CUNY SPS Spotlights NYC Mental Health Initiative During Mental Health Awareness Month

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is pleased to observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May with a spotlight on The Academy for Community Behavioral Health (the Academy), an initiative that gives social service providers access to free learning programs that help providers support the mental health of the New Yorkers they serve.

Launched in Spring 2021, the Academy is run by CUNY SPS in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) and the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH).

“As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, we invite the greater CUNY SPS community to learn about the ongoing work the Academy does to share behavioral health knowledge and skills with social service providers who play critical roles in their communities," said Elise Tosatti, program director for the Academy. "Beyond raising awareness, the Academy’s learning programs empower providers and community members with skills to take helpful action for behavioral health.”  

The program's goals are to empower social service providers with skills and resources to partner with community members in naming and addressing behavioral health issues, and support to manage the emotional demands of the work provided by social service workers. The Academy hopes to reach 5,000 service providers over the next two years.

The Academy prioritizes capacity building in the 33 neighborhoods identified by the New York City Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity (TRIE) as most impacted by COVID-19 or experiencing a high rate of health and other socioeconomic disparities. By expanding the number of people and organizations that can offer behavioral health support in neighborhoods with deeply rooted racial and economic disparities, the Academy plays an important role in addressing mental health care inequity across the City.

In one example of its offerings, the Academy launched its first skills-based certificate program in Motivational Interviewing (MI) in December 2021. This program offers comprehensive training, ongoing coaching, and technical support that equips organizations to apply MI, an evidence-based, person-centered counseling method shown to help people make positive behavior changes and improve health and social outcomes, in their everyday work. Five diverse community-based organizations providing services across New York City were competitively selected for the free MI Certificate Program, and 100 learners from these five organizations will participate.

In addition to its free courses for social service providers, the Academy offers expert consultation, custom learning programs, and specialized technical assistance to New York City and State agencies who fund or deliver social services in New York. Services may focus on promoting evidence-based practices in community settings and advancing culturally responsive care; building agency capacity to integrate behavioral health and social services in their roles as funders and program administrators; or promoting more effective collaboration between social service and behavioral health providers.

New York City non-profit social service providers who want to take action—including those who work in community-based organizations, or city or state agencies that fund or deliver social services—can join one of the Academy’s June courses.

June courses open for enrollment to NYC social service providers include: This Too is Grief: Coping with Non-Death Covid Losses; Self-Care in the Workplace: Managing Race Related Stressors; (Re)Imagining Trauma Recovery Among Black Youth: Healing From Historical Trauma and Social Justice Through Action and Combatting Burnout and Compassion Fatigue.

Join the mailing list to learn about the Academy’s expanded programs starting in Fall 2022.

About the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity

The Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) helps the City apply evidence and innovation to reduce poverty and increase equity. We work to improve the systems of government by advancing the use of research, data and design in program and policy development, service delivery, and budget decisions. Our work includes analyzing existing anti-poverty approaches, developing new strategies, facilitating the sharing of data across City agencies, and rigorously assessing the impact of key initiatives. NYC Opportunity manages a discrete fund and works collaboratively with City agencies to design, test and oversee new programs and digital products.

NYC Opportunity also produces research and analysis of poverty and social conditions, including its influential annual Poverty Measure, which provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of poverty in New York City than the federal rate. Part of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, NYC Opportunity is active in making equity a core governing principle across all agencies.

About the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health

The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) oversees strategies to fill critical gaps in mental healthcare so every New Yorker, in every neighborhood, has the support they need. Building on the strong foundation of ThriveNYC, OCMH partners with 13 city agencies and nearly 200 non-profit organizations to implement innovative programs that reach people with the highest need – those with serious mental illness, those affected by trauma, and those living in historically under-served neighborhoods. OCMH is re-imagining the way New York City approaches mental health by activating every part of City government and creating strategic partnerships outside of government to promote mental health.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

As New York’s leader in online education since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor’s and master’s degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University’s only undergraduate all-transfer college. With 24 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor’s degree, progress from an associate’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, and noted for its soaring growth and enrollment, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School’s renowned and affordable online programs—which offer in-state tuition to all students regardless of where they live—ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.

Press Contact
Andrea Fagon
Director of Marketing and Communications
andrea.fagon@cuny.edu