Westchester County Receives $4M Grant To Expand Student Mental Health Supports: County

WESTCHESTER COUNTY — Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced Tuesday that the county had received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to mental health support systems among children and teens with behavioral needs.

County officials identified the grant as a System of Care grant, going to the County Department of Community and Mental Health to support the THRIVE Westchester — short for Transforming Health, Recovery and Integrated Value in Education — program.

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"Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed with the support they need. This significant federal investment reflects Westchester County's longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of our children and families," Jenkins said. "Through THRIVE Westchester, we are strengthening partnerships among schools, behavioral health providers, families and community organizations to create a more coordinated, accessible and compassionate system of care that helps young people reach their full potential."

According to county officials, the THRIVE program seeks to streamline the process by which students with more complex behavioral health needs are identified, getting them referrals and connections to clinical and educational support more quickly.

THRIVE, the county said, also contains research and evaluation efforts led by Pace University, in efforts to track the outcomes students see as a result of the program. There are also partnerships with behavioral health providers across the county, officials said, to provide clinical treatment and coordinate care.

"This award recognizes the extraordinary partnerships that exist throughout Westchester County and provides an opportunity to build an even stronger, more coordinated system of care for children and families," County Department of Community and Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth said. "No child should struggle to access behavioral health supports because systems are difficult to navigate. THRIVE Westchester will help schools, families, and providers work together to ensure that students receive the right services, at the right time, and in the right setting. We are grateful to SAMHSA for this investment in the future of Westchester's children and families."