New York State is offering up to $8 million to establish or expand four community-based behavioral health crisis response teams, including at least one in a rural area. The state Office of Mental Health announced the new funding opportunity Monday as part of its effort to build responses led by health professionals rather than law enforcement.
Communities may apply for up to $2 million each. The teams are expected to include trained behavioral health professionals and peer workers who have lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges.
The funding is available to counties that were not included in the first round of awards in February. Monroe County also may apply, but the city of Rochester is excluded because it received one of the earlier awards, according to the state.
The Office of Mental Health said the programs should be trauma-informed and community-based, with attention to racial equity, cultural humility and harm reduction. The agency has posted a second-round request for proposals seeking four pilot programs, one of them rural.
Earlier awards and state support
Rochester, the Children's Home of Jefferson County and Central Nassau Guidance each received $2 million in February. Those three pilots are forming community councils so people with lived experience can help shape the programs from the outset.
The state is also establishing a Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center through the mental health office and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Funded with $2 million in the fiscal 2026 budget, the center is intended to help localities develop crisis plans, common response protocols and training.
The new pilots, the technical assistance center and a state advisory council draw on recommendations from the Daniel's Law Task Force. That group examined how New York could provide public health-led responses and diversion services for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan said the additional teams would help communities respond safely and compassionately to people in crisis. The funding announcement does not identify the four communities that will receive awards; they will be selected through the application process.
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