$5.1 million announced to establish mental health clinics in over 130 New York school districts statewide

ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul announced last Thursday that more than $5.1 million was awarded to support 137 school-based mental health clinic satellites throughout New York State, including 82 at high-needs schools.

Administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health, the funding is part of the governor’s $1 billion landmark plan to transform New York’s mental health care system, which includes a total of $8.3 million to support and expand these clinics throughout the state.

“In the age of aggressive social media culture, it is clear young people are facing insidious, and increasingly complex challenges to their mental and emotional wellness,” Governor Hochul said.

“By expanding mental health clinics in school-based settings, we can help engage young people of all ages in a familiar and stigma-free environment through conversations led by licensed experts.”

Office of Mental Health-licensed providers were awarded $25,000 per clinic to establish services at 137 schools throughout the state.

An additional $20,000 per school was awarded to those providers establishing services at high-needs schools, where more than 50 percent of the students are classified as coming from economically disadvantaged households, Hochul's office said.

In total, $1.4 million in startup funding was provided for clinics at 55 schools, with an additional $3.7 million awarded to clinics at 82 schools located within high-needs districts.

Once these are established, there will be roughly 1,200 school-based clinics throughout New York State, officials said.

Governor Kathy Hochul image.