| | Aspire Hope, Inc held a Mental Health Awareness Day at Watkins Glen, NY on May 30th. Around 425 individuals enjoyed a day filled with free food, a bounce house, Wild World of Animal shows, Bikers Against Child Abuse presentations, vendor tables with community resources, crafts, door prizes, and much more. The Aspire Hope team provided a fun, supportive and educational environment for families to relax and reconnect with each other. | | |
BIPOC PEEEEEEK held their Peer Support Profession Summit on May 20th – May 21st in Niagara Falls, NY. Around 150 family, youth, adult and recovery peers from across the state were able to hear keynote speakers Eric “Malik” Hutchinson and Jennifer Levesque deliver powerful speeches on the value and importance of Peer Support Services. Participants were able to choose from a variety of workshops and on day two of the event they hosted a powerful Youth Panel discussion from the WNY Recast Youth Coalition. Sara Taylor and her team did a remarkable job in creating an environment of learning and opportunities to foster networking.
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Federal Spotlight The "Big Beautiful Bill" and Whats at Stake
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers have introduced the so-called "Big Beautiful Bipartisan Budget Agreement", a sweeping federal budget proposal that poses serious threats to the services families rely on the most. The bill includes deep cuts that would have many consequences across New York State: Medicaid: Proposed rollbacks threaten access to physical and mental health care for low-income families and youth with behavioral health needs. Education & Community Schools: Reductions in Title I and ESSA funding would hit under-resourced districts the hardest Child Welfare and Behavioral Health: Decreased federal investments would jeopardize trauma-informed care, prevention services, and supports for foster youth. FTNYS is monitoring the bill closely and working with partners to advocate for a federal budget that uplifts our most valuable communities.
Take Action: Defend Medicaid Now
Medicaid is on the chopping block and 72 million Americans could pay the price. The Congressional House budget includes $880 billion in cuts likely to come from Medicaid, as Congress works to finalize the 2025 budget through reconciliation, now is the time to speak up!
| | End of Session Updates
New York State’s Legislative Session officially wraps up on July 18th. We'll be sharing a full update on outcomes in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we've added a new section to our website where you can find a running list of memos of support. These are the bills we've championed throughout session. We encourage you to check it out and stay tuned for advocacy opportunities heading into the fall. | | Unfortunately, many of our bills did not make it, but we love to celebrate our wins when they happen. That said, we are deeply proud to share that the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act passed the Assembly and Senate! This bill would shift calls to the State Central Registry hotline from being anonymous to confidential which cut back on frivolous and malicious reports that weaponize the hotline against families and initiate unnecessary investigations. | | |
Solutions Not Suspensions The Solutions Not Suspensions Campaign has been hard at work uplifting the harmful, ineffective, overutilized practice of suspensions and punitive school discipline. Thanks to the efforts of the campaign, we have garnered attention and momentum for this issue heading into the off-season. Below we note the many positive signs of progress we made this year, including a POWERFUL video featuring students, parents and advocates explaining why this bill matters to them. Check it out!
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The Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus included SNS and some funding for implementation in “The People’s Budget” priority document.
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The New York Law School organized a Education Law Symposium commemorating 50 years since the Goss v Lopez decision which held panels comprised of civil rights attorneys, the New York State Attorney General, state lawmakers and the members of the SNS campaign.
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Over 100 organizations from a broad range of perspectives signed on to a letter calling on our legislative leaders to pass the bill.
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Twenty-three organizations submitted memos of support [Google Drive], including statewide associations for both psychiatrists and psychologists.
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On May 13th, nearly 200 students, parents and advocates convened in Albany for an advocacy day and rally alongside several legislative champions. That day, we met with over 50 electeds and subsequently gained several co-sponsors in both houses, nearly achieving a majority of co-sponsors in both houses.
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The coalition produced a video explaining the importance of the bill told from the perspective of everyone who participated at our advocacy day- please enjoy.
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Coalition members were also featured on several podcasts including the BPHA Legislative Caucus’ own Caucus Corner hosted by the sponsors themselves as well as the Buffalo National Public Radio
For regular updates from the coalition, sign up here: https://forms.gle/Zzr9Cf6sZMMQajFD7
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Are you interested in growing your Family Peer or Youth Peer Program?
Check out a video series on programmatic and organizational growth and capacity building! This two-part series features five videos and resource handouts covering key practices like identifying funding sources, developing grants, and collaborating with community partners. You'll also learn about core principles of capacity building and peer leadership.
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Juneteenth & Mental Health
Freedom. Healing. Reclamation
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Why Juneteenth Matters
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally told they were free. This news came two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is also a reminder that true freedom goes beyond the end of slavery; today, it may mean access to opportunity, dignity, wellness, and voice, including mental health equity.
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Mental Health Equity: More Than Awareness
Juneteenth invites us to reflect on the ongoing disparities Black communities face. Black Americans are more likely to face systemic barriers to mental health care, including:
- Misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis
- Lack of culturally competent providers
- Financial and insurance barriers
- Cultural stigma and distrust due to historical trauma
| According to data, 58% of White New Yorkers receive necessary mental health care, and only about one-third of Black adults do. This gap speaks to a deeper problem: equality and equity. | | |
Equality vs. Equity in Mental Health
Equality means giving everyone the same resources.
Equity means giving people what they need to thrive recognizing different starting points and lived experiences.
When mental health systems assume that everyone has equal access or the exact needs, they ignore the very real impact of racism, trauma, and generational harm.
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Mental health equity means:
- Training providers in cultural responsiveness
- Expanding access to affordable, community-based care
- Creating safe, identity-affirming spaces
- Integrating Support into trusted community networks like churches, schools, and local businesses
Ways to Honor Juneteenth Through Mental Health
Learn about the history of Juneteenth and the impact of racial trauma
Speak out about mental health disparities
Support Black-led mental health organizations
Make space for conversations about allyship and community care
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Real Talk, Real Tools: Final Session!
The we are proud to present the final session in our Real Talk, Real Tools training series! Specifically created for parents, caregivers, and family peer advocates.
This session is about civic engagement, meaning taking action, big or small, for your community and the causes you care about. We will explore how getting involved in your community can reduce isolation, build resilience, and turn frustration into fuel for meaningful change.
Check out the flyer on the left for full details and registration links!
| | Click each social media application to access our page! | | | | |
737 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
Office Phone: 518.432.0333
Information Email: info@ftnys.org
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