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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anita Kwok, Policy Analyst from United Neighborhood Houses
6:38:08
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Anita Kwok, representing United Neighborhood Houses, addressed the New York City Council's preliminary budget hearing to advocate for increased funding for mental health services. She highlighted four key priorities for the fiscal year 2026 budget, focusing on community behavioral health services, youth mental health initiatives, school-based mental health clinics, and the mental health continuum program.
- Requested restoration of $32,260,000 for community Behavioral Health Services, including a 3% increase to match the citywide human services COLA
- Advocated for a $3,000,000 restoration for a new youth mental health initiative
- Called for a $3,700,000 investment to expand school-based mental health clinics
- Urged for $5,000,000,000 to be baselined for the mental health continuum program
Anita Kwok
6:38:08
Hi.
6:38:09
Thank you council members for convening for today's preliminary budget hearing.
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My name is Anita Kwok, a policy analyst for United Neighborhood Houses.
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UNH is a policy and social change organization representing neighborhood settlement houses that reach over 800,000 New Yorkers from all walks of life.
6:38:23
Our members who provide a wide variety of mental health and substance abuse services to to their communities through which settlement houses have established themselves as critical partners in addressing the city's growing mental health needs.
6:38:34
With communities continuing to experience increasing rates of anxiety, depression, isolation, and grief, it is more crucial than ever for the city to invest in mental health services.
6:38:45
Today, I want to highlight four key priorities in the fiscal year twenty six budget.
6:38:49
One, restore 32,260,000.00 in the council community Behavioral Health Services.
6:38:55
In FY '26, UNH recommends the City Council restore all 12 of the previously funded DOHMH Mental Health Council initiatives, including children under five, geriatric mental health, and trauma recovery centers.
6:39:08
19 UNH members provide services through the city council mental health initiatives.
6:39:14
To ensure these vital services can keep up with rising costs and quality services, we also urge the council to provide at least a 3% increase to match the citywide human services COLA to create a $3,000,000 restoration for the youth mental health initiative.
6:39:32
This new initiative would provide flexible mental health services for youth programs run by CBOs such as Beacons and Cornerstones with the focus of out of school time.
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These funds could also offer supports for youth workers when dealing with mental health crises or creating proactive programming for mental health wellness.
6:39:50
Three, invest $3,700,000 to expand school based mental health clinics so that each clinic can expand and maintain on-site mental health services for children during the school day, including psychiatric, family support, youth advocacy, and counseling, and four, baseline $5,000,000,000 in funding for the mental health continuum to fully implement and sustain the program.
6:40:10
Please see my written testimony for a more thank you.