DIOCESAN-WIDE ~ PARISH-BASED ADVOCACY ADVOCATE FOR A JUST BUDGET PUBLIC
POLICY WEEKEND FEBRUARY 12&13, 2022
It is said that a budget is a moral document, if this is true, then we must look carefully at how we are supporting those at the margins of our society. Throughout the pandemic we have heard that we are “New York Strong.” If this is the case, then we must also grapple with the fact that we are only as strong as our weakest links. It is due to this realization that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is focusing on two aspects of the NYS budget which we believe get overlooked and can create an important impact.
The first issue we would like addressed is the New York State Child Tax Credit. We have seen the positive impact that these tax credits can have on families. Nationwide, since the start of the federal child tax credit it has raised over 4.3 million children out of poverty. An estimated 250,000 of those are in New York State. We are thankful that New York State has their own Child Tax Credit, but there is one glaring problem—
it does not cover children under the age of four. Therefore, we are petitioning our legislators to close this loophole.
It has been shown that financial stability can yield tremendous benefits for children and their families, including improved physical, emotional and behavioral health, higher educational attainment and increased future earnings. The benefits are particularly significant – and most acutely needed – in families with young children. Families with young children face poverty at greater rates than other families. In addition, stress and hunger can impair brain development, which is most rapid when children are very young, and can lead to lifelong deficits. Strengthening family economic security helps not only the current generation of children, but the next, because poor children are much more likely to grow up to be poor adults.
Another important issue is the drastic need for behavioral health outpatient rate reform. The pandemic has been especially hard on those with mental illness and addiction. The increased isolation has been hard on everyone, but especially these people who often get pushed to the margins of society. More than 40% of residents in New York report that COVID resulted in increased mental health issues. Overdose deaths have increased 38%. Amid this significant need, many service providers are finding it extremely difficult to provide the critical services at current rates of reimbursement rates. Mental health and substance use providers do not have the staff they need to provide care -
97% of organizations across the state report that it is difficult to recruit staff. NYS needs to invest in our behavioral health providers, and increase funding for mental health and substance use services. Therefore, we are also petitioning for a 5.4% COLA and a $500 million investment in workforce, service, and support in the Executive Budget.