LaValle: Funding to establish North Fork coalition for youth mental health services included in state budget

The newly adopted state budget included $175,000 in funding for youth mental health services on the North Fork.

The funding will support a new coalition of North Fork school districts, municipalities, hospitals and mental health services providers to address youth mental health issues.

A similar coalition was established about two years ago and is already successfully working on the South Fork, Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) said.

Last year, the lawmaker said he convened a group of North Fork school leaders, government officials, local hospitals and regional counseling services to discuss how best to support young people struggling with mental health disorders, anxiety, depression and addiction.

“Throughout my tenure one of my top priorities has been working to ensure access to quality, affordable health and mental health services on the East End of Long Island,” LaValle said.

LaValle said he and Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) and Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) “fought hard during budget negotiations” to have $175,000 in funding included for each coalition in the 2018-19 budget.

“This critical funding will ensure that a plan is in place to immediately support our young people in a time of crisis, and build a local support network equipped to deliver immediate, affordable follow up services on both the South and North Forks.”

Other state budget highlights

LaValle said the adopted 2018-2019 state budget continues the implementation of last year’s $2.5 billion for drinking water infrastructure, including:

• $15 million to upgrade and replace outdated cesspools and septic systems;
• $3 million for Suffolk County and the Stony Brook University Water Technology Center to address nitrogen loading from septic waste;
• $1.5 million for the Center for Clean Water to help address 1,4-Dioxane;
• $500,000 for a new laboratory testing equipment at Stony Brook University to test for emerging chemicals affecting groundwater;
• $250,000 to the Long Island Regional Planning Council for the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan; and
• $200,000 Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection;

LaValle said the budget also includes:

• $300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund;
• $700 Million in brownfield, historic, and other business tax credits;
• $6 million towards the elimination of invasive species such as the Southern Pine Beetle; and
• $200,000 for the Peconic Estuary Program.

The budget also includes the addition of 1,000 acres in the Shoreham and Mastic Woods areas to the Pine Barrens, LaValle said.

“As the author of the original legislation to preserve the Pine Barrens, which has protected over 105,000 acres, I am pleased that we were able to further expand it,” LaValle said.

“It is important that while we are adding these critically important environmental lands to the Pine Barrens, we are also protecting the taxpayers of the Shoreham-Wading River School District by assuring that the land stays on the tax rolls,” he said.

The budget also provides $2 million for the Long Island Central Pine Barrens Commission. The commission has proven itself to be a tremendous steward of the environment, the senator said.

Funding for veterans programs in the adopted budget includes:

• $3.7 million for the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Services Program. This successful program, which is based on veterans helping veterans, originated in Suffolk County
• $500,000 for the NYS Defenders Association Veterans Defense Program;
• $220,000 to expand the Veterans Defense Program to Long Island
• $450,000 for the Veteran’s Mental Health Training Initiative;
• $200,000 for Warrior Salute;
• $100,000 for the Veterans Justice Project;
• $100,000 for the SAGE Veterans Project;
• $50,000 for the Vietnam Veterans of America New York State Council;
• $200,000 for Helmets-to-Hardhats;
• $25,000 for the Veterans Miracle Center;
• $125,000 for Veterans of Foreign Wars NYS Chapter Field Service Operations

In addition, the budget expands the eligibility criteria for veterans to participate in the state’s Home for Heroes program, helping veterans with disabilities find affordable and accessible housing, LaValle said.