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Q&A
Council member inquires about TRC funding and expansion plans
1:25:47
·
3 min
Council Member Farah N. Louis inquires about the plans for Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs) given the restored funding of $4.8 million in FY 2026. She asks about potential expansion to new sites, funding for high-need neighborhoods, and strengthening outpatient care models.
- Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse confirms the $4.8 million funding for TRCs in FY 2026
- Dr. Jean Wright shares insights from visiting a TRC, noting their broader services including support for mental illness and substance use disorders
- DOHMH expresses openness to further discussions on TRC funding and support
Farah N. Louis
1:25:47
But my first question is regarding TRCs.
1:25:50
I wanted to know with the executive plan restoring 4,800,000 in fiscal year twenty six, what plans does DOHMH have to expand TRC services to additional sites or neighborhoods beyond the current locations and what specific funding if any has DOHMH committed to exploring deciding for new TRCs and neighborhoods identified as high need neighborhoods or with high rates of violent crimes and underserved populations?
1:26:21
And last one on TRCs, will any portion of the funding that's allocated for FY twenty six go towards building a stronger outpatient care model outside of TRC facilities including partnerships with community based organizations and referral networks.
1:26:37
And I just have a quick question because you mentioned in your testimony 5,000,000 was allocated for crisis response.
1:26:43
So I wanted to know how is the agency dividing those funds to support crisis response and mental health interventions in public spaces, especially in districts like Mines where challenges are a bit more acute?
Michelle Morse
1:26:56
Thank you for the questions councilmember.
1:26:58
I'll start and then I'm also going to pass to Doctor.
1:27:00
Wright as well to share a little bit more.
1:27:03
As you described, the trauma recovery centers are funded in FY twenty six for $4,800,000.
1:27:10
That's about $500,000 more than this year.
1:27:13
It's a model that we have spent some time trying to understand a little bit more, and really also have explored what the outcomes are and kind of what the target population is.
1:27:23
Certainly what we see in our violence intervention programs and our violence prevention programs is that there is certainly a high impact of trauma for the community members, the family members, and the individual who were involved in any violent events.
1:27:38
So this is something that we're certainly concerned about.
1:27:41
We were happy to see that it was funded in FY twenty six and are certainly open to more conversations.
1:27:47
But I'll pass to Doctor.
1:27:48
Wright who was able to visit a trauma recovery center, and with his expertise in mental health would love for him to share his reflections.
Jean Wright
1:27:55
Thank you commissioner.
1:27:58
Certainly it's important that we provide support and services for individuals that have experienced trauma.
1:28:04
I think the important thing that I learned by visiting the Center for Community Alternative in Brooklyn was that in addition to what you had mentioned and what the commissioner alluded to in terms of the type of violence that people are dealing with, The center also provided other services which I was not aware of until the visit.
1:28:23
So they support people with serious mental illness, support people with substance use disorder, and they have a lot of quality of life activities that are very important.
1:28:33
So what we're looking at is how do the TRCs fit into the continuum of mental health across the region and certainly in terms of funding and wanting to support more.
1:28:43
We're always interested in having those conversations in terms of what we can do.
1:28:48
But I was very impressed with this center that I visited and I look forward to visiting more of the centers in the very near future.