Ulster County Human Services Center, 368 Broadway, Kingston, New York. Photo taken on Thursday, April 4, 2024 (Tania Barriklo/Daily Freeman)
KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Ulster County Council voted this week to approve establishing child mental health clinics in Kingston and Ellenville after a motion to postpone the vote narrowly failed.
County Executive Jen Metzger said it will be located at two locations: the new Ulster County Human Services Center at 368 Broadway and the Trudy Resnick Faber Building at 50 Center Street in Ellenville. The vote authorized the county to use $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to administer the program. Metzger said the program will now be sustained by health insurance payments from Medicaid and private insurance companies.
Metzger said a request for proposals to operate the clinic will be issued to nonprofit providers in early May. She expects the RFP process to take about two months. Metzger said the center could open this year.
“We are thrilled that Congress overwhelmingly approved our proposal to establish two new clinics to serve children and families,” Metzger said in an email Friday. “It is extremely important to us that we truly recognize and respond to the growing need for mental health support for young people, and the addition of these clinics will allow us to support up to 1,200 young people a year across the county. Become.”
Planned services include diagnostic evaluations, individual and family therapy, medication management and crisis intervention, Metzger said.
Lawmakers agreed on the urgent need for child mental health care, but the choice of Kingston and Ellenville as venues divided councilors, leading them to postpone a vote on a plan to consider alternative locations. was.
A measure proposed by Gina Hunstott (R-Marlboro) to postpone the vote narrowly failed, resulting in an 11-11 tie, with Deputy Majority Leader Aaron Levin (D-Saugerties) casting the decisive vote. Herb Ritts, R-Plattekill, was absent from the proceedings.
In calling for the release of funds to be postponed, Mr Hungst cited the presence of Adult Mental Health Services and Samadhi’s Kingston Outpatient Clinic, which helps people enduring mental health crises and seeking harm reduction strategies for drug addicts. He said children should not be exposed to people who are suffering. Located at 368 Broadway.
“I think we should take a little more time to find somewhere safer and more family-friendly for our constituents, especially young people,” she said. “I think we can do better and we have time.”
Concerns about hunger strikes were echoed by Rep. Joseph Maloney, D-Saugerties. Eric Kitchen, R-Town, Ulster. Chris Hewitt, a Rochester Democrat, spoke during a lengthy debate in which lawmakers debated whether to delay the vote.
In an email, Metzger explained the county’s decision to locate the Kingston location on the third floor of the Center for Well-being and what security protocols will be in place.
“This space is available and already set up as a clinic, and using it for this purpose is consistent with our goal of building a one-stop location that provides services across the continuum of behavioral health needs. It will be a match,” Metzger said.
Metzger expressed concerns about having a child mental health clinic in the same building as adult services. She said two of the county’s partners, ACCESS Supports for Living and Samadhi, have been working together for two years on the second floor of the human services center, successfully providing “essential services” to both youth and adults. He said there was.
“It is important to note that our proposed third-floor clinic will also be state licensed, meaning that the layout, security measures and access will be approved by state regulators prior to obtaining a license. “It means you have to get it,” Metzger added.
Before the Crisis Stabilization Center opens on the first floor, Metzger said security guards from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office will be on site 24/7 to “ensure a safe environment for all clients and staff at the Human Services Center.” said.
State Rep. Limina Grace Harmon, D-New Paltz, said she believes the two clinics offer one of the solutions the county can do now with the funds available. She emphasized that this does not preclude the county from seeking other solutions in the future.
Metzger reiterated that position in an email. “Providers who choose to submit proposals may offer alternative locations elsewhere in the county and we will consider them,” she said.
Professor Metzger said anxiety and depression are both very common among young people and can harm children’s academic performance. Teachers have been telling authorities for years that anxiety and depression are the biggest challenges they see in their classrooms, she added.
The program builds on the county’s School Mental Health Program, which provides clinical support to middle school students in every school district in the county. Metzger said the program is also funded by ARPA funds.
Metzger previously said the clinic would operate year-round, not just during school hours. To best serve young people and their families, we need to have flexible working hours.
“As I have stated many times, addressing gaps in the care system for mental health and substance use disorders is a key priority of my administration, and we are committed to recognizing and affirming the importance of mental health. I want to thank the Legislature for what they did for our youth and families,” Metzger said.
