By Blair Garner | Suffolk News Now | October 16, 2026
MELVILLE, N.Y. — I attended the annual Legislative Breakfast presented by Long Island Families Together (LIFT) on Friday, an event focused on raising awareness about children’s mental health, family support services and the challenges confronting young people throughout our communities.
The gathering at the Melville Marriott brought together families, advocates, service providers and elected officials to discuss how public policy can better serve children and families navigating behavioral health challenges.
I expected an informative morning. What I experienced exceeded those expectations.
The Stories Behind the Statistics
One of the most powerful portions of the program was the lived-experience panel, where speakers shared personal accounts of navigating mental health challenges and the systems intended to support them.
Their stories were deeply personal, and each one offered a reminder that discussions about mental health cannot be separated from the people living through these challenges.
The moment that resonated most with me came from Isaiah Santiago, a young Rochester school board member who was elected at just 19 years old.
Santiago spoke about experiencing homelessness and instability at home while navigating a school environment that, in his account, contributed to an already developing mental health crisis.
His experience challenged the assumption that schools automatically provide the stability and emotional protection young people need.
“Even though schools are supposed to be safe spaces, they can push you into isolation,” Santiago told those attending.
That observation stayed with me.
Schools are expected to educate and protect children, but policies intended to maintain order can sometimes have unintended consequences for students who are already struggling.
When a child is experiencing trauma, homelessness or emotional difficulties, the response from the adults and institutions around them can make a meaningful difference.
Legislators Discuss Possible Solutions
Following the lived-experience panel, state lawmakers, including Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharrow and Senator Monica Martinez, participated in a discussion about legislative opportunities to strengthen mental health and family support systems.
Among the issues discussed were reducing exclusionary school discipline, including proposals to eliminate suspensions for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, expanding support for students with mental health and developmental challenges, and improving resources for families.
These discussions highlighted an important question: Are our schools and support systems responding appropriately to the needs of children, particularly those facing difficulties outside the classroom?
Discipline and accountability remain important parts of education. But policymakers must also consider whether removing young children from school addresses the underlying behavior or simply creates additional obstacles for students and their families.
Greater access to mental health professionals, developmental services and family-centered resources could help schools intervene earlier and provide alternatives before problems escalate.
Listening Must Lead to Action
Long Island Families Together works to elevate the voices of young people and caregivers while advocating for improvements in children’s mental health services.
Events like this Legislative Breakfast provide an important opportunity for those directly affected by existing policies to speak with the lawmakers who have the authority to change them.
What made this gathering particularly meaningful was the connection between personal experiences and public policy.
The lived-experience panel demonstrated that the consequences of institutional decisions are not abstract. They affect children, parents and families trying to navigate difficult circumstances.
The legislative discussion offered an opportunity to examine how those experiences might inform better decisions.
I left the event encouraged by the willingness of participants to address difficult issues and impressed by the individuals willing to share their stories.
LIFT delivered an interesting, informative and thought-provoking program that exceeded the expectations I had going in.
The next step is ensuring that the conversations continue beyond the breakfast and contribute to meaningful improvements for the children and families who need these services most.