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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alice Bufkin, Associate Executive Director of Policy at Citizens Committee for Children
6:58:56
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Alice Bufkin, representing the Citizens Committee for Children, testified on critical issues for supporting mental health and well-being of children and adolescents in New York City. She called for the restoration and increase of funding for various mental health initiatives and programs, highlighting the importance of community-based organizations and school-based mental health services.
- Urged restoration of funding for city council's mental health initiatives, including programs for children under five and vulnerable populations, with a 3% increase to match the citywide human services COLA initiative
- Emphasized the need to restore and baseline funding for the mental health continuum program, which is set to end in June without additional support
- Advocated for continued funding of community schools and restorative justice programs, citing their effectiveness in addressing students' social and emotional well-being
- Called for an investment of $3,700,000 to enable up to 50 school-based mental health clinics to provide flexible, targeted interventions to complement the existing model
Alice Bufkin
6:58:56
Good afternoon.
6:58:56
Thank you Chair Lee, Chair Schulman, and committee members for holding today's hearing.
6:59:00
My name is Alice Buffkin.
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I am the Associate Executive Director of Policy at Citizens Committee for Children.
6:59:05
I'm gonna focus my testimony today on issues that critical for supporting the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents in New York.
6:59:12
First, we are calling for the restoration of funding for the city council's mental health initiatives.
6:59:17
These initiatives have always been a backbone for community based organizations.
6:59:21
They provide a level of flexible but targeted supports that you really can't get from the state.
6:59:26
But unfortunately, these initiatives experienced a cut of nearly $1,000,000 in the fiscal year twenty four budget, much of which was never restored.
6:59:33
These initiatives include programs like Children under five which funds mental health treatment for young children and mental health services for vulnerable populations as well as court involved youth.
6:59:42
We urge you not only to restore funding from previous years but also to provide a 3% increase to match the citywide human services COLA initiative.
6:59:51
I second, wanna thank the city council for fighting to restore so many critical education programs in last year's budget.
6:59:57
In a blift, as you know, several mental health programs are once again facing cuts unless funding is restored.
7:00:02
I'm grateful to Chair Lee for raising the, mental health continuum as several others on panels did today.
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That is obviously an incredibly important program.
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It has led to unprecedented collaboration between the three agencies running it and helps support students with significant mental health needs.
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It's also going to be serving thousands of students through new mental health clinic partnerships.
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Unfortunately, the program will end in June if funding is not restored and baselined in the budget.
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I also want to draw attention to the importance of both community schools and restorative justice programs.
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Both are effective proven models for addressing the social and emotional well-being of students while improving academic outcomes and reducing punitive practices.
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And both are at risk of reducing services without additional funding.
7:00:40
And finally, want to uplift the importance of school based mental health clinics, provide on-site mental health services to children.
7:00:45
Again, you, Chair Lee, for raising this issue and some of your questioning.
7:00:48
The current Medicaid reimbursement model is deeply insufficient.
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Medicaid doesn't cover services for children without a diagnosis, those without health coverage.
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Clinicians can't be paid to provide staff training or de escalating.
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We are therefore urging city leaders to invest $3,700,000 to enable up to 50 school based mental health clinics to provide flexible targeted interventions designed to complement the school based mental health clinic model.
7:01:10
Thank you.