CM Cabán questions OMB on IMT/ACT mental health teams baseline funding

In your testimony, you mentioned that the city is improving New Yorkers'health and well-being by supporting access to mental health care.

Now, last year, the council secured an additional funding of $15.5 million to expand the mobile treatment teams and create the Step Down program.

And then we were informed a few months ago, very surprisingly, that the funding has to be baseline for DOHMH to implement.

And, you know, I hope that we can agree that the city can't afford to bargain with funding for effective mental health care services.

This remains a priority for the Progressive Caucus.

Can we expect the restoration?

and baseline of the 15.5 million at adoption.

And I just want to clarify that also, you know, the money that we're seeing put in by the city is to address the fiscal cliff left by the federal government and not actually

do anything additional to make more headway on the wait list that currently exists.

Sure.

So thank you, Council Member, for your questions.

Let me first take the first one.

So we added in the preliminary budget $15 million over fiscal 26 and fiscal 27 for gender-affirming care.

We look forward to working with the Health and Hospitals Corporation on how that funding will be utilized.

I just will say that's not nearly enough.

Advocates are saying that the need is in the ballpark of more like $60 million, and also there needs to be money earmarked specifically for youth services because gender-affirming care, not every practitioner can provide that at young ages.

So every major medical organization in the country has said that it is integral, life-saving medical care, including children 13 and under, and there's a real gap in being able to service that population.

Yes, Councilmember, it is a start.

We hope that within the fiscal constraints that we have, we're able to invest additional resources there.

I think that this is a start.

And, of course, it's an important start given the health needs that we know exist.

So I think the next piece of your...

Question was related to IMT and to ACT and your point

we will take back in terms of the baseline in question but just in terms of the four and a half million and the 11 million in one time ads for ACT and IMT

we're looking forward to the discussion as part of ADOPT in terms of ongoing funding for that and so we look forward I know to having those conversations with you and your colleagues.

Yeah, and just before I pass it back to the chair, I just want to say, you know, in terms of the fiscal challenges, most of the people on Rikers live with a mental health diagnosis, could benefit from an active fact team.

We need this medical care coverage for our transgender youth and transgender neighbors in the city.

We got money for 500 more cops in this executive budget, but we don't have money for health care and trans kids.

I think, you know, that's a question of priorities.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

And yes, agree.

Fact, IMT, ACT, those teams do incredible work.

So whatever we can do to try to uplift them would be great.

Okay, Councilmember Dinowitz, followed by Councilmember Lewis.

Sorry.