Advocates for kids struggling with mental health care needs are urging state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul to ensure nearly $900 million in proposed spending will go toward increasing care access for children. 

The push comes as the state budget remains unresolved two weeks after it was initially due, and as the Hochul administration this spring is holding forums around New York to raise the issue of child mental health. 

The Campaign for Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids pointed to the $890 million in the budget proposal that is meant to boost capital investment in mental health services. Some of the money, advcoates believe, should be set aside for spending on children and families. 

The group wants at least half of that funding to go toward childrens' mental health needs. 

Meanwhile, the governor's budget proposal includes $37 million for programs like home-based crisis intervention, school-based mental health clinics and suicide prevention for high-risk young people. 

"While we appreciate these investments, they are a deeply inadequate response to the crisis-level mental health needs of children who are on months-long waiting lists for services, cycling in and out of emergency rooms and hospitals, and in the most severe cases, losing their lives," the group said in a statement. 

A focus on mental health care, especailly for younger people, has been renewed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, disruption from schools and other in-person activities in recent years.