New York children, youth and families are facing a behavioral health access crisis. They are forced to wait months or even years for mental health and substance use disorder services they desperately need today. As a result, parents are leaving their jobs so they can navigate the mental health system for their children; children are cycling in and out of ERs and hospitals; and young peoples’ needs are becoming more acute, complex, and difficult to address as they grow into adults.

To better understand the magnitude of need that goes unaddressed across the state, the Campaign for Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids (HMHK) engaged Health Management Associates (HMA) to undertake an in-depth needs assessment for the population of children on Medicaid and Child Health Plus.

The analysis indicates that, at most, 1 in 4 New York children covered by Medicaid are accessing the outpatient behavioral health (mental health and/or substance use disorder) services they need.