The New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) announces the availability of $6M for the expansion and/or creation of health-led community behavioral health crisis response pilot programs consistent with the Daniel's Law Task Force (DLTF) Behavioral Health Crisis Response report established pursuant to Chapter 57 of the laws of 2023 and Chapter 53 of the Laws of 2025. This procurement seeks to establish at least three (3) pilot programs, one (1) each in an urban, suburban, and rural area. Notice: Pursuant to Chapter 53 of the Laws of 2025, grants awarded under this appropriation shall not support expenses of police law enforcement agencies. The intention of these pilots is to create a crisis response system that prioritizes a health-led response through the utilization of community experts with lived experience to inform a safe, compassionate response for individuals and families in crisis. This crisis response system will include a health-led response team component. The DLTF identified a critical need in NYS for trauma-informed, community-based crisis response approaches that prioritize racial equity, cultural humility, and harm reduction for New Yorkers across their lifespans. A health-led response to a behavioral health crisis is the standard being proposed nationwide, with law enforcement collaboration only in situations threatening violence.
