SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A groundbreaking partnership between the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and Upstate Medical University is set to improve access to mental health services for students in the district. With the help of a $5.5 million federal grant, this new initiative will provide students with enhanced mental health treatment by connecting medical experts with school-based clinicians.
This collaboration marks the beginning of a first-ever school mental health program aimed at addressing the growing need for mental health support among schoolchildren, a need that has become even more critical in recent years.
Addressing the Growing Need for Mental Health Services
The SCSD has long faced a shortage of mental health professionals to meet the growing demand for services. According to Teresa Bowers, the district’s mental health director, there are currently 300 students on a waitlist for mental health services, a number that is likely to be an underrepresentation of the actual need. The shortage of qualified professionals to help these students has created significant barriers to accessing care.
“We know that our students experience a lot coming through the doors every day, and we understand the significant impact this has on their learning,” said Bowers. “Having access to these services is really going to help them be able to walk through the door and access learning in ways they haven’t been able to do before.”
By teaming up with Upstate Medical University, the district aims to bridge the gap in mental health support by utilizing Upstate’s medical expertise to complement the school-based clinicians already working in the district.
Expanding Access Through Telehealth and In-Person Services
The program is initially set to roll out in three schools, but it will gradually expand to more schools as Upstate trains additional clinicians. Mantosh Dwan, president of Upstate Medical University, explained that the expansion will include nine additional schools in the future, each equipped with permanent staff and telehealth capabilities to ensure that students have access to mental health care wherever they are.
“We will start with three schools, and as we train more clinicians, we hope to expand to nine satellites, with permanent staff in these schools and access to telehealth and other services,” said Dwan. “This model will ensure that there is ready access to care, wherever the students are.”
The introduction of telehealth services will make it easier for students to receive the support they need, regardless of location. This flexibility is particularly important in a district where access to mental health professionals has historically been limited.
Tackling Barriers to Access
The program is designed to address multiple barriers that prevent students from accessing the mental health care they need. According to SUNY Chancellor John King, these barriers include poverty, long waitlists, and a lack of diverse providers.
“For too many young people, they don’t get access to those resources because of poverty, because of the waitlist they face, and because there aren’t enough providers who reflect their own experiences,” King said. “We’re trying to tackle that issue by bringing more resources directly into schools where they are needed most.”
While King acknowledges that this program won’t solve every mental health access issue across the city, he believes it will have a life-changing impact on the students who benefit from it.
A Step Toward Greater Change
Set to begin in 2025, this new initiative is a major step forward in addressing the mental health needs of Syracuse’s students. By providing direct access to expert mental health care, the program will empower students to overcome challenges and succeed academically and personally. As it expands, it has the potential to be a model for other school districts seeking to improve access to mental health services for young people.
Through this collaboration, Syracuse City School District, Upstate Medical University, and other partners hope to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people struggling with mental health issues, giving them the tools and support they need to thrive in school and beyond.
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