NYAPRS Note: NYLPI and NYAPRS are asking our NYC members and allies to take part in a campaign of advocacy with NYC Council Members to promote funding for a non-police, peer-driven program modeled after the CAHOOTS program in Oregon. Thank you!
TIME SENSITIVE: Transforming NYC’s Response to Mental Health Crises
Dear Colleague:
I am reaching out on behalf of Correct Crisis Information Today – NYC (CCIT-NYC). CCIT-NYC is a coalition of activists, advocates, and other community and non-profit members working to transform how New York City responds to mental health crises. Our goal is to remove police as responders and implement a crisis response system utilizing a community-based health care and peer support network that responds to our most vulnerable citizens. We have already experienced the loss of eighteen individuals in the last five years alone – killed at the hands of the police when experiencing a mental health crisis. THE KILLINGS MUST STOP NOW!
AND THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! Legislators are finalizing the City’s budget which includes the Mayor’s proposal to allocate $55 million to expand the City’s new mental health crisis response program known as B-HEARD. However, that program continue to involve police more than 80% of the time, utilizes City Emergency Medical Service staff who have frequently “co-responded” with police and injured our community, and utilizes the NYPD’s 911 system. CCIT-NYC calls upon the City to utilize the proposed $55 million to fund a truly non-police, peer-driven program, modeled after the CAHOOTS program in Oregon which has a four-decade track record of no serious injuries to any individuals served or to their workers.
Can we count on you to take part in our email campaign to critical legislators by simply clicking here and distributing this information to all your contacts.
Feel free to reach out with any questions and thank you for your critical support of individuals with mental health concerns.
All the best,
R U T H L O W E N K R O N, E S Q.
Director, Disability Justice Program
N Y L P I
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
151 West 30th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001-4017
Tel: (212) 244-4664 Fax: (212) 244-4570 TTY: (212) 244-3692
RLowenkron@NYLPI.org
http://www.nylpi.org