Protection & advocacy for individuals with mntl illness

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $2,156,501 to Disability Advocates Inc. (operating as Disability Rights New York) on October 1, 2025, under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness program (CFDA 93.138).

Disability Rights New York delivers protection and advocacy services for adults with significant mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances, including administrative, legal, and other remedies to address complaints of abuse, neglect, and civil rights violations. Service priority covers individuals at risk for abuse or neglect while residing in care or treatment facilities, with secondary coverage for individuals in community settings as resources permit. The recipient also serves individuals in the process of admission to facilities, in transit to facilities, or involuntarily confined in municipal detention facilities, jails, or prisons.

The award runs through September 30, 2027, with performance at Disability Rights New York's location in New York. The organization is the state-designated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities throughout New York State and receives annual or multi-year formula grant allocations exclusively, without competing for discretionary funds. The assistance type is a formula grant; allotments remain available for obligation over a 24-month period and are paid through electronic transfer.