1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light FM. 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 2: Welcome and thank you for listening to Get connected. While 5 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 2: healthcare is top of mind for so many people, we 6 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: will look for the next few minutes at a New 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: York state organization focused on children's health, leading the fight 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: for access to behavioral health services and talk about the 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: reality of mental health services for children. Kaylee's Aloga is 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 2: the President and CEO of the New York State Coalition 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: for Children's Behavioral Health, a statewied organization of children's service providers. 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: CCBH represents fifty provider agencies with twenty one thousand employees 13 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: who serve nearly two hundred thousand children and families in 14 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 2: New York State. Kaylee's Aloga, thank you for being on 15 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: Get Connected. 16 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. 17 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: You can find out more about the organization at ccbhny 18 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: dot org. So, Kayleie, I think we'll just start with 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: a little bit of definitions here. Can you exp plane 20 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: what the New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health is, 21 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: what you do and to be clear, what is behavioral health. 22 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 2: What does that encompass? 23 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 4: Sure, Sure, let's start with behavioral health encompasses mental health 24 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 4: and substance use. And we're talking about children, you know, 25 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 4: a whole range of issues and conditions that might fall 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 4: just outside of a mental health diagnosis, but are still 27 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 4: affecting a child's quality of life and are related to 28 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 4: their they're functioning, and their families and their communities and 29 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 4: their schools. And the coalition represents, as you said, about 30 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 4: fifty provider agencies across the state. So we're working directly 31 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 4: with service providers and with families to advocate to the 32 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 4: state for what children and families need, to try and 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 4: translate what's coming from the state to those service providers 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 4: and families, and to improve the system for everyone involved. 35 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: And can you talk a little bit about the scope 36 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: of agencies you represent. 37 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 4: Sure, So a lot of our agencies are working in 38 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 4: multiple realms. We have many non they're all nonprofit agencies 39 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 4: who are providing mental health services. Many of them are 40 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 4: also in the child welfare system, providing foster care services, 41 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 4: prevention services, residential mental health and foster care and pretty 42 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 4: much the full gamut of services that kids and families 43 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 4: might need. 44 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: So how is New York State doing when you talk 45 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 2: about providing support and access to clients of these agencies. 46 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: When it comes to access to behavioral health services for children, well. 47 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 4: The system has been under invested in for decades and 48 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 4: anarchy even for centuries. If we're looking back at the 49 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,679 Speaker 4: treatment of mental health compared to medical and surgical health, 50 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 4: you know we've been We've come a really long way 51 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 4: in fighting the stigma, i think in the recent decades, 52 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 4: with more and more people being willing to talk about 53 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 4: mental health to be a willing to prioritize it in 54 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 4: terms of where our state's putting its funding and where 55 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 4: other resources are going. But it's still you know, providers 56 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 4: in our system have been basing reimbursement rates that don't 57 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 4: cover their costs for a really long time. So most 58 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 4: of our profit agencies also have you know, fundraising arms, 59 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 4: and a lot of what they're doing is subsidized by 60 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 4: philanthropy and not just paid for by the state. But 61 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 4: it's become increasingly untenable for a lot of our providers 62 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 4: to continue doing some of the services that are most 63 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 4: meaningful and impactful for kids and families, especially those that 64 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 4: are in homes and in communities, not just in a 65 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 4: clinic setting, which really make a difference for those famili 66 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 4: who are struggling the most, you know, and can't necessarily 67 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 4: get to a clinic for everything that they need. 68 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,119 Speaker 3: But on the provider side. 69 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 4: It's been a really difficult battle to remain in the 70 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 4: service provision field when rates aren't covering costs or barely. 71 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 4: You know, we have inflation every year that all of 72 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 4: us know on the individual level, when we're seeing our 73 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 4: grocery prices going up and our heating prices and everything 74 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 4: going up. 75 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: Service providers are facing the same. 76 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 4: Thing and in trying to you know, raise their staff 77 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 4: salaries to meet inflation. There's just there isn't enough money 78 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 4: in the system from the state, from the federal government, 79 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 4: and from insurance companies to really adequately pay people for 80 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 4: what they're worth and what they're doing for kids and 81 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 4: families and keep them in the jobs and continue, you know, 82 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 4: making services accessible. 83 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: And when you talk about these children being underserved, are 84 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: you talking about children as a whole or Medicaid covered children. 85 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 3: That's a good question. 86 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 4: I mean, I think children as a whole are kind 87 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 4: of an underserved population. They're they're often less prioritized when 88 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 4: we're looking at big picture health issues. Children are a 89 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 4: less expensive population, you know, treating their issues early on, 90 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 4: even though if it costs more than not treating them 91 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 4: this year, you know, it's a lot less expensive than 92 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 4: when you're dealing with adults who have had untreated medical 93 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 4: and mental health issues for a very long time. So 94 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 4: when it comes to like where we will get the 95 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 4: most bang for our buck, people are usually looking at 96 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 4: how can we reduce the costs of these very expensive populations, 97 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 4: not necessarily, how can we better support kids to become 98 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 4: less expensive populations down the road. 99 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: And I don't know if you can speak to this, Kayley, 100 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: but if New York State is only serving around I 101 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: think that the numbers twenty five percent of the children 102 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: behavioral health services under Medicaid. And this is a relatively 103 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 2: progressive state, although it's not had a balanced budget in decades. 104 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: What do you know about comparative services in other states? 105 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 3: That's a good question. 106 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 4: I think every state has its own issues in serving youth. 107 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 4: You know, we see other states who are doing better 108 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 4: in certain areas. 109 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 3: I don't think we can say. 110 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 4: That there's one other state that's really serving everyone, or 111 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 4: that you know we should look to but you know, 112 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 4: we can look at states like California who have done 113 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 4: some really innovative programming and funding to try and help 114 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 4: especially those kids who are hardest to serve because their 115 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 4: needs really span many different areas, and that's where our 116 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 4: kids are getting stuck here. We've I'm sure heard stories 117 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 4: about kids who have been stuck in hospitals, not because 118 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 4: they need a hospital level of care anymore, but because 119 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 4: there's nowhere appropriate for them to. 120 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: Go after that hospital stay. 121 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 4: And I think every state is struggling with this and 122 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 4: trying to find different ways to handle it. And of 123 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 4: course we're looking at a federal situation where we're going 124 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,559 Speaker 4: to have billions of dollars less coming into our state, 125 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 4: and everyone's you know, every state's looking at that, which 126 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 4: is it's not a really helpful environment when we're talking 127 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 4: about a system that needs a lot more investment in 128 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 4: it even before those those cuts were part of the picture. 129 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: And we're talking about New York state numbers. The lack 130 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: of access is even worse in New York City. Correct, Yes, it. 131 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 3: Is a little bit higher. 132 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,239 Speaker 4: And we're talking about a subset of outpatient children's behavioral 133 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 4: health services I think it's about statewide, seventy two percent 134 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 4: of kids who are Medicaid eligible and eligible for these 135 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 4: services are not receiving them. 136 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 3: In New York City, I think it's closer to seventy eight. 137 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 2: Our guest is Kaylee Zeloga. She's president and CEO of 138 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 2: the New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health. You 139 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: can find out more at ccbhny dot org. You're listening 140 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: to get connected on one six point seven light FM. 141 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 2: I'm Mina del Riel. So in twenty twenty two, a 142 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: class action lawsuit was filed in federal court against the 143 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: state Department of Health and Office of Mental Health, seeking 144 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: to force policy change. As you said earlier, this is 145 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 2: an issue that's been going on for decades, probably longer. 146 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: Explain what this lawsuit or why the lawsuit was brought 147 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 2: and what it intended to achieve. 148 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 4: And so it was originally four families who brought the lawsuit, 149 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 4: along with some nonprofit legal services firms and advocacy organizations 150 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 4: that supported them. And there were families of children who 151 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 4: had been unable to access the behavioral health services they 152 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 4: needed and their child either needed to go into a 153 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 4: hospital or institutional setting or was at risk of going 154 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 4: into a setting like this. 155 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 3: So one of the families I. 156 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 4: Know, they ended up in the emergency room several times, 157 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 4: one crisis after another, and eventually a law enforcement had 158 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 4: to be involved in bringing the child to a hospital setting. 159 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 4: And it's a much more traumatic experience than it needs 160 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 4: to be when people are actually getting what they need 161 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 4: when they need it. So the coalition did after the 162 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:58,239 Speaker 4: four families started the legal proceedings, the coalition supported making 163 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 4: it a class action lawsuit on behalf of not just 164 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 4: those four children and their families, but all Medicaid eligible 165 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 4: children who would be eligible for the subset of services. 166 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: And that was successful. 167 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 4: So the settlement that was just reached in August and 168 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 4: is in the process of becoming fully finalized and implemented, 169 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 4: will mean that there needs to be a real redesign 170 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 4: of home and community based behavioral health services for kids, 171 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 4: for all Medicaid eligible kids in New York, not just 172 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 4: those few families. 173 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 2: Going back to the original group in that lawsuit, so 174 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 2: they would have gone, they would have exhausted every option 175 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 2: trying to get services for their children, and they just 176 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: end up in emergency rooms and at a dead end. 177 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 3: YEP. 178 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: So again what is the outcome going forward for these families. 179 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 4: So for these specific families, I mean, honestly, given the 180 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,559 Speaker 4: implementation timeline of a real system redesign and everything that's 181 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 4: going to happen, their children might age out. That might 182 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 4: probably be over twenty one before we really see the 183 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 4: system change that they helped bring about. I think some 184 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 4: of them might still be enough to benefit from the 185 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 4: full rollout, but we hope to see and hope to 186 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 4: work with the Department of Health and the Office of 187 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 4: Mental Health on is really accurately evaluating what needs the 188 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 4: kids in this subgroup have, those those in the class 189 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 4: you know, who have eligible behavioral health conditions and are 190 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 4: Medicaid eligible, and the designing a system of services that 191 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 4: aims to meet their needs, that aims to support the 192 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 4: providers who will be providing those services. 193 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 3: In maintaining service. 194 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 4: We see you know, you mentioned that the access is 195 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 4: even a little bit lower in New York City than statewide, 196 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 4: and we see that in pockets. It's not necessarily just 197 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 4: about New York City versus restive state. It's also about 198 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 4: rural versus urban access to services. There are some rural 199 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 4: areas where they're actually higher access to outpatient behavior health services, 200 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 4: and we see lower emergency department use among the population 201 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 4: of kids we're talking about, So I mean, we know 202 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 4: that access to outpatient services is really important for kids 203 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 4: and families for our system not funneling people into an 204 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 4: inappropriate service type when what they need is someone coming 205 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 4: to their home and helping them address mental health crises 206 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 4: in the home and address coping mechanisms and strengthening families' 207 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 4: ability to respond when difficult things come up. 208 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 2: This settlement is an obligation for the state who holds 209 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: them to account in a case like this for. 210 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 3: The time being, a court will hold them to account. 211 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 4: So part of the implementation plan, there's a time period 212 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 4: of developing a plan implementing it. There's a whole quality 213 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 4: improvement protocol that needs to be put in place with 214 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 4: certain metrics that I'll have to be checked, and the 215 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 4: court will be responsible for holding the state accountable to 216 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 4: that until its deems that the state is meeting all 217 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 4: of its obligations and can be released from the court 218 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 4: order to just continue doing the work. But it'll also 219 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 4: be on people like us, the Coalition on Service providers 220 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 4: and families to be reporting on what's working and what 221 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 4: isn't and to try and be a part of shaping 222 00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 4: an implementation plan that will work. 223 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 2: So what policy changes are you seeking this upcoming session. 224 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 4: The biggest we're seeking is investment. It's investment in the 225 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 4: rates for behavioral health services. We know that the settlement 226 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 4: will eventually result in rates for services that are higher 227 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 4: than they are now. It's pretty blatant in settlement agreement. 228 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 4: But in the meantime, we have providers who are pulling 229 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 4: back from offering these services because they simply can't. 230 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 3: Afford to do it. 231 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 4: We had a provider who had to stop offering these 232 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 4: services because they had over million dollar losses. And you know, 233 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 4: they're committed to serving their communities, but they also need 234 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 4: to maintain their financial sustainability to be able to continue 235 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 4: serving in other areas. So investing in children's behavioral health 236 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 4: services is our biggest priority. We're also seeking to increase 237 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 4: commercial insurance coverage of a wider range of children's behavioral 238 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 4: health services. You know, as much trouble as folks who 239 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 4: are on Medicaid have accessing these services, those on commercial 240 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 4: insurance have no chance of accessing them at all for 241 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 4: the most part, and that's really not right with all 242 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 4: kids who have behavioral health needs should be able to 243 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 4: get their needs for services met. 244 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: So those are our two big priorities. 245 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 2: Just as a bit of a sidebar, you developed your 246 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 2: policy expertise in the New York State legislature. You served 247 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 2: as a legislative analyst for a former state assembly member. 248 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: As you worked in this area, what did you discover 249 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: about children's health care policy and legislation that made you 250 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: want to make it your focus? 251 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 4: I mean, the simple answers, it's really important and really impactful. 252 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 4: You know, when we can help children when they're young, 253 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 4: we can help them become thriving adults and not have 254 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 4: the same magnitude of mental health and substance use and 255 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 4: other issues later into adulthood that really derail people's lives. 256 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 4: When we can help a child thrive now, we're avoiding 257 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 4: a lot of difficulties and expenses in the education system 258 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 4: and the criminal justice system. You know, we're setting people 259 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 4: up to really become the best versions of themselves. I 260 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 4: think there's just so much opportunity to do that when 261 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 4: we're working with children, and you know, they're a population that, 262 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 4: like I said earlier, just kind of doesn't often get. 263 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 3: Prioritized because they're a quieter population than those who are 264 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 3: causing more visible problems. 265 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 2: You know, what would you like parents to take away 266 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: from this conversation and how can they get involved to 267 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,599 Speaker 2: support children's behavioral health care providers. 268 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 4: I want all parents to know that there is support 269 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 4: out there. There are a lot of resources that we 270 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 4: want to make sure folks are aware of, and of 271 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 4: course ninety eight eight is one of them. There are 272 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,199 Speaker 4: mobile crisis teams. Most counties have them, and we want 273 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 4: to continue to see that grow. The settlement would be 274 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 4: a part of that, But I just want to make 275 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 4: sure that parents know they're not alone and raising children 276 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 4: is hard no matter what conditions your child does or 277 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 4: doesn't have. But it's important that our elected officials know 278 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 4: that people are watching and that we care, that we 279 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 4: need to see investment in children's behavioral health services, and 280 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 4: that we are going to work together between families, providers, 281 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 4: advocates like myself. 282 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 3: And hopefully more and more of our government. 283 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 4: Elected officials to prioritize keeping our kids healthy and helping 284 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 4: them thrive. 285 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 2: Taylee Zeloga is the president of the New York State 286 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 2: Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health. You can find out more 287 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 2: at CCBHNY dot org. Kaylie, thank you for joining me 288 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: on Get Connected. 289 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 290 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: This has been Get Connected with Nina del Rio on 291 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light Fm. The views and 292 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views 293 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: of the station. If you missed any part of our 294 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: show or want to share it, visit our website for 295 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: downloads and podcasts at one oh six to seven lightfm 296 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks for listening.