NYC Opens New Clinics To Support Youth Transitioning Out Of Pediatric Care

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the launch of two new health clinics for young people ages 16 to 25 at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, aimed at preventing disruptions in care as patients transition out of pediatric services on Tuesday.

The clinics, supported by $4 million from MetroPlusHealth, will provide primary care, behavioral health services, reproductive care, and social and vocational support through a single, consistent care team. City officials said the initiative responds to data showing that nearly 90% of young people stop seeing their mental health provider after age 21.

“If we want young New Yorkers to chase their dreams here, we have to make it clear that their struggles are not just their own,” Mamdani said. “Access to consistent, high-quality health care is not optional—it’s essential.”

The new sites, known as Elevate You clinics, are designed to serve transitional-age youth who are at heightened risk of disengaging from care. Each clinic will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team that includes a psychiatrist, nurse, social worker, youth peer and family advocate, said Mitchell Katz, president and chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals.

“The transition to adulthood can be challenging for anyone, and we found our teenage patients disconnecting from behavioral health services as they aged out of pediatric care,” Katz said. “These clinics are designed to keep young people connected during a critical stage of their lives.”

MetroPlusHealth, the city-run health plan, funded the program after identifying sharp drops in mental health utilization among young adults. The clinics aim to reduce emergency room visits and improve long-term health outcomes by maintaining continuity of care.

In addition to clinical services, the Elevate You clinics will offer educational and employment support, as well as assistance with housing and other social needs—particularly for vulnerable populations such as youth aging out of foster care.

The announcement builds on the city’s broader youth mental health efforts, including school-based mental health clinics and programs that connect public school students to community care. It also aligns with recommendations from the city’s 2024 State of Mental Health report, which identified youth transitions as a critical point of risk.

NYC Health + Hospitals serves approximately 8,000 children and adolescents each year through inpatient and outpatient behavioral health programs and provides more than 60% of all behavioral health services citywide.