Governor Hochul announces a $7.5 million investment to create new Youth Safe Spaces across New York State to support adolescent mental health

New York – In a sweeping effort to confront the rising mental health challenges faced by young people, Governor Kathy Hochul this week announced that $7.5 million in state funding will be distributed to four nonprofit community-based organizations to create Youth Safe Spaces. These new peer-led programs are designed to provide inclusive, non-clinical environments for adolescents and young adults who are struggling with behavioral health issues but may not have access to—or feel comfortable pursuing—traditional forms of care.

Administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health, the initiative will offer ongoing support to youth ages 12 through 24 in familiar community settings such as schools, youth centers, and other trusted spaces. These locations will be transformed into welcoming environments where young people can connect with one another, learn about resources, and feel less isolated while navigating difficult periods in their lives.

Governor Hochul explained the importance of this work in clear terms. “Young New Yorkers today are facing significant mental health pressures that can push them to the edge of crisis,” she said. “By establishing Youth Safe Spaces throughout our state, we can help our children connect with one another and be supported in an environment that promotes positive mental well-being.”

How the Funding Will Be Distributed

The state’s investment will be spread out over five years, with each award providing steady, annual support to the organizations chosen. Among the recipients:

• LaSalle School Inc. in Albany will receive $500,000 annually to establish a new program at the Conroy Building, bringing resources to the Capital Region.
• AIDS Center of Queens County will receive $500,000 annually to launch a program at 62-07 Woodside Avenue, addressing a critical need in one of the state’s most diverse and densely populated communities.
• Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council of Wayne County will be given $250,000 annually to operate programming at the Alex Eligh Community Center in Newark.
• Friends of the CanTeen will also receive $250,000 annually to strengthen the existing CanTeen youth center in Cicero, expanding its reach and services.

Each of these organizations will play a unique role tailored to the communities they serve, but all will follow the same guiding principle: to provide safe, accessible spaces where youth feel heard, respected, and connected.

A Complement to Clinical Care

Unlike formal medical settings, Safe Spaces are intentionally peer-led and non-clinical. They are not meant to replace therapy or medication but to complement them by removing barriers that often prevent young people from seeking help in the first place. Stigma, cultural norms, financial cost, and systemic inequities often prevent adolescents from accessing care when they need it most.

By offering alternatives in familiar, less intimidating environments, the Safe Spaces model encourages youth to reach out before their struggles escalate into crises. The program emphasizes leadership opportunities, peer-to-peer connection, and cultural responsiveness, aiming to reduce isolation and help young people build resilience.

Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health, described the approach this way: “Our youth can benefit greatly from having a place where they can build positive relationships with their peers and learn how to be resilient when they encounter mental health challenges. Youth Safe Spaces offer this supportive environment, which can help young New Yorkers find their voice and become leaders in their community. By seeding this program throughout our state, Governor Hochul is again demonstrating her full commitment to helping young people address the many complex and evolving challenges to their mental health that they face today.”

Rooted in Community Feedback

The Youth Safe Spaces initiative did not emerge in a vacuum. It was shaped by months of conversations between state leaders and young people themselves. Governor Hochul began a Youth Mental Health Listening Tour in 2023 that culminated in the state’s first-ever Youth Mental Health Summit. During these sessions, young people and their families spoke candidly about the challenges they faced and the barriers that prevented them from seeking help.

The governor also convened a 30-member Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, which provided direct input on what types of resources would be most impactful. The Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Supports and Services further refined the program design through community feedback sessions and experiences drawn from existing Youth Recovery Clubhouses.

These combined insights informed the state’s FY 2026 Budget, which officially funded the Youth Safe Spaces program.

A Broader Youth Mental Health Strategy

The launch of Safe Spaces is one piece of Governor Hochul’s wider agenda to transform youth mental health care in New York. Over the past two years, her administration has rolled out a series of ambitious initiatives that touch schools, families, and communities.

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Her $1 billion mental health plan, coupled with new investments in the FY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets, has expanded access to services across the state. For instance, the administration has supported the growth of school-based mental health clinics, ensuring that students can access licensed professionals without leaving their campuses. Since the expansion began last year, 71 new clinic satellites have been created—including 40 in high-needs districts—bringing the statewide total to more than 1,100.

Another cornerstone of the strategy is the creation of Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams. These mobile teams support young people with serious emotional disturbances who are at risk of entering, or are transitioning out of, high-intensity settings like inpatient hospitals or residential care. With the addition of 10 new teams this year, New York now has 30 Youth ACT programs covering 27 counties, providing youth therapy, medication management, skill-building, and family supports.

Tackling Digital Pressures

Governor Hochul’s youth mental health agenda also extends to the digital sphere, recognizing that online environments can both support and harm adolescents. In recent years, she has signed into law groundbreaking protections aimed at reducing the addictive nature of social media and safeguarding children’s privacy.

The Safe for Kids Act requires social media platforms to restrict addictive feeds for users under 18, while the New York Child Data Protection Act bars companies from collecting or selling personal information from minors without explicit consent. These measures, advocates say, place New York at the forefront of child internet safety.

Most recently, Governor Hochul secured a statewide standard to establish “distraction-free schools.” Beginning this fall, all K-12 institutions must enforce a “bell-to-bell” policy restricting smartphone and internet-enabled device use during the school day. The move aims to reduce anxiety, boost attention, and create healthier learning environments.

Perspectives From State Leaders

The announcement of $7.5 million in awards drew support from lawmakers across New York. Each highlighted how the programs would make a difference in their communities.

State Senator Michael Gianaris praised the investment in Western Queens: “Children and young adults should be able to receive care and have safe community spaces, and I am proud to have helped secure funding for such a location in Western Queens. These resources will transform the care provided within our community, and ensure our neighbors receive quality care close to home.”

Senator Jeremy Cooney pointed to the urgency of the effort: “Now more than ever, our youth need access to safe environments where they can receive much-needed mental health resources. I want to thank Governor Hochul for tackling our mental health epidemic head on and delivering for youth across our state.”

In Central New York, Senator Christopher Ryan reflected on the impact at the CanTeen, a long-trusted youth center: “Supporting the mental health of our young people must be a top priority, and I am proud that Friends of the CanTeen is receiving this critical investment. For years, the CanTeen has been a trusted space where teens can gather, find support, and know they are not alone. With this funding, they will be able to expand that mission through the Youth Safe Spaces program, giving our kids the resources, connections, and encouragement they need to thrive. I am grateful to Governor Hochul and the Office of Mental Health for recognizing the importance of this work and for investing in the future of our community.”

Assemblymember Al Stirpe echoed those sentiments: “The Youth Safe Spaces program is not only a necessity to protect young people’s mental health, but a perfect fit to the CanTeen’s core mission. Since its inception, the CanTeen has always provided young adults in our community with a safe space, helping them feel seen, supported, and accepted among their peers. These resources will allow the facility to expand the services they currently offer by increasing programming during school breaks, growing their staff, and expanding the program to past participants. Over the next five years, I am excited to see the CanTeen grow alongside the young adult community that it serves.”

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Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon emphasized the importance of reducing stigma: “Creating safe spaces for young adults is vital to reducing isolation and stigma, and ensuring that every child has the support they need to thrive. By fostering peer connection in community-based settings, Youth Safe Spaces will help children navigate challenges and strengthen their mental health. I commend Governor Hochul for her commitment to protecting the mental health of young people and investing in their futures.”

Assemblymember Steven Raga highlighted cultural dimensions: “Meeting our kids’ needs doesn’t just mean making sure they have food and a roof over their heads; it also means making sure they’re getting mental health support. Stigma around mental health persists in so many cultures, so it’s important we meet our youth where they’re at. That’s why I am elated to see statewide initiatives such as the Youth safe spaces so we can better support our children. I am grateful for Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for their leadership in securing initiatives that protect and put our children first. I’m excited for my constituents to be able to access mental health resources, support and programming so they can live happier and healthier lives.”

And in Albany, Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero expressed gratitude for the investment: “I am grateful to Governor Hochul’s investment in the holistic wellbeing of young people in our community. With LaSalle School here in Albany receiving funding to launch a new Youth Safe Space, our youth will have access to safe, inclusive, and supportive environments where they can connect with peers and get the resources they need. Addressing youth mental health requires a commitment to breaking down barriers, reducing stigma, and meeting young people where they are, and this initiative does exactly that. I look forward to seeing how this program strengthens our community and supports the next generation.”

Looking Ahead

The creation of Youth Safe Spaces is part of a larger cultural shift in how New York State approaches mental health—particularly for adolescents. By investing in programs that blend peer connection with professional support, the state is acknowledging that not every young person will walk into a clinic when they need help. Sometimes, the first step is simply finding a trusted, judgment-free environment where they feel safe enough to talk.

For Governor Hochul, the message is clear: young people should never feel alone as they navigate the pressures of growing up. From tackling digital distractions in schools to funding grassroots community programs, her administration is working to reshape the landscape of youth mental health care across the state.

And for the organizations receiving this new round of funding, the next five years represent an opportunity to build spaces that could change the trajectory of countless young lives—one conversation, one peer connection, and one safe space at a time.