New York State Announced Behavioral Health Crisis Grants
The state has opened an $8 million fund to establish four community-based crisis response teams across New York.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Substance Abuse
Live Poll
Should health professionals lead responses to mental health crises instead of law enforcement?
New York State has released a request for proposals to fund four new behavioral health crisis response teams. Counties not previously awarded funding in February are now eligible to apply for up to $2 million each to support these programs.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to transition behavioral health crisis management away from law enforcement and toward specialized health professionals. These efforts are based on recommendations from the Daniel's Law Task Force to improve community outcomes.
The state is offering $8 million in grants to establish four trauma-informed, community-based crisis response teams. This follows an initial round of funding in February 2026 that supported three pilot programs.
The players
New York State Office of Mental Health
The state agency responsible for setting policy and providing oversight for mental health care and crisis response services.
Daniel's Law Task Force
A state-established body tasked with developing recommendations to shift mental health crisis responses toward a public health model.
The details
The Office of Mental Health is prioritizing programs that integrate principles of racial equity, cultural humility, and harm reduction into their crisis intervention services. At least one of the four new teams must be located in a rural area to ensure broader geographic coverage. While Rochester is excluded from this specific round, Monroe County remains eligible to compete for the grants.
Timeline
February 2026: New York awarded funds to three pilot programs.
Fiscal 2026: The state budget allocated $2 million for a technical assistance center.
September 21, 2026: The state announced the new $8 million funding opportunity.
Health Landscape
This initiative represents a significant structural shift in how New York addresses behavioral health emergencies by prioritizing specialized crisis teams. The program follows and implements recommendations previously established by the Daniel's Law Task Force.
Residents should track whether their local county submits an application for these services, as these teams are intended to provide specialized, trauma-informed care during mental health crises. If you have concerns about local crisis response resources, consider discussing the availability of these health-led models with your physician.
The takeaway
The move marks a shift in how behavioral health crises are managed at the community level by prioritizing clinical response over law enforcement. Residents can monitor their local county government announcements to see if their area pursues these new grant opportunities.
Further reading
Learn more about local initiatives in the Substance Abuse section.
Live Poll
Should health professionals lead responses to mental health crises instead of law enforcement?
