In a first, New York’s Home-Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) program is creating two teams exclusively serving youth (between 5 and 21 years old), and diagnosed with a developmental disability and mental illness.

HBCI teams deliver intensive crisis intervention to at-risk children/youth and their families to help them avoid psychiatric hospitalization/an in-patient setting, or who are at risk for “a rapid readmission,” according to the proposal submitted for the grant. They’re focused on enhancing crisis intervention and problem-solving skills to foster well-being and stability.

The announcement, from the office of New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul, notes that more than $13 million in state funding is now available to expand access to 13 new teams in total.

The two dedicated teams are being formed via a partnership with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC).