Alice Bufkin, CCC’s Director of Policy for Child and Adolescent Health, submitted testimony on February 3, 2020 to the Joint Legislative Budget Mental Hygiene Hearing regarding the impact of the SFY ’21 Executive Budget on the behavioral health of children.

In her testimony, Alice pointed out that suicide is the second leading cause of death for New York children age 15 to 19 and the third leading cause of death for children age 5-14.

Alice urged state leaders to place a moratorium on cuts to children’s behavioral health programs and lay the foundation for a system of care to improve timely access to treatment and improve children’s behavioral health outcomes.