:10
That's what I thought.
Linda Lee
0:23:11
But
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:23:12
I can get the exact number to you.
Linda Lee
0:23:16
Okay.
0:23:17
And then there's
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:23:23
approximately 1800 public schools, which includes 70 nines, 80 fours, and and 70 fives.
Linda Lee
0:23:31
Okay.
0:23:31
Awesome.
0:23:31
No.
0:23:31
I just wanted to make sure because I remember it was definitely less than 2,000, somewhere above 1500.
0:23:36
So that's why
UNKNOWN
0:23:37
I wanna say
Dr. Erica Lynne Smith
0:23:37
It's kind of a moving target sometimes.
