Message from the Executive Director

Reflecting on the past year, I am proud of what McSilver has accomplished and the direction the Institute is heading toward. As we all navigate the “new normal” and the reality of deepening inequality, McSilver has broadened its vision in order to respond to the emerging health and supportive needs of New Yorkers.

As one of New York State’s leaders in providing technical assistance and training to behavioral health, child welfare, and substance-abuse prevention practitioners, we have expanded our substantial technical assistance platform to include two new important initiatives, the Peer Support Services Technical Assistance Center (PeerTAC) and the Center for Workforce Excellence in Evidence-Based Practices (CWE), which continue to grow the Institute’s scholarship and research through federal, state, and city funded grants totaling $6.4 million. Most notably, McSilver is part of the team awarded a P50 grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research childhood maltreatment intervention models.

McSilver’s AI Hub — which is committed to exploring how artificial intelligence-driven systems can address critical issues such as poverty, race, and public health, and how they can do so more equitably — continues to develop its unique mission as a pioneering institution at the forefront of leveraging artificial intelligence for social good. Currently the AI Hub team is in the process of developing a groundbreaking tool using AI that will be brought to the marketplace to better assist behavioral health experts with their research. Simultaneously we are expanding our efforts to promote guidelines for ethical AI and co-authored an opinion piece with Congressman Adriano Espaillat that set forth the importance of ensuring AI is used for social good, human dignity, and democratic values, while outlining key priorities on how to ensure transparency and equity in AI’s use nationally and regionally.

In addition to our research and scholarship efforts, McSilver has continued to be at the forefront of a number of dynamic policy initiatives. Most recently the Institute has joined with New York City Council Member Nantasha Williams; the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at NYU Steinhardt; the Research Alliance for New York City Schools at NYU Steinhardt; the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at NYU School of Law; and the Vera Institute of Justice for a series of convenings focused at the intersections of equity, education, mental health, and criminal justice. The “Equity Now and for Future Generations” forums include policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and the chairs of the New Cork City Council’s education, mental health, human and civil rights, and children and youth committees, as well as the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice. The culmination of these convenings will result in a public policy report that presents a series of recommendations for legislative action at the city level.

In response to research and ongoing reports regarding the alarming rates of Black maternal mortality in New York, McSilver — in partnership with NYU Langone Health’s Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, One Brooklyn Health, and the Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Incorporated — sponsored a series of convenings with some of New York’s most prominent medical experts to identify best-practices and policy responses. Additionally, McSilver joined with Assembly Members Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Michaelle Solages, State Senators Samra Brouk and Lea Webb, and the Office of the New York Attorney General for an important panel discussion, “Equity in Every Birth: A Call to Action to Advance Black Maternal Health,” at the 53rd Annual NYSABPRHAL Legislative Conference in Albany, with guest speaker New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

Once every eight years, universities are required to reaffirm their accreditation through a process of evidence-based self-study. The purpose of the study is to reflect on the university’s collective progress, understand our challenges and identify opportunities to improve our institutional effectiveness. I was honored to be selected to be a part of the NYU self-study steering committee, and serve along with Vincent Southerland of NYU Law’s Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law, as the co-chairs of the Impact Working Group.

I’m delighted to share the following annual report, which highlights the important scholarship and subject matter leadership of McSilver’s dedicated staff. Building on our foundation of research development, technical expertise, and policy leadership, McSilver continues to pursue data-driven change that will uplift our communities and realize equity throughout the institutions and networks of which we are a part.

In Service,

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Esq.

Mission

The NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research is committed to disrupting generational poverty through research, policy, and action.

Established in 2007, the Institute is the brainchild of Dr. Constance McCatherin Silver, a New York University alumna and trustee who was determined to establish a top-notch research institute to not only contribute to the intellectual discourse but to also find solutions that would disrupt generational poverty in communities most affected by inequality and injustice.

McSilver recognizes the interrelatedness of race and poverty, and is dedicated to dismantling structural racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We collaborate with community stakeholders, policymakers, and service organizations to ensure our work is culturally and contextually appropriate.

History

The McSilver Institute has pursued its antipoverty mission for over fifteen years.

2007

• Dr. Constance McCatherin Silver established the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research.

2011

• Dr. Mary M. McKay was appointed to serve as the Institute’s inaugural Director.
• The Institute founded the Children’s Technical Assistance Center.

2012

• The Children’s Technical Assistance Center expanded to the Community Technical Assistance Center (CTAC) to offer technical assistance to all Article 31 mental health clinics in New York State.

2013

• The Institute launched the McSilver Awards to recognize Vanguards for Social Justice who are prominent in their fields and unafraid to use their platforms to help create a more equitable and just world. The most recent McSilver Awards honorees include Jeffrey R. Ginsburg, Jennifer Jones Austin, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Richard R. Buery, Jr., and Alan van Capelle.

2014

• McSilver’s Technical Assistance Centers expanded with the introduction of the Managed Care Technical Assistance Center (MCTAC), working in conjunction with New York State to provide technical assistance to all mental health and substance use agencies in preparation for the transition to Medicaid managed care.

2015

• McSilver was selected by the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to provide technical assistance and training related to managed care to foster care agencies statewide.

2016

• Dr. Michael A. Lindsey was appointed to lead the Institute as its Director, succeeding Dr. Mary M. McKay.
• Through the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC), McSilver’s portfolio expanded to serve providers working with young children, ages zero to five, to promote positive mental health in the early years, through its partnership with the New York Center for Child Development and a grant from Public Health Solutions.
• The Safe Mothers, Safe Children (SMSC) project became an initiative of the McSilver Institute with foundational support from the Robin Hood Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. SMSC aims to reduce the risk of repeated child maltreatment by caregivers who are receiving preventive services within the child welfare systems.

2017

• McSilver was selected to lead the university-wide Strategies to Reduce Inequality (SRI) initiative, leading a team encompassing 80 faculty affiliates and 16 research centers across NYU’s schools and disciplines to create new knowledge to impact policies, systems, and communities.

2018

• The Institute introduced a new Fellowship program designed to engage nationally recognized poverty and social justice scholars across disciplines to conduct research projects, publish books and papers, conduct courses, and participate in seminars, conferences, and workshops. In Fall of 2018, Dr. Christina M. Greer was introduced as the inaugural McSilver Fellow-in-Residence.

2019

• SRI launched an inequality minor course of study in collaboration with the Silver School of Social Work, as well as the New York City Reducing Inequality Network initiative for doctoral students at NYU, Columbia University, and the City University of New York.

• The Institute co-led a working group of experts together with the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health. The working group produced the seminal report, “Ring The Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health,” which informed a companion bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.
• McSilver received a $13 million grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health to provide statewide technical assistance to the child mental health workforce, continuing CTAC’s work.
• McSilver launched a study of the effectiveness of the Making Connections Intervention (MCI), a novel treatment intervention for keeping Black adolescents engaged in depression treatment. The study was funded by an R34 research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.

2020

• McSilver expanded its research into the effectiveness of MCI to include Latinx youth. This was made possible by a diversity supplement for the R34 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.

2021

• Through a visionary gift from Constance and Martin Silver, the AI Hub at McSilver was established to explore ways that artificial intelligence can address poverty, inequity, racism, wellness, and behavioral health for marginalized populations.
• McSilver’s Safe Mothers, Safe Children program received a $3.5 million R01 research grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

2022

• Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Esq. was appointed to lead the Institute as its Executive Director, succeeding Dr. Michael A. Lindsey after serving as Chief Operating Officer for the Institute since 2017.
• The McSilver Institute, NYU Steinhardt, and the University of Michigan launched the implementation and study of the effectiveness of a system of care for Black youth that combines suicide risk screening with an intervention to help connect at-risk youth to quality mental health services. Known as WeCare, the system was launched in the emergency departments of Harlem Hospital and Kings County Hospital in New York City. The five-year program was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health through a $5.8 million R01 research grant.

2023

• The Peer Support Services Technical Assistance Center (PeerTAC) was launched as a joint project with the Rutgers University School of Health Professions Academy of Peer Services and McSilver. PeerTAC provides training, technical assistance, and ongoing support to mental health organizations with the goal of ensuring the successful inclusion of people with lived experience in the delivery of effective services. PeerTAC was made possible by a $2.1 million grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health.
• McSilver established the Center for Workforce Excellence in Evidence Based Practices (CWE), a new technical assistance center enabling behavioral health providers to deliver high quality interventions. Through the CWE, the New York State Office of Mental Health is investing $4.3 million in evidence-based behavioral health training and technical assistance to community-based organizations serving youth and families.

Policy & Initiatives

MTA Blue Ribbon Panel

Following months of intensive study and research about the fare evasion challenges facing public transit in New York, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) released the findings of the Blue-Ribbon Panel on Fare Evasion, co-chaired by McSilver Executive Director Rosemonde Pierre-Louis and Roger Maldonado, Partner at the law firm of Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP.

Convened in the spring of 2022, the Blue-Ribbon Panel was given a mandate to investigate the root causes of fare and toll evasion and recommend actionable solutions. In developing the plan, members of the panel performed nine site visits of subway, bus, commuter rail, and bridge and tunnel facilities and held six panel-wide meetings to develop the final report.

The report found that fare evasion had reached crisis levels, with the MTA losing an estimated $690 million in unpaid fares and tolls in 2022, threatening the economics of mass transit in the region.

To address this trend, the report recommended a comprehensive plan to combat fare and toll evasion, including the modernization of subway fare gates, better support for low-income transit riders, and instituting precision policing and civil enforcement for most fare evaders. The MTA has already begun implementing a number of these recommendations.

• Read the full report and recommendations here.

NYU Self-Study

Once every eight years, NYU is required to reaffirm its accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education through a process of evidence-based self-study. The purpose of the University-wide study is to reflect on the University’s collective progress, understand its challenges, and identify opportunities to improve its institutional effectiveness.

In August, following a year of work, the committee presented its draft report to NYU’s President and Provost. McSilver Executive Director Rosemonde Pierre-Louis served on the Self-Study Steering Comittee, and co-chaired the Impact Working Group.

• Learn more about NYU’s self-study here.

Equity Roundtable Series

McSilver partnered with New York City Council Member Nantasha Williams; the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at NYU Steinhardt; the Research Alliance for New York City Schools at NYU Steinhardt; and the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at NYU School of Law to organize a series of roundtables to address equity in New York City. Each roundtable is designed to transcend a mere discussion of problems, using the dialogues to generate a series of policy recommendations for city government. These recommendations, set to be unveiled following the series, will offer concrete strategies to effectively address persistent equity gaps in each focus area, in substantive and measurable ways.

In December, the first roundtable focused on education, specifically newcomer migrant and asylum-seeker youth in New York City public schools. The panel of experts included top academics in New York City focused on researching and analyzing some of the most pressing educational issues facing New Yorkers. They were joined by leading education practitioners and thought leaders, as well as members of the New York City Council and Mayor’s office, all working to address issues facing immigrant communities and communities of color.

The final two roundtables are set to take place in early 2024. They include a discussion on the mental health needs of young people, moderated by McSilver’s Senior Director of Clinical Initiatives, Dr. James Rodriguez, and a panel adressing the parole process and other detrimental aspects of the criminal justice system.

Maternal Mental and Physical Health

The McSilver Institute dedicated its efforts to address the urgent matter of Black maternal health in 2023, organizing a panel discussion, participating in others, as well as planning future ones, while working to directly impact policy going forward.

In April, the Institute partnered with the Greater New York Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and One Brooklyn Health to host a virtual community forum featuring experts in the fields of maternal physical and mental health and provided vital information on the scope of Black maternal health disparities, contributing factors, and best practices. The event was hosted by attorney, TV host, and author Eboni K. Williams.

In December, Project Director Dr. Damali Wilson co-moderated “Supporting Mothers Through the 4th Trimester,” a panel organized by NYU Langone, that featured opening remarks from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

Dr. Wilson also participated in the first series of the “People, Perspectives, and Policies” podcast, produced in-house at McSilver. She spoke with Dr. Erin Sadler, Co-Director of the Mood Disorders Program and Director of Child-Parent Psychotherapy Services at Children’s National Hospital, about pressing issues within the maternal health space, especially for mothers of color.

Additionally, McSilver supported state efforts to create a maternal mental health workgroup. In March, the Institute joined NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing in a memorandum of support for state legislation proposed by Assembly Member Sarah Clark and State Senator Samra G. Brouk.

Addressing Social Media and Mental Health

In May, the issue of social media and mental health for young people rose to new prominence with the release of the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on its negative social and individual impacts.

McSilver’s deep connections within the mental health provider community has made these impacts well-known. The Institute’s technical assistance teams have provided guidance and training around this very imporatant topic in the past. Given McSilver’s leadership in this area, Executive Director Rosemonde Pierre-Louis and Deputy Executive Director Dr. Andrew Cleek released a statement following the Surgeon General’s advisory, praising the move while noting the critical need for “policymakers, technology companies, governments at every level, and most importantly parents and their children have both a better understanding of what youth are being exposed to, as well as the responsibility to ensure the safest, most healthy interactions possible.”

In October, Executive Director Pierre-Louis joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James for the announcement of new state legislation that targeted social media companies’ actions that have harmful impacts on young people.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Services

Throughout 2023, McSilver sought to highlight the critical need for expanded mental health services, specifically among underserved populations and those with demonstrated high need.

In May, Deputy Executive Director Dr. Andrew Cleek co-authored an op-ed that called on local and state governments to specifically focus on the expansion of mental health services for children and their caregivers.

In June, the Institute submitted written testimony to the New York City Council’s Committees on Immigration and General Welfare, in support of a pair of bills that took much-needed action to address serious mental health concerns among the city’s asylee, migrant, and refugee populations.

In October, McSilver joined the American Psychological Association and other mental health-focused organizations in urging Congress to support the “Youth Mental Health Research Act,” which would authorize $100 million per year over five years for a National Institute of Health research partnership to improve the mental health of children and youth. The legislation would develop research to foster the long-term recovery of youth, better target preventive interventions for those most at risk, and improve the treatments delivered to young people in crisis.

Addressing Poverty and the Justice System

Recognizing the interrelated issues of poverty and over-incarceration, McSilver extended its thought leadership to highlight and support initiatives that sought to address challenges faced by the communities we serve.

In November, McSilver Executive Director Rosemonde Pierre-Louis expressed her support for a major change to New York State’s criminal record process. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the “Clean Slate Act,” which seals certain criminal records and allows individuals to seek employment, housing, and educational opportunities so they can improve their lives. Executive Director Pierre-Louis acknowledged the life-changing possibilities created by the act, which “finally eliminate[s] a major barrier to employment, housing, and other essentials that have unfairly impacted returning citizens.”

Podcasts

In July, the Institute premiered the podcast, “People, Perspectives, and Policies — Engaging with Mental Health Today.” The series features conversations led by McSilver staff that explore a variety of mental health topics and their intersection with social services and public health policy. Additionally, CTAC produced a new series, “Voices From the Field” — a podcast for and by providers — to share their stories and experiences to support improved outcomes for children, youth, and families engaged in mental health services.

McSilver Fellows-in-Residence

• Chris Hemphill focuses on how data science can help us understand and improve the human condition. Chris is Director of Commercial Intelligence at Woebot Health, a role that combines data science with AI strategy for health systems and insurers. This work at the intersection of tech and strategy has a broader theme: working with healthcare leaders to drive ethical and effective decisions with AI and algorithms.
• Ifeoma Ike, Esq. is an award-winning advocate, writer, and policy advisor focused on designing solutions to address disparities. Her first book, The Equity Mindset: Designing Human Spaces Through Journeys, Reflections and Practices, was published in Fall 2023. She is the force behind the annual Black Policy Lab, a project birthed in response to racial uprisings, centering visioning, joy, and collaborative policy creation, and the founder of the social impact firm Pink Cornrows.
• Cathy Nonas, MS, CDN is an advocate for policies and practices that address health equity and nutrition. Since 2018, Cathy has been the CEO of Meals For Good Inc, a New York-based 501c3 public charity that supports underfunded food pantries with grants for fresh produce and works with community-based organizations around the city to provide vouchers for local supermarkets, giving families agency over their own food while supporting small businesses as well.

In 2023, the McSilver Institute announced additional Fellows-in-Residence for 2024. Government leader and international affairs expert Penny Abeywardena and nationally recognized education innovator Jeffrey Ginsburg are joining the McSilver Institute as fellows, adding their considerable insight and experience to the Institute’s roster of thought leadership, technical know-how, and policy expertise.

Training & Technical Assistance

The McSilver Institute-led Technical Assistance Centers provide training, consultation, and educational resources to all mental health/substance use disorder agencies in New York State, as well as infant and early childhood mental health providers throughout New York City. The Centers help agencies strengthen their clinical and business practices through training opportunities focused on implementing evidence-based practices and addressing the challenges associated with changes in regulations, financing, and overall healthcare reforms.

McSilver works in New York and nationally on a number of technical assistance, training, and evaluation projects that involve multiple areas of expertise including health homes/care management, social determinants of health screening, program evaluation, trauma-informed or resiliency-based care, managed care implementation, behavioral health business best practices, family peer support, engagement, value-based payments, payment reform, and family-strengthening interventions. These projects cut across a broad array of stakeholders including behavioral health providers, social service providers, city and state government, managed care organizations, independent physician associations, and universities.

• Read more about Technical Assistance at mcsilver.nyu.edu/technical-assistance.

Center for Workforce Excellence (CWE)

Funder: New York State Office of Mental Health

CWE brings evidence-based behavioral health training and technical assistance to eligible community-based organizations serving youth and families with the goal of improving the delivery of care through specialized training. The center provides support and training activities for providers — including evidence-based practice certification, data management, and evaluation — and improves the ability of clinicians to effectively diagnose youth so they can receive appropriate services.

• Learn more about CWE at centerforworkforceexcellenceinebp.org.

Peer Support Services Technical Assistance Center (PeerTAC)

Funder: New York State Office of Mental Health
Institutional Partner: Rutgers University School of Health Professions Academy of Peer Services

PeerTAC supports the inclusion of the full range of adult, family, and youth peer support services, including those by New York Certified Peer Specialists and Credentialed Family and Youth Peer Advocates, into the array of mental health services across New York State. Peer services are increasingly seen as vital supports within the mental health service system, and PeerTAC is committed to improving access to peer services across the lifespan. PeerTAC develops and delivers a host of offerings on peer support principles, practices, and competencies in collaboration with statewide subject matter experts to support organizations in the inclusion and full development of peer support services.

• Learn more about PeerTAC at peertac.org.

The NYC Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC)

Funder: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Partnership Lead: New York Center for Child Development

TTAC provides training and technical assistance to mental health professionals serving children, ages zero to five, and their families in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene-funded Early Childhood Therapeutic Centers, as well as professionals working in New York City outpatient mental health clinics; Early Intervention, Universal Pre-K, and Administration for Children’s Services EarlyLearn sites; and other child-serving systems.

TTAC is expanding its work to elevate perinatal mental health support to create a compassionate and equitable environment for all people. Through TTAC’s partnerships, the New York City Early Childhood Mental Health Network strives to ensure the well-being of pregnant and postpartum people, babies, and families.

• Learn more about TTAC at ttacny.org.

The Community Technical Assistance Center of New York (CTAC)

Funder: New York State Office of Mental Health

Since 2011, CTAC has advanced the effective and efficient delivery of services to children, adults, and families who rely on public sector supports to meet their mental health needs. The center offers high quality, easily accessible trainings, resources, and tools at no cost to youth- and family-serving mental health providers within New York State.

This year, CTAC provided approximately 175 offerings on a variety of topics related to clinical, organizational, and peer support practices. CTAC continues to expand its offerings related to trauma and resilience, cultural responsiveness, and family and youth peer support. The CTAC platform uses a variety of modalities, including webinars, learning communities, self-paced learning, and podcasts. CTAC has expanded access to continuing education credits to further support the professional development of providers.

The Managed Care Technical Assistance Center of New York (MCTAC)

Funders: New York State Office of Mental Health, New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports

MCTAC provides ongoing support as the technical assistance arm of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) by providing timely resources and offerings to New York State behavioral health providers navigating the changing healthcare landscape. As part of this technical assistance, MCTAC provides policy, administrative, infrastructure, and implementation support to New York State mental health and substance abuse agencies working with managed care and implementing value-based payment systems of care.

This year, MCTAC provided a number of offerings and resources related to the implementation of OMH’s Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services. Additional projects MCTAC has supported this year include an ongoing webinar series supporting the OMH and OASAS priority of integrating additional mental health and substance use services. MCTAC continues to support the transition of OMH programs such as Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment Services, Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services, Children and Family Treatment and Support Services, and various other system change initiatives.

The YouthACT Technical Assistance Center (YTAC)

Funder: New York State Office of Mental Health

YouthACT is an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program for youth and their families. YTAC is a collaboration between McSilver, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the ACT Institute to prepare YouthACT teams to address the needs of youth with significant mental health challenges and their families. Currently, YTAC works with up to 20 YouthACT Teams to provide foundational and role-based trainings, monthly implementation support, and informational webinars and trainings.

• Learn more about CTAC, MCTAC, and YTAC at ctacny.org.

News & Events

McSilver-led Events

Centering Voices: The Crisis of Black Maternal Health

April 25, 2023

McSilver joined with the Greater New York Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and One Brooklyn Health to host “Centering Voices: The Crisis of Black Maternal Health,” a virtual community forum featuring experts in the fields of maternal physical and mental health. Moderated by attorney, TV host, and author Eboni K. Williams.

Expanding the Narrative: Healing During Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and Beyond

May 24, 2023

The Asian diaspora living in the United States is multicultural, multigenerational, and multidimensional, but whitewashing often ignores these multiplicities. Providing care and support often benefits from an increased understanding of trauma and racism within social and historical contexts. Moderated by CTAC’s Daniel Tanh, LCSW, this innovative “performance and panel” presentation highlighted important concepts to consider when connecting with such a diverse population. The six panelists engaged attendees in both a learning opportunity and an experience that looked at their healing journeys through acts of creative self-expression.

The 2023 McSilver Awards

June 7, 2023

This year, the McSilver Institute honored six Vanguards for Social Justice: Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, FPWA; Richard Buery, CEO, Robin Hood Foundation; Alan van Capelle, Executive Director, Friends of the High Line; Jeffrey R. Ginsburg, Executive Director, East Harlem Tutorial Program; Nikole Hannah-Jones, Reporter, New York Times Magazine and Creator of The 1619 Project; and speaker and author Karine Jean-Pierre.
 
 

The Equity Front Line: Where the Movement Goes From Here

October 3, 2023

The field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is at a crossroads, from governments and academia to schools and corporate America. In the face of a wave of resistance, the McSilver Institute co-hosted a forum with three prominent DEI leaders to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are, and — most importantly — where we’re going from here.
 
 

Supporting Mothers Through the 4th Trimester

December 12, 2023

The Center for Healthful Behavior Change in NYU Langone’s Institute for Excellence in Health Equity and the McSilver Institute co-sponsored “Supporting Mothers Through the 4th Trimester,” a roundtable on maternal health held at NYU Langone. The first panel, on maternal mental health, explored the two-way link between mental and physical wellness, enduring racial disparities, and practices to disrupt structural barriers to care, and was moderated by Dr. Damali Wilson, Project Director at McSilver.

Equity Now and for Future Generations: Meeting the Needs of NYC’s Students

December 14, 2023

McSilver co-hosted a policy roundtable together with New York City Council Member Nantasha Williams; NYU Steinhardt’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools; NYU Steinhardt’s Research Alliance for NYC Schools; and NYU Law’s Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law, with additional support from the Vera Institute.

This roundtable examined equity in education and was attended by NYC Council Members Rita Joseph, Farah Louis, and Althea Stevens, as well as other experts working in academia, government, philanthropy, advocacy, schools, and local communities. Dr. Fabienne Doucet, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center, and Dr. Cheri Fancsali, Executive Director of the Research Alliance, moderated panels that addressed diverse education-related topics, including family engagement, COVID learning loss, patterns of historic disinvestment, and how best to integrate the newest New Yorkers.

This education roundtable is part of a series of three convenings focused on addressing social inequality. With two additional convenings taking place in 2024, the series aims to spark innovation and to produce usable policy blueprints for tackling the most intractable challenges to building a more equitable New York.

News Highlights

MTA Looks Beyond Policing As Fare Evasion Crisis Approaches $1 Billion in Losses
PBS MetroFocus

Opinion: Fare beating hurts everyone and must be stopped: Panel has several ideas to make sure that all pay for their rides
Op-Ed co-authored by Rosemonde Pierre-Louis in New York Daily News

Additional coverage of the Blue-Ribbon Panel on MTA Fare and Toll Evasion, co-chaired by McSilver Executive Director Rose Pierre-Louis, appeared in NBC New York, Bloomberg, Mass Transit, Newsday, silive.com, The Architect’s Newspaper, Trains, The New York Post, The Star, Railway Age, and more local and national media outlets.

Report: NY can do more for people with complex needs
Public News Service

Core Solutions and NYU McSilver Institute partner to support use of evidence-based practices
Repertoire

The 2023 Manhattan Power 100: Rosemonde Pierre-Louis
City & State New York

Opinion: Improving Mental Health Outcomes in NYC Begins at Birth
Op-Ed Co-authored by Dr. Andrew Cleek in City Limits

The Future of Crisis Care Isn’t in a Hospital — Introducing People USA’s Crisis Stabilization Center
People USA via PRWeb

S:US Hosts Inaugural “Summit to Serve New York” With Focus on Food Justice
NYU McSilver Fellow-in-Residence (2022–2023) Cathy Nonas quoted in announcement by Services for the UnderServed

New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Announces Initiative to Help Improve Recruitment & Retention of Direct Support Professionals
Partnership announced by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)

• Find more press coverage of the McSilver Institute and the work of McSilver researchers at mcsilver.nyu.edu/recent-news.

Facts & Figures

Funding

External Funding Sources Awarded in 2023

• Federal Government Grants and Contracts: $2,397,700
• City and State Contracts: $9,145,634
• Miscellaneous Income: $1,024,460
• Foundations and Public-Private Partnerships: $190,000

All External Funding Over Time

• Total amount awarded in grants and other external funding since the establishment of the McSilver Institute: $85.9 million

Our Impact

In 2023, through 355 training and professional development events, we reached 586 organizations representing an audience of 9,637 members, providing training and technical assistance to 53% of all New York State mental health and substance use organizations.

To date, we’ve coordinated 2,544 such events to reach an audience of 56,468 members, providing training and technical assistance to 83% of all New York State mental health, substance use and individuals with developmental disabilities organizations.

Current Partner Organizations and Supporters

Benefactors

• Constance and Martin Silver

Foundations

• Help For Children Foundation
• New York Community Trust
• Dreiseszun Family Foundation

Governmental Agencies

• National Institutes of Health
• New York State Office of Mental Health
• New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
• New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
• New York City Administration for Children’s Services

Non-profits, Academic Institutions, and Corporations

• Alliance Health
• Andrus
• Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas
• Coordinated Behavioral Care
• Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
• Center for Practice Innovations /Research Foundation for Mental Health
• Families Together & Youth Power of New York State
• FPWA
• Functional Family Therapy, LLC
• InUnity Alliance
• Mercer
• NAMI NYC Metro
• New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation
• New York Center for Child Development
• NYS Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health
• NYU Langone- IDEAS Center, Child Study Center
• PCIT International
• People USA
• The Alliance for Rights & Recovery (NYAPRS)
• The Child Center of NY
• The New York Foundling

Staff

Total Staff in 2023: 53

Learn about current staff at the McSilver Institute: mcsilver.nyu.edu/staff.

Publications & Presentations

Publications

Hoagwood, K. E., Richards-Rachlin, S., Baier, M., Vilgorin, B., Horwitz, S. M., Narcisse, I., Diedrich, N., & Cleek, A. (2024, January). Implementation feasibility and hidden costs of statewide scaling of evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents. Psychiatric Services. Online at https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230183

Tanh, D. (2023, January). Mental wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities. We Are a Work of Art: Health + Wellbeing Initiative Mental Wellbeing Toolkit, 6-10. Online at https://www.coolculture.org/inspiring-mental-wellbeing-toolkit-resources

Fuss, A., Bloch, H., Dean-Assael, K., Kutner, M., Baier, M., Ready, T., Vilgorin, B., Hannibal, L., Fortune, J., Cerrato, C., & Nyreen, J. (2021, March). Supporting families struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic: An innovative cross-sector collaboration. Social Work in Health Care, 60(2), 157-165. Online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2021.1904318

Rice, T., Reliford, A., Calov, C., & Rodriguez, J. (2022, October). The behavioral health needs of youth with preexisting psychiatric disorders in the aftermath of COVID-19. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 37, 137-141. Online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2022.10.005

Presentations

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Esq. (moderator): “Celebrating Dr. Martin Luither King, Jr. — Meet Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, One of the Little Rock Nine” (panel discussion), Queens Public Library, Queens, NY, January 28, 2023.

James Rodriguez, LCSW, PhD (facilitator) and Daniel Tanh, LCSW: “Roundtable 4: Paths to Reduce Stigma and Promote Positive Attitudes Mental” (virtual panel discussion), 2023 Mental Health Stigma Roundtable Discussion Series, Behavioral Health News and the New York State Office of Mental Health, March 14, 2023.

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Esq.: “Ending the Silence: A Panel on Domestic Violence Awareness and Resouces” (panel discussion), One Hundred Black Men, New York, NY, March 28, 2023.

Yvette Kelly, LMHC, MSEd: (presentation), 2023 Central Region Directors Meeting on Growing What We Know: Improving Access to Family Peer Support, April 17, 2023.

Cathy Nonas, MS, CDN: (conference presentation), Summit to Serve New York, Services for the Underserved, New York, NY, April 19, 2023.

Meaghan Baier, LMSW: “Visions for the Future of Adult Services in NYS: Transformation in Action” (conference presentation), NYAPRS 19th Annual Executive Seminar, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery, April 19, 2023.

Yvette Kelly, LMHC, MSEd: (virtual conference presentation), RISE Medicaid Managed Care Leadership Summit on Behavioral Health Innovations in Medicaid Managed Care, April 20, 2023.

Anthony Salerno, PhD: “Understanding Resilience: The Missing Piece in Developing a Comprehensive Trauma-informed Care Approach” (presentation), NatCon23, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Los Angeles, CA, May 2, 2023.

Andrew F. Cleek, PsyD and Boris Vilgorin, MPA: “Improving Care and Outcomes with Evidence-Based Practices & Artificial Intelligence” (webinar and training), Open Minds, July 18, 2023.

Daniel Tanh, LCSW: “Decolonizing mental health with AAPI-identifying clinicians” (panel discussion), Decolonizing Mental Health for AAPI youth & families symposium, New York Coalition for Asian American Mental Health, New York, NY, November 2, 2023.

Anthony Salerno, PhD: “The Importance of Leadership in Building Strong Psychiatric Rehabilitation Teams” (presentation), 14th Annual Recovery & Rehabilitation Academy, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Albany, NY, November 8, 2023.

Boris Vilgorin, MPA: “So, You Learned Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Now What?” (presentation), 14th Annual Recovery & Rehabilitation Academy, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Albany, NY, November 8, 2023.

Lydia Franco, PhD, LMSW and Jayson K. Jones, LMSW: “NYS Implementation of Youth Assertive Community Treatment” (conference session), Strengthening, Sustaining and Supporting Children and Families — Best Practices and Workforce Development Training, New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, Saratoga Springs, NY, November 28, 2023.

Andrew F. Cleek, PsyD and Ashley Fuss, LMSW, PhD: “Workforce Recruitment and Retention TA Project” (panel discussion), 2023 Leadership Conference, New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, Saratoga Springs, NY, December 1, 2023.