porter
New York, NY (77WABC)-NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s Fiscal 2022 budget introduced Monday includes the hiring of more than 600 social workers, psychologists, and family support workers for NYC’s 1,700 public schools. The initiative, included in the Mayor’s 98.6 Billion dollar budget, seeks to achieve universal social emotion screenings and necessary follow-up treatment for students affected emotionally by Covid-19.
Highlighting the initiative during Mayor DeBlasio’s briefing on Tuesday, First Lady Chirlane McCray said “our children are our future, and with these advances our NYC our city will be healthier and stronger in every way.”
NYC Public Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter and NYC Council President Corey Johnson also spoke in favor of the mental health initiative during the Mayor’s briefing. “It is hard to put into words how historic and how significant this moment is,” said the Schools’s Chancellor. City Council President Corey Johnson, via video during the Mayor’s briefing said “the past 13 months as everyone knows have been unimaginably difficult especially for young people and our students,” adding “we need to make sure that our young people and our kids get the level of care and support that they need as they navigate this difficult timein their lives.”
Following public hearings, through May and June, the Council and the Mayor negotiate adjustments to the Executive Budget, resulting in an agreement known as the Adopted Budget. This agreement must be reached before July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
NYC Public Schools will return to in person learning this Fall. City officials say remote learning taking place during the Covid-19 viral pandemic will not be an option during the new school year.
