Bill > S00253

This bill amends the social services law to require child protective services (CPS) agencies to provide mental health support for their employees. Specifically, the bill mandates that CPS agencies must offer supportive mental health services and resources to their employees, including specialized treatments like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which is a psychotherapy technique often used to help people process traumatic experiences. The services would also cover vicarious and secondary trauma treatment, recognizing that CPS workers can experience significant emotional strain from regularly encountering difficult and traumatic situations involving child welfare. The bill aims to support the mental health and overall wellbeing of child protective services employees by ensuring they have access to comprehensive counseling, therapy, and informational resources. The new provision will take effect immediately upon enactment, signaling an urgent need to address the mental health challenges faced by professionals in this demanding field.

Education, Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S253