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.
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.
2009
Launched Care Coordination, a ground-breaking model of service delivery. Recognized by New York State for innovation and quality of care.
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.