Students at the Monticello Central School District will soon be able to receive mental health services during the school day, thanks to a partnership between the district and Astor Services. Astor Services is a community-based non-profit organization that provides children’s mental health services, child welfare services, and early childhood development services with locations in the Bronx, the Mid-Hudson Valley, and now, a satellite clinic in two locations at the district.
With an increase of children in need of mental health services, and a critical lack of providers serving the area, Sullivan County had reached out to Astor seeking the possibility of creating school-based clinics in the county. At Monticello, the driving force behind the clinic was Michele McCoy, Director of Pupil Personnel Services. Ms. McCoy facilitated the process and collaborated with Astor to secure grant funding to finance the first year of the initiative. Astor has also established partnerships with neighboring Liberty Central School District and Fallsburg Central School District to implement similar clinics in their districts.
At the Monticello clinic, which will be located at the St. John Street building and at Monticello High School, students in all grades will have the opportunity to receive a bevy of mental health services, including evidence-based treatments, assessments, referrals and case planning. The clinic will also be able to provide individual, group and family therapy; as well as arrange psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Families are a vital part of this health care model, are involved in the intake process, and must consent to their child receiving on-going treatment. The clinic accepts insurance and has self-pay and sliding scale payment options.
“The benefits of having a program such as this in a school are vast, primarily, the convenience of having it right in the building where students can easily access treatment” Lynn Gillard, Astor Hudson Valley SBBHT Program Director said. “In a rural area such as this one, this can help parents who may not have transportation to take their children to appointments and we can also arrange telehealth options if the family is unable to make it in to the intake appointment. We also see behavioral challenges manifest in schools, and having the clinic right on site is advantageous to the school in terms of prevention, as we are able to refer a child to a higher level of care, if their needs warrant it.”
Students in need of these services may be referred by school counseling staff, and parents may also reach out to the school social worker and/or guidance counselor at their child’s school if they believe their child could benefit from this service.
“There is an imperative need for mental health services in this community,” Ms. McCoy said. “Building an on-site clinic is a great opportunity to expand our ability to help our students and families, and we’re pleased to be able to help. That’s why we entered into this partnership.”
The clinic will begin operations on Monday, Nov. 4. The St. John Street location will be open once per week in room 232, and the Monticello High School location will be open four days per week in room 619.
The clinician, Deborah Erickson, can be contacted by phone at 845-796-5095 x 92232 or via email at derickson@astorservices.org .