The New York State Office of Mental Health has announced $6 million in funding for communities across the state to develop or expand behavioral health crisis response teams. The initiative stems from recommendations made by the Daniel’s Law Task Force, created after the 2020 death of Daniel Prude, to examine and improve crisis response practices.
The funding will support at least three teams — one each in a rural, suburban, and urban community. OMH says the teams will include trained behavioral health professionals and peer support staff, offering a trauma-informed, community-based response for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Communities can apply for grants of up to $2 million to launch new teams or enhance existing programs.
The Daniel’s Law Task Force, established by state legislation, released its recommendations in December 2025. Those recommendations call for a health-led crisis response model for 911 and 988 calls, standardized protocols, pilot programs in diverse communities, and approaches centered on racial equity, cultural humility, and harm reduction.
Since August 2023, the task force has reviewed various crisis response models and held listening sessions to gather public input. State officials say the new funding aims to launch pilot programs that can become sustainable statewide models for behavioral health crisis response.
Communities interested in applying can contact the New York State Office of Mental Health for details on eligibility and the application process.
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