NY A02267

Commissioner of Mental Health must establish or contract for at least six peer crisis diversion homes within one year, with three in urban settings and three in rural communities.

Peer crisis diversion homes must be recipient-run (governed by current or former mental health service recipients) and staffed 24 hours daily by two or more peer support specialists, plus a full-time licensed clinician and part-time psychiatric consultant.

Peer support specialists must have personally experienced urgent behavioral health needs and complete training in de-escalation techniques, cultural competency, race relations, recovery processes, substance abuse, and avoiding aggressive confrontation.

Services must accept residents on a first-come, first-served basis for short-term temporary stays, serve residents regardless of income, and use peer support and community connection as primary treatment modalities to divert individuals from hospital-based care.

Homes must assist residents in accessing ongoing care coordination upon discharge and participate in annual county and community planning activities to track recovery outcomes including quality of life, coping skills, and reduction in crisis service use.