Senator Ken LaValle and Assemblyman Thiele secured funding in the New York State Budget for South Fork mental health services and for Lyme/Tick borne illness prevention. The legislators announced that $150,000 was included in the final budget to bring crucial mental health services to the South Fork. Additionally, they were successful in obtaining $500,000 for Lyme disease and tick borne illness prevention and treatment to be allocated on a statewide basis.

Senator LaValle and Assemblyman Fred Thiele assembled South Fork Mental Health Roundtables in January and February to obtain input to determine resources necessary to combat the recent increase in adolescent suicides in the area. The meetings included representatives from Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Hospital, local mental health service providers, school districts, and state, town and village officials.

Senator LaValle said, “Securing state funding for mental health services on the South Fork is a crucial step in working towards necessary solutions for this underserved area. Now we can begin to provide critical mental health services and implement prevention solutions identified by our task force earlier this year.”

Assemblyman Thiele noted, “I am thrilled that Senator LaValle and I were able to work as a team to address these two local issues. Mental health services are scarce on the South Fork, and I hope this State funding will act as a catalyst for additional resources and further cooperation.”

The monies would fund a comprehensive, accessible community-based initiative on the South Fork. It would enable increased child and adolescent psychiatric services and presence of professional staff at various locations throughout the area. Services would be coordinated with all providers, including county and local resources.

The Legislators were also successful in securing $500,000 for Lyme Disease and Tick Borne Illness initiatives across the state. “My goal is to initiate a state pilot program on the East End of Long Island to build upon the successes we’ve had with the four poster tick management program. My hope is to expand programs of this type across our region,” said Senator LaValle.

“The fact that we were able to allocate additional funding for tick borne disease research and education hits home to many of us on the East End who have been affected either directly or indirectly by this escalating public health crisis.” said Assemblyman Thiele

Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases is a growing epidemic on the East End. Additional resources are needed to better understand and treat these potentially incapacitating diseases.