Morano asks about vacant mental health clinician positions

I have one quick question from my colleague, Councilmember Narcisse, who had to run, and then a couple quick questions of my own.

She asks, how many budgeted mental health clinician positions are vacant right now, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses?

And knowing Councilmember Narcisse as we do, this is usually the portion where she would mention that she herself is a nurse.

So I'll mention that on her behalf.

So we currently have 244 FTEs in the mental health service and 33 vacancies.

I will note we have really stepped up our recruitment efforts in mental health.

It is an incredibly sought-after profession generally, and carceral mental health care is particularly challenging, and then Rikers itself has unique challenges as well.

But they do a phenomenal job meeting the needs.

With the current staffing.