New York State has awarded $6 million to fund three community pilot programs aimed at shifting to a health-led response for behavioral health crises that minimizes police involvement.
The funding — included in last year’s state budget — will provide $2 million each to the city of Rochester, N.Y.; Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services, based in Hicksville, N.Y.; and Children’s Home of Jefferson County, based in Watertown, N.Y. The money is expected to last three years, according to a Feb. 20 news release. An additional $2 million was allocated to establish a statewide crisis response technical assistance center.
The pilots support the state’s goal of implementing a health-led crisis response system under the proposed initiative Daniel’s Law, named for Daniel Prude, who died in Rochester police custody in 2020 while experiencing a mental health crisis. The state’s Daniel’s Law task force released recommendations in 2024 outlining a statewide rollout of health-led crisis response systems.
The city of Rochester will use the funding to expand its “person in crisis” team, which responds to calls without law enforcement. Children’s Home of Jefferson County will prioritize reducing reliance on law enforcement in Jefferson and Lewis counties, and Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services will expand existing mobile crisis teams through collaboration with community partners.
Advocates said they will call on the state to provide additional funding during budget negotiations, according to the release.
