On February 25, 2021, Alice Bufkin, Director of Policy for Child and Adolescent Health, virtually testified to the New York State FY 2022 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Health regarding the cuts and costs shifts proposed in the State FY 22 Executive Budget – particularly cuts to public health. She also testified on the importance of protecting and expanding access to Early Intervention and Behavioral Health supports.

Alice testified that the needs of New York’s children are so grave that pursuing austerity measures now at the state and local level would only worsen the effects of the pandemic, particularly for children from Black, Latinx, and immigrant households, and prevent their and New York’s recovery. Now is the time to protect funding for child and family supports, and to invest in our children to ensure they not only recover from this crisis, but are able to thrive.