Solutions to New York's Youth Behavioral Health Crisis
Mental Health Needs Aren't Met for Hundreds of Thousands of Children. Here's What's Happening
Solutions to New York's Youth Behavioral Health Crisis
Mental Health Needs Aren't Met for Hundreds of Thousands of Children. Here's What's Happening
New York children, youth and families are facing a behavioral health access crisis. They are forced to wait months or even years for mental health and substance use disorder services they desperately need today. As a result, parents are leaving their jobs so they can navigate the mental health system for their children; children are cycling in and out of ERs and hospitals; and young peoples’ needs are becoming more acute, complex, and difficult to address as they grow into adults.
To better understand the magnitude of need that goes unaddressed across the state, the Campaign for Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids (HMHK) engaged Health Management Associates (HMA) to undertake an in-depth needs assessment for the population of children on Medicaid and Child Health Plus.
The charts below illustrate the percent of children in who need outpatient services but are not receiving them.
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children receiving care
eligible children who need care
The need in
Unfortunately, chronically low reimbursement rates have led to massive staff turnover and vacancies, widespread provider shortages, and unacceptable waitlists for children and families.
In , the HMHK study indicates that an additional providers are needed to address the shortage. This includes:
Hear From the Community
In October 2024, HMHK held its annual community speakout event. We heard from parents, youth and advocates from throughout the state. Below is a clip from that event.
In July 2023, Mashrafi Anwar, a New York City resident and youth advocate, wrote an op-ed for NorthJerys.com. Below is an excerpt.
The Path Forward:
It is urgent that our state invest $195 million to increase Medicaid rates for a continuum of outpatient behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) services. These less costly services help divert young people from intensive hospital and inpatient settings; help children step down from hospital and residential care and prevent readmittance; and prevent young people from becoming adults with more complex and severe needs.
These essential outpatient services include: Article 31 (mental health) and Article 32-822 (substance use disorder) services, as well as innovative community models such as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS), which includes services such as therapy, rehabilitation services, and family and youth peer support.
Next Steps
Throughout New York State, a multi-year, billion dollar plan is required to address the unmet need. The first step to stability and improved access is investing $195 million to help attract and retain 1,300 additional providers and serve 26,000 more children in the first year.
Ultimately, this investment would put New York on the path towards meeting the profound behavioral health needs of children and youth.