Int. No. 1095
By Council Members Schulman, Cabán, Menin, Ossé, Louis, Hanif, Gutiérrez and Riley
A Local Law in relation to requiring at least one mental health coordinator at any location where refugees, asylees, and migrants receive services from city agencies or providers upon their arrival in the city of New York
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. a. Definitions. As used in this local law:
Agency. The term “agency” means a city, county, borough, or other office, department, division, bureau, board or commission, or a corporation, institution or agency of government, the expenses of which are paid in whole or in part from the city treasury.
City. The term “city” means the city of New York.
Emergency congregate housing. The term “emergency congregate housing” means any location operated by an agency or a provider under contract or similar agreement with an agency, except for any location operated by the department of social services or provider under contract or similar agreement with the department of social services, where individuals and families reside for more than 96 hours where such individuals and families sleep in a congregate setting with shared facilities including, but not limited to, sleeping quarters and bathrooms.
Mental health coordinator. The term “mental health coordinator” means an agency employee or a contracted employee who can provide resources on trauma-informed, language accessible mental health services in the city.
Resource center. The term “resource center” means a centralized location where services are provided to refugees, asylees, and migrants, including, but not limited to, legal services, healthcare services, benefit enrollment services or school enrollment services.
Provider. The term “provider” means a community-based organization or not-for-profit organization under contract or similar agreement with the department.
Shelter. The term “shelter” means a facility operated by the department of social services or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department of social services.
b. The office of community mental health shall station at least one mental health coordinator at each location where refugees, asylees, and migrants receives services from agencies or providers upon their arrival in the city. The locations shall be determined by the office of immigrant affairs and shall include but not be limited to emergency congregate housing, shelters, resource centers, and any other systems established to provide housing to refugees, asylees, and migrants.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.
JGP
LS #11193/11756
5/17/23 12:30p