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Q&A

CM Narcisse on B-Heard team locations and dispatch criteria

New York City Council · Jun 5, 2026 · starts 6:20:00 · 2 min 49 sec

Narcisse asks about B-Heard team structure and dispatch. Katz reiterates that H&H trains social workers but FDNY handles operations and dispatch. He says the city is interested in expanding B-Heard to more calls but hasn't articulated the model. Specific criteria for call qualification are a fire department question.

Mercedes Narcisse

Let me calm myself down.

Mercedes Narcisse

Executive plan include a baseline transfer of Be Heard funding from H&H to FDNY of $2 million in fiscal 2026, increased to $6.7 million by fiscal 2029 for the

Mercedes Narcisse

creation of 10 additional Be Heard teams by fiscal 2029.

Mercedes Narcisse

Where will this 10 new Be Heard teams be located?

Mercedes Narcisse

Do you know by any chance?

Dr. Mitch Katz

I don't.

Dr. Mitch Katz

It's a fire department question.

Mercedes Narcisse

Okay.

Mercedes Narcisse

All right.

Mercedes Narcisse

But you don't know, even though you're not interested in it?

Dr. Mitch Katz

We train them.

Dr. Mitch Katz

We don't get to decide the operational of them.

Mercedes Narcisse

Okay, I love that.

Mercedes Narcisse

Respect that.

Mercedes Narcisse

What will the structure of Be Her teams be going forward?

Mercedes Narcisse

Would you know that?

Mercedes Narcisse

No.

Dr. Mitch Katz

And I think the answer is unknown at this moment.

Dr. Mitch Katz

Unknown.

Dr. Mitch Katz

I think the city is genuinely interested in trying to figure out a way for Be Her to respond to more calls.

Mercedes Narcisse

Okay, okay.

Mercedes Narcisse

How are be heard calls currently dispatched and triaged?

Mercedes Narcisse

And can the department clarify whether calls are routed through the NYPD 911 system or FDNY EMS dispatch?

Dr. Mitch Katz

Right now they're running through the FDNY dispatch.

Mercedes Narcisse

Okay.

Mercedes Narcisse

What are the specific criteria?

Mercedes Narcisse

that determine whether a call qualifies as be heard response versus a traditional police or EMS response.

Dr. Mitch Katz

That's a fire department question.

Mercedes Narcisse

I knew you were going to say that.

Mercedes Narcisse

All right, so you don't know and you're not asking.

Mercedes Narcisse

I think I'm getting to be in a good place with you.

Mercedes Narcisse

Let me see.

Mercedes Narcisse

Dr.

Mercedes Narcisse

Katz, I think I ran through all the things that was important to me, except asking my colleagues some of their questions.

Mercedes Narcisse

And now I think I'm pretty much in good place with you.

Mercedes Narcisse

But let's move back to Elvers.

Mercedes Narcisse

Elmhurst Hospital.

Mercedes Narcisse

So we got Baxter Street.

Mercedes Narcisse

What do we got?

Mercedes Narcisse

The part of it to the extension.

Dr. Mitch Katz

Right.

Dr. Mitch Katz

We're working on the extension.

Dr. Mitch Katz

That's still in process.

Dr. Mitch Katz

All right.

Mercedes Narcisse

Whatever you need, I think we'll be.

Mercedes Narcisse

And then.

Linda Lee

Well, and actually, we've always tried to put capital money in and push the teacher and everyone to put capital money in.

Linda Lee

Capital money is a good.

Dr. Mitch Katz

Yeah, thank you.

Dr. Mitch Katz

We really appreciate your help.

Mercedes Narcisse

Yeah.

Mercedes Narcisse

They're from Queens.

Mercedes Narcisse

I'm from Brooklyn, but I work at Elmer's ER.

Dr. Mitch Katz

I know you.

Mercedes Narcisse

I have mine.

Mercedes Narcisse

So, Dr.