CCC Testimony: New York City Council Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services on the New York City Preliminary Budget Proposals for Fiscal Year 2014

Published March, 2013

CCC submitted testimony about the impact the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget would have on children and families at the March 21, 2013 City Council Hearing on the Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 hosted by the Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services.

CCC underscored the importance of early identification and treatment of children’s mental health needs and described how the growing demand for community supports far exceeds the City’s existing supply.

CCC urged the Council to work with the Mayor to reject the proposed cut to School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) and in fact, create a sufficiently-funded dedicated budget line that will support real investment in local school-based mental health clinics, an enhanced model of mental health care delivery in school settings.

CCC also objected to the Administration’s failure to restore City Council Initiatives including mental health treatment for children under 5, the autism initiative, and the suicide prevention hotline.

Read CCC’s full testimony to learn more about our response to the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget as it relates to children’s mental health.