New York taxpayers are on the hook for a $2 million program that will “coordinate mental health services and facilitate wellness groups” for “Afghan new arrivals,” according to documents reviewed by the Washington Examiner.
The program, which will consist of 10 individual $200,000 awards that must be spent over six months, covers services such as outreach, raising “community awareness” of mental health needs, directly providing mental health services in a “culturally sensitive” manner, facilitating “wellness-focused sessions” for the new arrivals, and interpretation, among others.
“Many Afghans are arriving to the United States with immediate as well as long-term mental health needs,” the grant document published by New York’s Office of Mental Health reads. “It is critical to ensure Afghan arrivals are supported and understand how to access and receive culturally-informed, individualized quality mental health care and supports. Additionally, mental health providers interacting and serving Afghan arrivals should be knowledgeable of the culture and unique challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers.”
Prospective grantees are required to devote a portion of their application to demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. DEI-related measures are worth 10% of an applicant’s overall score when the state is determining who to dole out funds to, according to the document.
The program may also serve as a cash infusion into New York’s Afghan community, as grant applicants are expected to “describe program efforts to recruit, hire, and retain” employees of Afghan heritage. It is unclear if illegal immigrants will be eligible to benefit from the program, as the grant document specifies that the program is intended to assist Afghans granted refugee status as well as “persons in any other status that ORR has deemed eligible for Afghan Health Promotion funds.”
As New York spends millions on DEI-related grant programs, the state has slipped further into financial trouble.
NEW YORK TO SPEND MILLIONS HELPING PEOPLE COPE WITH ‘COLLECTIVE TRAUMA’
New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced in August that the state faces a $34.3 billion budget gap, an increase of $7 billion since the last estimate was released in January.
The New York governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
