Alice Bufkin, CCC’s Director of Policy for Child and Adolescent Health, virtually testified on March 15 to the New York City Council Fiscal Year 2022 Preliminary Budget Hearing Committee on Health Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction regarding critical health and behavioral health investments for children and families, including steps needed to respond to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s health.

To address the pandemic’s physical and behavioral health impact on children and families, Alice called on city leaders to:

• Fully restore Fiscal Year 2021 cuts to City Council health and human service initiatives. These cuts have impaired the ability of community-based organizations to support communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Develop a comprehensive plan to ameliorate the secondary health impacts of COVID-19 on young children.
• Protect funding for Article VI public health services.
• Restore cuts to Community Schools, SONYC, and other education services that provide essential wraparound and behavioral supports for students.
• Address the trauma and loss of the pandemic by enhancing school-based behavioral health supports for children.
• Restore and enhance funding for community-based behavioral health supports