Maimonides Health will receive three grants totaling more than $17 million from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Healthfirst and Fidelis Care to expand critical behavioral health services in Brooklyn.
These programs include: building a new Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), a robust service approach to serving patients in behavioral health emergencies and a new inpatient adolescent unit, according to a news release.
The funding is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s $1 billion initiative to address the ongoing statewide mental health crisis.
According to the OMH’s recent State of Mental Health Report (May 2024), children, teens, and adults in New York City face significant mental health challenges: nearly half of local teens have experienced depressive symptoms and 15% of children ages three to 13 have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Among adults, nearly 25% reported experiencing a mental health disorder in a given year, and more than one-third of adults diagnosed with a mental health disorder say their needs were unmet.
“Given the current behavioral health crisis here in New York City, it’s essential we expand our capabilities to meet these urgent needs. These increased services will alleviate suffering and provide essential support to our community,” said Dr. Abraham M. Taub, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Maimonides.
OMH awarded Maimonides $6 million to establish a CPEP, as part of a total of a $39.1 million in state funding for nine community-based hospitals to develop these programs. CPEPs provide a primary entry point for individuals who need specialized support with behavioral health crises. Available 24 hours a day on a daily basis, CPEPs include triage, observation, care, treatment and referral in a safe and comfortable environment, distinct from the general emergency room.
Maimonides will be the only hospital in South Brooklyn with such an offering, and one of 31 hospitals statewide.
OMH also awarded Maimonides $5 million to establish a 20-bed adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit, addressing the pressing need for increased inpatient capacity that has persisted since the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2019, there has been a significant gap in coverage – 20% for adults and 12.4% for children and adolescents, according to The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health. The funding is part of the $30 million awarded to nine community-based hospitals to add 109 new inpatient psychiatric beds statewide.
Healthfirst and Fidelis Care awarded Maimonides $6.7 million as part of its Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Award. $1.8 million of this grant, will be used to expand outpatient services including addiction services and on-site primary care. This expansion ensures comprehensive and accessible care for the community. The remaining $4.9 million will be combined with OMH’s funding to create a new inpatient unit for adolescents.
