Nearly every school district in Onondaga County has adopted a new, three-tiered mental health and service approach to provide more mental health services and access to students in their buildings, according to Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

The goal of the new initiative is to provide deeper layers of support and stronger accessibility for mental health services for children. It's an effort that gained much traction in the county over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as both parents and teachers began to see its effects on isolated kids and teens while schools were shuttered.

“If you can get a counselor or a critical person in their lives that they trust, that can make a difference and you can save a child,” said Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott-Keenan.

The services come in partnership with CCSI, Upstate Medical, St. Joseph's Health, Helio Health and Arise. With the new programming comes 76 student assistant specialists, 28 access leisons, 60 licensed councilors and mental health clinics all embedded within the school districts themselves. 

Marcellus Central School District Superintendent Michelle Brantner says he hopes it helps students who are underserved or haven’t had help.

“It’s long been a challenge for families to determine how to access services and for school districts to provide sufficient support for students that enter our doors with needs,” he said. “We’re thrilled to have this increased level of service.”

The initiative, earmarked for $5.5 million, will be something the county will look to include as a regular item in future budgets, according to McMahon.

"We want to keep kids who are in crisis in a safe space. These people are those safe spaces for many young people and having these services on-site is critical to do that," said McMahon.

McMahon says the increase in calls to 911, attempts of bodily harm and drug usage all point to the need for getting young people help. The new services will provide prevention, early intervention and intensive intervention measures of support.

“We want to keep the kids who are in crisis in this place, in a safe space. These districts, these teachers and these professionals in these school buildings are that safe space for many of our young people,” said McMahon.

Every district in the county has taken on these services with the exception of Fayetteville Manlius Schools.