A Q&A with Katie Schwab & Rose Christ

How well is New York doing in providing mental health services?

We have been heartened to see New York state and New York City governments step up to the plate when it comes to mental health. Between the funding of new inpatient beds for people in severe mental crisis to funding peer-to-peer mental health support programs in school, we are seeing investments at every level of the mental health continuum. At the same time, the need for mental health support has never been more pronounced and deeper investment is needed, especially for people experiencing housing instability. We believe deeper investments in this programming will be critical in the years to come. 

What role do you play in addressing mental health in New York?

At Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, we are honored to represent a number of organizations on the front lines supporting New Yorkers with mental health challenges. Our practice is well versed in how best to navigate the state and city policies for addressing the mental health crisis, from our work with VNS Health, one of the largest mental health providers in the state, to our work with the business improvement districts, which are deeply committed to addressing the challenges of those with housing insecurity. In addition, we take seriously our representation of the Alternatives to Incarceration / Reentry Coalition, comprised of 11 nonprofits dedicated to providing alternatives to incarceration for those impacted by the criminal justice system who all too often require substantial mental health support. In addition to these, we are delighted to work with nonprofits taking an innovative approach to mental health services, such as the Horticultural Society, which offers a groundbreaking therapeutic horticulture program for seniors and other populations. We are so proud of our clients’ incredible work and are deeply committed to advocating for increased government funding for these programs.

What policy issues are you focused on in 2024?

For 2024 we are focused on increased funding for the key programs that support New Yorkers experiencing mental health challenges, both those already in crisis and engaging with folks before a crisis emerges.