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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tina Puccio, Representative from United Federation of Teachers (UFT) on Mental Health Support Programs
4:31:47
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129 sec
Tina Puccio from the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) testifies about the UFT member assistance program (MAP) and the positive learning collaborative, which provide mental health support to educators, students, and families. She highlights the growing demand for these services and requests City Council support to expand their programs.
- MAP has seen a significant increase in educator participation, from 4,500 members in 2019 to over 40,000 today.
- The "Let's Talk About It" initiative has served over 2,000 middle school students since 2018, helping them express emotions in healthy ways.
- Puccio requests funding to expand the middle school field trip program, increase attendance at mental health symposiums, and produce more continuing education courses for social workers and psychologists.
Tina Puccio
4:31:47
Good afternoon.
4:31:48
My name is Tina Puccchio and I'm here today to speak to you about the UFT member assistance program and the positive learning collaborative which provide vital mental health support and programming to our educators, students, and families in need.
4:32:04
Sixteen years ago, the UFT launched MAP to fill the void when it was clear that these educators had nowhere to go for mental health.
4:32:11
We became the supplemental program for DOE employees.
4:32:16
Our initiatives have addressed the growing mental health and wellness crisis in New York City.
4:32:21
In 02/2019, we were serving an average of 4,500 members.
4:32:25
By 2021, because of the pandemic, close to 32,000 educators were asking for our help virtually.
4:32:33
Today, over 40,000 educators are seeking out our support groups, individual counseling, continuing education courses and wellness workshops because they trust MAP.
4:32:43
They feel safe with MAP and they know that it won't take three months to get someone to help them.
4:32:49
We have extended our programming to serve students as well.
4:32:52
Our most popular initiative is called Let's Talk About It.
4:32:55
It is a field trip for middle school students which helps students learn to express their emotions in healthy and adaptive ways.
4:33:02
Since 2018, we have served over 2,000 middle school students connect and understand their feelings through mindfulness, music, and other creative methods.
4:33:13
This year, over 300 district 20 five and 200 title one students from District 9 attended.
4:33:20
I'm asking the city council to support a trusted program that is already anchored in the lives of the member of the members we represent.
4:33:28
Your funding and support will help us expand our let's talk about it middle schools field trip to all five boroughs, increase the number of educators we can invite to our annual mental health symposium and addiction symposium, this being one of the largest and most popular clinical conferences offered to over 2,500 school social workers and psychologists, And lastly, to produce more than 200 continuing education courses for our social workers and psychologists.
4:33:55
Thank you.