File #: Int 0890-2024    Version: * Name: Implementing a pilot program to establish postpartum support groups.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
Committee: Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction
On agenda: 5/16/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to implementing a pilot program to establish postpartum support groups
Sponsors: Linda Lee, Lincoln Restler, Justin L. Brannan, Sandra Ung, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Amanda Farías, Shahana K. Hanif, Mercedes Narcisse
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Summary: This bill would require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to implement a three-year pilot program to establish postpartum support groups focused on the mental health of individuals who are up to 1 year postpartum. There would need to be at least one group established in each borough, at least one group established in each of the three community districts with the highest rates of postpartum mental health issues, and at least one group established in each of the three community districts with the highest risk factors for social determinants of poor mental health. The Commissioner would have to create informational materials about the program, to be provided to hospitals and other healthcare providers for dissemination to postpartum individuals. The Commissioner would be required to submit to the Mayor and Speaker of the Council, and post online, a report on the program, in part including recommendations on whether to establish a permanent postpartum support group program.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 890, 2. Int. No. 890, 3. May 16, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-16-24, 5. Committee Report 6/25/24

Int. No. 890

 

By Council Members Lee, Restler, Brannan, Ung, Gutiérrez, Farías, Hanif and Narcisse

 

A Local Law in relation to implementing a pilot program to establish postpartum support groups

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Postpartum support group pilot program. a. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:

Agency. The term “agency” has the same meaning as set forth in section 1-112 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of health and mental hygiene.

Department. The term “department” means the department of health and mental hygiene.

b. Program established. The commissioner shall coordinate with any agency and community-based organization the commissioner deems relevant to implement a pilot program to establish postpartum support groups. Such groups shall:

1. Involve professionally facilitated meetings focused on the mental health of individuals who are up to 1 year postpartum;

2. Provide, at a minimum, mental health resources and access to lactation consultants, obstetricians, and gynecologists to such individuals; and

3. Incorporate, as deemed appropriate by the commissioner, best practices with respect to maternal mental health that are identified in the most recent report issued by the task force on maternal mental health within the federal department of health and human services pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and subsection (e) of section 1113 of the consolidated appropriations act, 2023.

c. Postpartum support group locations. Through the pilot program established by subdivision b of this section, the commissioner shall establish:

1. At least 1 postpartum support group in each borough;

2. At least 1 postpartum support group in each of the 3 community districts with the highest rates of postpartum mental health issues, as identified by the commissioner; and

3. At least 1 postpartum support group in each of the 3 community districts with the highest risk factors for social determinants of poor mental health, as identified by the commissioner.

d. Implementation. The pilot program established by subdivision b of this section shall commence no later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law. The duration of such program shall be 3 years.

e. Informational materials. 1. The commissioner shall create materials in the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101 of the administrative code of the city of New York that provide information on the pilot program established by subdivision b of this section, including but not limited to:

(a) The types of resources provided through the postpartum support groups;

(b) The meeting locations of such groups; and

(c) The telephone number or other contact information for the department.

2. No later than 120 days after the effective date of this local law, the commissioner shall:

(a) Distribute such materials to hospitals and other healthcare providers for dissemination to postpartum individuals; and

(b) Post such materials on the department’s website.

f. Report. 1. No later than 1 year after the end of the pilot program established by subdivision b of this section, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a report on such program. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information:

(a) The total number of postpartum individuals who were served through such program;

(b) The total number of individuals who facilitated meetings of the postpartum support groups established through such program;

(c) The community districts identified by the commissioner as required by paragraph 2 of subdivision c of this section;

(d) The community districts identified by the commissioner as required by paragraph 3 of subdivision c of this section;

(e) Whether the commissioner established a postpartum support group in each borough and in certain community districts as required by subdivision c of this section, and if not, the reasons why;

(f) Any challenges with establishing or administering such program;

(g) Recommended ways to increase access to mental health resources for postpartum individuals; and

(h) Recommendations as to whether to establish a permanent postpartum support group program and whether and how to expand such program.

2. Such report shall also include a table with a separate row for each postpartum support group, indicated by a unique identification number. Each such row shall include the following information, set forth in separate columns:

(a) Such unique identification number;

(b) The borough in which the postpartum support group was established;

(c) The community district in which such group was established;

(d) The number of postpartum individuals who were served through such group;

(e) The number of individuals who facilitated the meetings of such group; and

(f) The most common meeting location of such group.

3. All data in such report shall be reported in a machine-readable format.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law. JEF

LS #16508

5/10/2024 10:30 AM