Int. No. 1022
By Council Members Riley, Lee, Powers, Rivera, Louis, Hanif, Hudson, Ayala, Holden, Ung, Joseph and Abreu (in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough President)
A Local Law in relation to a pilot program establishing community centers for individuals with severe mental illness in high-need areas
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:
Community center. The term “community center” means a community-based location designed to support the recovery of individuals with severe mental illness that provides wraparound services and opportunities for social connection for such individuals, including group activities and programming, job readiness skills and transitional employment opportunities, educational opportunities, and access to medical and mental health providers, in a non-residential setting.
Department. The term “department” means the department of health and mental hygiene.
b. Pilot program. The department, in consultation with the office of community mental health and any other appropriate agency, shall establish a community center pilot program. Such program shall establish community centers in at least 5 high-need areas of the city of New York, as determined by the department.
c. Implementation. The pilot program required by subdivision b of this section shall commence no later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law. On or before the date such pilot program commences, the department shall conspicuously post on its website a list of the community center locations established by such pilot program.
d. Report. No later than 1 year after the commencement of the pilot program established pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council a report containing information regarding such pilot program, including the cost of such pilot program, an analysis of the impact and effectiveness of such pilot program, recommendations for expanding or making such pilot program permanent, and any other recommendations regarding such pilot program.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
EH
LS #11718
4/13/23