DA Bragg awards LIC nonprofit $3M for court navigator program to address mental health needs

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. has awarded the Long Island City-based Fortune Society a $3 million grant to build a court navigator program to support New Yorkers who may have mental illness and substance use disorder, his office is announcing today.

The court navigators will build relationships with individuals arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, according to Braggs’ office, with the goal of reaching people as early as possible, reducing recidivism and connecting them to long-term care. The program aims to support individuals who are often released into their communities without any services and participation will be voluntary.

The Fortune Society will staff MCC arraignment parts with navigators seven days a week during the courts’ operating hours of 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

After a competitive procurement process, the review committee selected the Fortune Society for the award because of the organization’s expertise in providing New Yorkers with a full spectrum of care, Bragg told Crain’s. The nonprofit offers a state Office of Addiction Services and Supports-licensed outpatient substance use treatment program and a state Office of Mental Health-licensed Better Living Center.

“They’ve been doing this for a long time, connecting with populations and literally walking the walk,” Bragg said.

The grant is part of his office’s $9 million total investment in addressing New Yorkers’ mental health needs; Bragg awarded The Bridge $6 million to build a neighborhood navigator program in June.

Stanley Richards, the deputy chief executive officer of the Fortune Society, said Braggs’ investment represents a “pivotal moment” for the nonprofit in its efforts to support New Yorkers reentering their communities. He added that the court navigators will be individuals with lived experiences who can connect participants to resources to meet food and housing insecurity needs as well as mental health and substance use treatment.

Bragg said his office will track the impact of its investment based on how many people the program serves and by looking at rearrest rates over time. Additionally, he said, he expects to have stories of the program’s impact in the future that will pave the path forward.

Braggs’ office is based in the Civic Center. The Fortune Society has additional locations in West Harlem and the Bronx. —J.N.