New York State Hosts First In-Person Meeting of Youth Mental Health Advisory Board

30 young adults from across the state convened in Troy to share their perspectives on mental health challenges and help shape initiatives supporting youth well-being. Click below to learn more about this milestone event.

Upcoming Events

Supporting Youth & Young Adults w/ DD/ID

Nov. 26, 2024 12:30-2:00 PM

Equity Empowered Training

Dec. 12, 2024

FANS Training for Supervisors

December 13 10:00 - 11:30

FANS Basic Training

Dec 16th & 17th

10AM - 3:30PM

Family Empowerment Day

March 3, 2025

Registration coming soon.

FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours

Multiple Dates

A Peer Support Lens on Prioritizing Mental Health at the Thanksgiving Table

Behavioral Health Advocates Rally for Increases in Rates and Contracts

On November 12, 2024, behavioral health advocates, including parents, young people, adult peers, and service providers, gathered at the New York State Capitol calling for improved access to community mental health and addiction services by investing a 7.8% rate increase to rates and contracts for community behavioral health and substance use programs.

Eleven statewide advocacy groups, including Families Together in NYS, emphasized the critical need for investment. The event drew media attention as advocates highlighted the challenges communities face, including a surge in demand for services, lengthy waitlists, and limited access. Workforce challenges such as high vacancy rates (20–30%), high turnover (35%), burnout, low pay, and excessive hours further exacerbate the crisis. This investment would improve access by allowing programs to enhance pay and working conditions to retain staff and address the rising costs of running a program.

Rally to End Child Poverty Brings Hundreds to the NYS Capitol Media

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 19, 2024) – Over 200 advocates from across New York State gathered outside the State Capitol building today for a rally to end child poverty here in New York. New York children are more likely to live in poverty than in 32 other states, with 18% (nearly one in five) experiencing poverty in 2023. The rate is even higher for children of color. Spearheaded by the New York Can End Child Poverty campaign, the large group included parents, legislators, educators, pediatricians, nurses, child care providers, economists, youth leaders, labor unions, faith leaders, and more. The coalition has been leading the way in ensuring that the state follows through on their goal of reducing child poverty by 50% by 2032. 

The campaign is supporting Governor Hochul and state leaders in making meaningful and immediate budget investments in policies proven to reduce child poverty. Those policies include a robust child tax credit, accessible and meaningful public assistance, and housing vouchers. At a time when many families struggle to make ends meet, and a time of shifting Federal priorities, New York State must be a leader in uplifting families and making New York the best place to raise a family.

Mandating Commercial Insurance Coverage of CFTSS/HCBS

Families Together in New York State joined other behavioral health advocacy groups in a letter to Governor Hochul calling for coverage parity that will ensure New York's children, youth and families with commercial insurance can receive the same range of mental health and/or substance use disorder services that are currently available to Medicaid beneficiaries, including Child and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS) and Home and Community-based Services (HCBS).

If passed, this would mean that families and youth would finally have access to Family and Youth Peer Support Services regardless of their insurance. Special thanks for Council on Community Behavioral Healthcare for leading this effort and for all our allies that signed on.