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Our History

Responding to community needs, particularly the needs of returning World War II veterans and school children who were exhibiting serious behavioral problems, The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) was founded in 1946 with a goal of establishing Westchester County’s first outpatient behavioral health clinics. Since then, MHA has been a leading advocate for behavioral health in the community, serving as a front-line resource for children, adults and families experiencing behavioral health conditions.

1946

Established Westchester’s first outpatient mental health clinics to address the needs of returning Westchester’s World War II veterans.

1956

Established Westchester’s first “clubhouse” for individuals diagnosed with psychiatric conditions – now our peer-led Sterling Community Center.

1978

Launched Westchester’s only Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) to advocate for those in adult homes.

I986

Co-authored the first child sexual abuse prevention curriculum. Established ongoing school and community abuse prevention education.

I987

Created Partners in Parenting, providing mobile clinical services to families at risk.

1989

Established Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, overseeing volunteers who advocate in Family Court for needs of children at risk.

1991

Addressing the needs of children and families, MHA was selected by the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health and the New York State Office of Mental Health to provide Intensive Case Management for children who have emotional, social or behavioral issues.

1999

MHA provided its first ACCES-VR (formerly VESID)-funded Employment Services to support individuals who have psychiatric diagnoses prepare for, select, obtain and maintain employment, and assist employers in finding valuable employees.

2001

A leader in service provision MHA was selected to administer Project Liberty in Westchester in response to the attacks of 9/11; and to provide direct services to those affected, and psycho-education for children in day-care, their families and teachers.

2002

Launched Nuestro Futuro to provide bilingual/bicultural services to Westchester’s Latino community and to assist individuals with mental health needs as well as immigration and acculturation challenges.

2003

Established an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team to provide services for adults whose needs are not met by traditional clinic-based services; and provides training for new ACT teams state-wide. MHA’s ACT is the only non-hospital based ACT team in the County.  

2009

Launched Care Coordination, a ground-breaking model of service delivery. Recognized by New York State for innovation and quality of care.

2006

Pioneers the use of peer-support with the development of Family Support Services to provide advocacy and direct service to families of children with serious emotional disturbances and special needs.

2010

First to integrate Peer Specialist into Adult Home Case Management.

2011

Selected to operate Project Hope for those impacted by Hurricane Irene.

2012

Established the Northern Westchester Recovery Network (NWRN), the county’s first peer-run “Recovery Center.”

Initiated Host Visitation to assist children in foster care and their families remain connected through supervised visitation.

2012

Established Walk-In services for individuals who have urgent clinical needs but do not require Emergency Room or hospital-level care.

2013

Selected by New York State to pilot OnTrackNY services for young people experiencing “early psychosis.”

2014

Peer training enhanced, establishing Certified Peer Specialist Training Program.

2015

Established Planned Respite, a non-hospital service for those in short-term need of increased support.

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