U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $500,000 in federal funding for the New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP) to support the expansion of mental health services for law enforcement officers across New York State.
The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations package that was signed into law Wednesday. Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured the funding as a congressionally directed spending item. The investment will allow NYLEAP to increase outreach efforts and expand services, particularly in rural areas of the state.
“Law enforcement officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe,” Gillibrand said. “This funding will help NYLEAP provide officers across New York State with critical resources to address post-traumatic stress through peer training, prevention, and intervention programs.”
NYLEAP plans to use the funding to expand its Post Critical Incident Seminars for both administrators and line officers. The organization’s three-day, peer-to-peer program has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress among first responders.
The funding will also support additional high-demand services, including peer training courses focused on assisting individuals in crisis, group crisis intervention, and suicide prevention and intervention.
