Celebrating Wins for Whole Child Health in the FY 2024 New York State Budget

We are excited to share some great news about the FY 2024 New York State budget and its positive impact on children's health. The budget, released a few weeks ago, shows a strong commitment to initiatives that promote the health of the whole child.

Now, let's delve into the details and celebrate the victories for children's health!

Building Foundations: Investing in Infant and Early Childhood Mental and Physical Health

The 2023 budget places significant emphasis on establishing strong foundations for our youngest citizens. One notable expansion is the Empire State Child Tax Credit, which now includes babies and toddlers under the age of four. This change ensures that an additional 600,000 to 900,000 children across the state can benefit from this crucial support.

The budget also includes substantial investments in mental health services, totaling $1 billion, with a significant portion dedicated to youth. Among these funds, $30 million will be used to expand mental health services for school-aged children, while $10 million will be allocated for wraparound services training. This funding will train school staff, community providers, and families on how to provide comprehensive services to children facing mental health challenges. Additionally, there is a separate $10 million set aside specifically for strengthening suicide prevention efforts for high-risk youth.

Equitable Communities: Access to Healthy Foods and Safer Streets

Ensuring that children have equal access to nutritious food and safe environments to play and live in is crucial for their well-being. The budget addresses these needs through various initiatives:

• New York Grown for New York Kids: The Farm to School Incentive continues to receive support, reinforcing the importance of connecting local farmers with schools. Additionally, the Small Purchase Threshold has been increased to $100,000, allowing schools to purchase food from food hubs and intermediaries, supporting local economies while providing healthier meal options for students.
• Healthy School Meals for All: The budget allocates $134.6 million to expand access to free school breakfast and lunch for all students. Through a new state subsidy for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all CEP-eligible schools can now participate, ensuring that no child goes hungry during the school day.
• Safe Streets for All Coalition: While Sammy's Law, which would have enabled municipalities to lower speed limits without home rule, was not included in the final budget, the Safe Streets for All Coalition remains committed to their cause. They will reintroduce legislation and continue pushing for safer streets and transportation options for our children.

Healthy Learning Environments: Nurturing Students' Well-being in Schools

A healthy learning environment is vital for a child's development. This year’s budget strengthens school supports in the following ways:

• Network for Youth Success: The Empire State After School program and Advantage After School program have been consolidated under the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Maintaining funding levels of $55 million for Empire State After School and $33 million for Advantage After School ensures continued support for afterschool programs, promoting engagement and learning outside regular school hours.
• Extended Learning Time Grants: The budget allocates $216 million to extend learning time, offering students additional opportunities for growth and exploration.
• New York State Community Schools Network: With $250 million in community schools aid, districts can expand mental health services, providing essential support for students' emotional well-being. An additional $250,000 has been allocated for grants to enable community schools to enhance mental health services further. Moreover, $1.2 million has been maintained to support community schools' regional technical assistance centers.

We commend the State for the forward-thinking approaches adopted in this budget, which address the unique needs of youth of all ages. These victories for children's health pave the way for a brighter and healthier future.

Source: New York State Budget FY 2024

Download the budget wins (.pdf)