Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jennifer Parish, Director of Criminal Justice Advocacy at Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project
6:33:44
·
101 sec
Jennifer Parish from the Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project advocates for increased funding for mental health crisis response teams, specifically calling for a $4.5 million allocation to support peer specialists in the BeHEARD program. She emphasizes the need for a police-free, 24/7 crisis response system that prioritizes compassion over force.
- Urges funding for justice-involved supportive housing, intensive mobile treatment, forensic assertive community treatment, crisis respite centers, and residential treatment beds
- Suggests reallocating funds from the Department of Corrections' $2.87 billion budget to support these services
- Argues for investing in proven effective services to improve safety and health for New Yorkers, rather than continuing to fund an "ineffective punishment system"
Jennifer Parish
6:33:44
I'm the director of criminal justice advocacy at the Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project.
6:33:49
And today, we join the CCIT NYC in calling for a baseline allocation of 4,500,000 to ensure competitive compensation for peer specialists to staff the city's mental health crisis response team.
6:34:02
This funding will support the expansion of peer responders within the BeHEARD program, strengthening the city's capacity to provide effective, community centered crisis intervention.
6:34:12
New York City needs a crisis response system that's available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, and that does not include police.
6:34:20
We should all be able to obtain immediate assistance when seeking help for someone experiencing a mental health emergency.
6:34:27
That assistance should come in the form of professionals who respond with compassion and care.
6:34:32
Police officers simply cannot provide such a response.
6:34:35
Their expertise is in enforcing the law and fighting crime.
6:34:39
People in mental health crisis should not be met with force and aggression but care and concern.
6:34:45
Peer specialists trained in crisis response can provide that much needed support.
6:34:49
Including them in the BeHEARD program will improve that intervention tremendously.
6:34:56
I also am urging, the funding of justice involved supportive housing, intensive mobile treatment, forensic assertive community treatment, crisis respite centers, and residential treatment beds.
6:35:08
By reallocating just a sliver of the Department of Corrections two point eight seven billion dollar budget, we can fund those services.
6:35:15
We need to stop pouring resources into ineffective punishment system and instead invest in proven effective services that will make New Yorkers safer and healthier.
6:35:25
Thank you.