New York State Offered $8 Million for Crisis Teams

The state has announced a new round of funding to support four behavioral health crisis response pilot programs.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Substance Abuse

New York State Offered $8 Million for Crisis Teams

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Should health professionals lead responses to mental health crises instead of law enforcement?

New York State has launched an $8 million funding initiative to establish four new behavioral health crisis response teams. The program aims to transition crisis management from law enforcement to community-based health professionals.

Why it matters

The initiative seeks to modernize emergency intervention strategies by adopting recommendations from the Daniel's Law Task Force. By prioritizing trauma-informed care and racial equity, the state intends to provide specialized support for mental health crises.

The state Office of Mental Health is offering up to $2 million per successful applicant for four pilot programs. Additionally, the fiscal 2026 budget includes $2 million to fund a Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center.

The players

New York State Office of Mental Health

This agency oversees the state's public mental health system and is responsible for managing the application process for the new crisis response teams.

Daniel's Law Task Force

This body provides recommendations for state policy regarding how law enforcement and mental health professionals interact during emergency situations.

The details

Applicants must design programs that center on harm reduction, cultural humility, and racial equity. While Rochester is excluded from this specific round, Monroe County remains eligible to participate in the application process.

September 21, 2026: The state announced the $8 million funding opportunity.
February 2026: The state awarded $2 million each to three pilot programs.
Fiscal 2026: The state budget allocated $2 million for technical assistance.

The Big Picture

The state's new funding initiative directly implements operational standards established by the Daniel's Law Task Force recommendations. This move aligns with a broader shift toward replacing traditional law enforcement intervention with professionalized mental health response models.

Residents in the selected communities can expect improved access to specialized professionals who are trained to manage behavioral health incidents without police intervention. This transition aims to foster safer, trauma-informed support for individuals experiencing mental health crises.

The takeaway

This program signals a continued investment in non-traditional emergency services across the state. Communities should review the state's requirements closely to ensure their proposals meet the criteria for cultural humility and harm reduction.