One in ten children in New York State has a serious emotional disturbance. But the system designed to serve them is chronically overwhelmed. Sick kids sit on waitlists. Mental health and substance abuse clinics struggle to hire pediatric specialists. And providers lose money on Medicaid-funded programs.
When the State launched its massive project to redesign Medicaid, it committed to expanding children’s behavioral health services. The goals: catch problems early, keep kids out of institutions, and allow providers to build urgently needed capacity.
But children’s reform has repeatedly been put on hold, and its future is uncertain.
Join the Center for New York City Affairs for a discussion of what’s next for children’s behavioral health care: What do vulnerable kids and adolescents need? What are the barriers to accessing care? What steps should the City and State take to improve the system? What’s next for kids in the State’s Medicaid redesign?
Panelists include:
Donna Bradbury, Associate Commissioner, Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families, NYS Office of Mental Health
Gail Nayowith, Principal of 1digit LLC and Chair, NYCDOHMH Community Services Board
Jennifer Havens, MD, Director and Chief of Service, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bellevue Hospital Center
Kenton Kirby, Director, Make it Happen and Director, Clinical and Trauma Support Services, Crown Heights Community Mediation Center
Tonia Spence, Senior Director, Early Childhood Services, The Jewish Board