The Connecting Youth to Mental Health Supports program in New York has recently introduced a promising initiative. Over the next five years, it will provide $15 million in conditional awards to community-based service providers. The goal is to develop programs that can help reduce suicide risk among young people from historically underserved populations.
This initiative is particularly focused on supporting racial and ethnic minorities as well as LGBTQ+ groups, including those residing in rural areas. The Office of Mental Health is managing the program, which aims to connect these vulnerable youth with much-needed mental health services.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerning trends among youth and young adults. This initiative is urgent in addressing these issues. The focus is on creating programs that are culturally appropriate and tailored to the mental health needs of young New Yorkers, especially those who have been most impacted by these trends. The awards will provide support for the development of these programs.
The grant money will be utilized to foster community-based services for mental health, with the objective of establishing a sense of safety and connectedness among populations at risk. The individuals and organizations who will benefit from this funding are:
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- Contact Community Services Inc., Onondaga County ($2.9 million)
- Child Center of New York, New York City ($3.4 million)
- John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Erie County ($2.9 million)
- Access: Supports for Living Inc., Orange County ($2.9 million)
- Comunilife Inc., Nassau County ($2.9 million)
As per Dr. Ann Sullivan, the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, culturally competent services hold immense significance. She stated, “The funding allocated towards this cause will assist community-based service providers in creating innovative programs that cater to the needs of traditionally marginalized groups. This, in turn, will aid them in addressing their mental health concerns in a culturally competent manner.”
The initiative garnered support from state legislators, who emphasized the significance of addressing the youth mental health crisis, especially within underserved communities. They lauded the initiative’s leadership and dedication to tackling these disparities through targeted funding and programs.