Members of the public attending the meeting will have an opportunity to comment and can register to speak at the meeting. 

Established in response to the death of 41-year-old Daniel Prude in 2020, the task force is charged with developing recommendations to guide behavioral health crisis response and explore avenues for related diversion services. Following its inaugural meeting last summer, the task force has hosted several stakeholder listening sessions and has continued gathering comments from participants. 

Earlier this month, the task force completed a listening session in Rochester on May 8, aimed at eliciting additional input from communities, governmental entities, and the public on the best practices for engaging individuals in crisis, with a specific emphasis on equity. Other in-person listening sessions were conducted at the state University of New York at Stony Brook on Jan. 11, and at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan on Jan. 18, with virtual sessions hosted in November and April. 

“The input provided to the task force thus far has been both thoughtful and deliberative,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner and task force Chair Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “As our work continues, we welcome this direction from the public, especially from those individuals who have experienced a mental health crisis.”