NEW YORK STATE RECOGNIZES BROOKLYN RABBI

FOR EMPOWERING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

 

Rabbi Simcha Weinstein Honored for Using his Personal Experience Raising a Child with

Complex Needs to Advocate for Children and Youth 

 

New York State is honoring Rabbi Simcha Weinstein, an author and podcaster from Brooklyn, with the 2026 ‘What’s Great in our State’ Family/Caregiver Award, which recognizes family members or caregivers who use their lived experience to make a difference in their community through their professional or volunteer work. Weinstein was presented the award Tuesday during the event in Albany and recognized for his tireless advocacy, which inspires other parents with lived experience. 

 

“Through his writing and his advocacy, Rabbi Simcha Weinstein demonstrates ‘What’s Great in Our State’ by being a powerful voice for parents who have children with special needs,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “By speaking openly and passionately about his experiences raising an autistic child, he has provided countless others with a window into the challenges he faced and how he continues to grow from these experiences. We thank Simcha for sharing his story and promoting mental health for all our children.” 

 

Weinstein transformed his lived experience into culturally responsive support, creating peer spaces, training, and media that reduce isolation and normalize help-seeking—especially in underserved communities. In his role with Families Together New York State, Simcha helps families navigate complex systems like Medicaid, education, OPWDD, and behavioral health, advocating when services fall short and bridging gaps between families, providers, and state systems.  

Dubbed ‘Brooklyn’s hippest rabbi,’ Weinstein produces ‘The Dadvocating Podcast’ where he discusses disability advocacy through a father’s perspective. Episodes feature unvarnished strength-based conversations with advocates, parents, system leaders, policymakers and clinicians, among others, and a conversation about what has been accomplished and the work that remains ahead.  

Drawing from his own experience raising a child with complex needs, Weinstein turns personal challenges into systemic advocacy—mentoring families, supporting youth leadership, testifying at hearings, and equipping caregivers with tools to navigate services. His work consistently fosters collaboration, amplifies family voice, and improves access, coordination, and outcomes across systems. 

 

“I’ve always believed that the best systems are built in partnership with the people they serve,” Weinstein said. “’Dadvocating,’ for me, is about showing up with strength-based chutzpah, listening, and helping make sure family voices are not just heard, but actually shape the work.” 

Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation recognizing Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the What’s Great in Our State event and the importance of fostering positive mental well-being among youth. Under her leadership, the state has undertaken key initiatives to improve youth mental health, including expanding Teen Mental Health First Aid training in schools, establishing the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, funding Youth Safe Spaces, and adopting strong digital and social media protections for young people, including the nation’s first bell-to-bell restrictions on smart phone use during school.

‘What’s Great in Our State’ recognizes individuals and programs that are successfully advancing the cause of children’s mental health in New York State and is celebrated annually during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Established in 2010, the day-long conference in Albany features a ceremony recognizing honorees, workshops, and an art show featuring artwork created by children receiving services from New York State’s mental health system.  

 

The event is sponsored by the state Office of Mental Health, Department of Health, Department of Education, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. In addition, several children’s mental health advocacy organizations sponsor the event, including the Council on Children and Families, the Early Care & Learning Council, Families Together in New York State, Inc., Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc., National Alliance on Mental Illness - New York State, New York State Network for Youth Success, and Prevent Child Abuse New York.   

 

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