Res 0554-2015

By Council Members Kallos, Palma, Williams, Mendez, Greenfield, Koo, Richards and Rose Whereas, The New York City Department of Education (DOE) advises that wellness means being healthy in both body and mind, and further confirms that New York City public schools offer a wide range of wellness programs; and Whereas, DOE states that student success depends on a blend of academic skills, good health, and physical and mental fitness; and Whereas, According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers provide help and services to children and their families; and Whereas, The BLS further informs that social workers' main goal is to increase the child's psychological and educational levels, and to improve the safety of his or her home life; and Whereas, Children and their families could greatly benefit from the addition of a social worker to their daycare experience; and Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, (DOHMH), mental health services are available for children from birth to 18 years of age; and Whereas, DOHMH supports services to children with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges; and Whereas, DOHMH further informs that the purpose of treatment is to identify and treat emotional disturbances, strengthen family functioning and support children in their natural environments; and Whereas, Despite the DOHM's recognition of the benefit of mental health services for all New Yorkers, including those of tender years, currently, daycare centers in New York City are not required to provide the services of social workers at their facilities, although children would benefit from such early intervention regarding their mental health; and Whereas, Daycare centers are ideal locations at which to observe children, as children spend a large portion of their day there, and they are observable in a natural setting, with both other children and adults; and Whereas, The per-slot reimbursement amount paid to daycare center operators should be increased, in an amount to be determined upon study, to compensate for the additional expenses to be incurred by those day care centers making available vital social worker provided professional services; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York hereby calls upon the New York State Legislature to require all New York City funded daycare centers and programs that serve forty or more children to provide an on-site social worker and to increase the per-child slot reimbursement amount. MB LS 3482 12/1014 3