April 2, 2025

As you know, the NYS Council has been calling on lawmakers at the state level to create a Contingency Fund or similar pool of flexible resources OASAS and OMH can use to help impacted agencies mitigate the damages associated with recent federal grant recissions.  In fact, we’ve been calling for this since the day after the grant funds were terminated.  Lawmakers and several other advocacy associations have recently picked up the torch and joined us in this request which is good news.  

No one knows how all of this is going to play out and the longer state budget negotiations drag on, the more damage is done as agencies continue to shutter programs and lay off staff.  That’s why, in addition to our constant calls for state resources, we have also been pushing members of the NYS Congressional delegation to come up with congressional resources to assist us.

Please don’t forget to visit our NYS Council Advocacy Center where you can generate letters to state lawmakers and federal representatives urging them to dig deep and assist us right now.  Here’s the link: https://nyscouncil.org/advocacy-action-center/

If you need me for any reason, please don’t hesitate to dial me up.  518 461-8200.