Families On The Move of New York City, Inc.

A message from OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan


The racially motivated hate crime targeting the Black community in Buffalo has devastated us all.
The tragedy in Buffalo comes at a time when New York’s communities of color are already living through the effects of racism, disproportionate levels of violence, poverty and COVID-19 death and infection rates. The effects of events like this run deep and well beyond the City of Buffalo and Erie County. The threat of violence, discrimination and racist rhetoric all have a strong, negative impact on a person’s emotional and mental health.

OMH is dedicated to ensuring that all New Yorkers, and especially those in underserved communities, have access to resources to mitigate mental health needs caused by racism, discrimination and hate crimes.

In addition to our work addressing the more immediate needs of those most closely affected by this tragedy, we are mindful of the impact on those not in close proximity to Buffalo who are also affected because of social media and underlying historical trauma (especially in communities of color).

On Wednesday, May 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) will be hosting a Statewide community webinar - “Addressing Community Grief and Trauma in Wake of the Tragedy in Buffalo”. The presentation will help community leaders (e.g., clergy, education officials, local government, public safety leads, behavioral health providers) with understanding how to assist individuals/families/youth coping with the grief and trauma caused by this horrific event. While we will discuss the impact of the tragic event in Buffalo, the focus will be statewide, and we encourage anyone interested in assisting with the healing process across New York State to attend. The presentation will provide general information about the mental health effects of racism and violence, crisis response, and helping others cope with grief and trauma. Specific information focused on children and youth will also be provided.

Please register here: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed96cf42b8ecf32ea195aa1cdceb16fa8.

Additionally, please take the time to share and explore these resources:

NY Project Hope Emotional Support Helpline - (1-844-863-9314) can help you address the psychological stress caused by this tragedy.
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline - (1-800-985-5990)
Mental Health Effects of Racism - (https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/cultural_competence/the_mental_health_effects_of_racism.pdf)
National Child Traumatic Stress Network - (https://www.nctsn.org/)

Ann Marie T. Sullivan, MD,
Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Health

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network OUR MISSION is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States.

Resources in Response to the Buffalo Supermarket Hate Crime

The recent racially motivated hate crime at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo New York in which the perpetrator targeted a Black community and has expressed white supremacy and anti-Semitic leanings has evoked a range of emotions and concerns of safety across the United States. In response to this event, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:

Coping After Mass Violence
For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence(En Español)
Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas
Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators(En Español)
Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators
Talking with Children about Hate Crimes and Anti-Semitism
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After Mass Violence
Talking to Children about Mass Violence
Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after Mass Violence
Psychological Impact of Mass Violence
Racial Injustices and Trauma: African Americans in the US: NCTSN Position Statement
Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
The Power of Parenting: How to Help Your Child After a Parent or Caregiver Dies
After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children
Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español) (for responders)

Psychological First Aid and Skills for Psychological Recovery
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA; En Español). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. PFA Mobile and the PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provide a quick reminder of the core actions. The PFA online training course is also available on the NCTSN Learning Center. PFA Handouts include:

Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers (En Español)
Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers (En Español)
Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children (En Español)
Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents (En Español)
Tips for Adults (En Español)

From the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center
Transcend (mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)
Rebuild your Community: Resources for Community Leaders
Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors
Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
Self-Help: Resources for Survivors
E-learning Courses: Trainings for Clinicians
Resources for Victim Assistance Professionals

From the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University
Grief Leadership: Leadership in the Wake of Tragedy
Leadership Communication: Anticipating and Responding to Stressful Events
Coping with Stress Following a Mass Shooting

Disaster Helpline
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline - call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.

Additional Resources
For those that are needing technical assistance or additional resources, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Melissa Brymer at [email protected].

Fact Sheet: Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage (Content last reviewed May 13, 2022)
To address infant formula shortages in the wake of Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall of certain powdered infant formulas, the Biden-Harris Administration is working to ensure that infant formula is safe and available for families across the country. Yesterday, President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers, including Walmart, Target, Reckitt, and Ge**er, to discuss ways to get more formula quickly and safely onto store shelves. He also announced a series of actions, including cutting red tape on the types of formula parents can buy, calling on the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to crack down on price gouging and unfair market practices, and increasing the supply of formula through increased imports.
Thanks to these efforts, manufacturers have ramped up production 30-50 percent, bringing total production today above pre-recall levels with a different mix of products and sizes now available in the market. Still, it’s clear that too many families continue to encounter challenges obtaining infant formula—especially families of about 5,000 infants as well as some older children and adults with rare metabolic diseases that depend on specialty formulas.
If you are unable to readily find formula, please consult the following resources that may be able to assist:
Manufacturer Hotlines
Ge**er’s MyGe**er Baby Expert Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 1.jpg : reach a certified nutrition or lactation consultant by phone, text, Facebook Messenger, web chat, or video call, who can help you identify a similar formula that may be more readily available
Abbott’s Consumer Hotline: call 1-800-986-8540
Abbott’s urgent product request line : ask your OBGYN or your infant’s pediatrician to submit an urgent product request by downloading and completing the form - PDF
Reckitt’s Customer Service line: call 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123)
Community Resources
United Way’s 2-1-1 : dial 2–1-1 to be connected to a community resource specialist affiliated with United Way who may be able to help you identify food pantries and other charitable sources of local infant formula and baby food.
Feeding America : call your local food bank to ask whether they have infant formula and other supplies in stock.
Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA): certain HMBANA-accredited milk banks are distributing donated breast milk to mothers in need; please note that some may require a prescription from a medical professional. Find an HMBANA-accredited milk bank .
WIC-Eligible Families
Contact your local WIC office to identify or obtain additional sources of infant formula nearby.
General Guidance
Call your OBGYN or pediatrician to see if they have in-office samples or can suggest a similar formula that may be more readily available in stores and is nutritionally similar to your infant’s typical formula.
You should not water down formula, try to make formula at home, or use toddler formula to feed infants. Don’t discard formula unless it is expired or is part of the recall. Check your formula’s lot code to see whether or not it was affected by the recall.
You can find more guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 10.jpg .
Content created by Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
Content last reviewed May 13, 2022

Link to this information at:

Fact Sheet: Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage Find resources to assist families during the infant formula shortage in the wake of Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall of certain powdered infant formulas.

New OMH 988 Newsletter

The Office of Mental Health is seeking broad input about attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to mental health. More specifically, the following survey seeks to obtain this input from people who receive services.

Survey responses are anonymous and only aggregate data will be shared. Findings will help depict the current state, of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors here in New York. Findings will also guide the creation of interventions to help promote affirming attitudes.

The Office of Mental Health recognizes that some individuals receiving services may have trouble accessing the survey, so we’re asking service providers, advocates, and other supporters to reach out to individuals and complete the survey with them. In doing so, please make sure that ONLY the information of the individual you are assisting is included in the responses.

A paper version of the survey will be sent via email mid-May and the survey is expected to close on June 16, 2022.

LINK TO THE SERVICE RECIPIENT SURVEY: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6738275/UNDERSTANDING-ATTITUDES-BELIEFS-AND-BEHAVIORS-FOR-MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICE-RECIPIENTS

Please use the survey link or QR code only when you are ready to take the survey as duplicate responses will be blocked. While responding to the survey, if you would like to look back at your previous responses, please click 'Back' found at the bottom of each page of the survey interface. Kindly do not use the 'Back' option of the browser for this function.

Please click ‘Submit’ to submit your responses after completing the survey.

Direct any questions to [email protected].

Families On The Move of New York City, Inc. (FOTM) is expanding its training capacity! We are seeking Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Facilitators (YMHFA). Training facilitators must be able to provide virtual and in-person training in New York City.

Call to action: To learn more about this great opportunity, please contact, Euphemia Strauchn, CEO at [email protected].

FOTM Spring Classes..Register today!

Families On The Move will be closed tomorrow in observance of Good Friday.

Early Signs of Learning Challenges

Early Signs of Learning Challenges The preschool and early school years are an exciting time for learning. But when young kids seem to be developing skills more slowly than other kids or are frustrated by things other kids enjoy, parents might be concerned — and confused. If a child is having trouble writing letters, or counting or...

Registration for parenting class is now open.

Want to stay updated on the launch of 988? Subscribe to our newsletter! 📩
The FCC-designated mental health crisis line launches on July 16th. Learn how the number will work, how you can get involved and more.

Visit https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/resources/newsltr/ to sign up for the 988 Newsletter. (It's right below our OMH News sign up) When you click the link an email will open- just hit send to subscribe 📰

Circle of Security and Anger Management Classes...Register Today!