For questions or information on the Ulster County School Support Team Program contact:
Kayla Malloy
Associate Clinical Director of Community Based Services
518-242-4731 x225
Ulster County’s Department of Mental Health in collaboration with school district leadership across the county, partnered to identify gaps and barriers for youth and families to obtain necessary mental health services. Long wait lists, narrow admission criteria, transportation needs as well as lack of available local services were identified as some of the most significant issues. In response to these concerns, Ulster County’s Mental Health Department sought funding and a service provider that could support meeting the metal health needs of identified students in their school districts. LaSalle School has been identified as that provider.
LaSalle has a long history of providing a wide array of mental health and substance abuse services for youth in residential care as well as youth receiving education services through its day service program. LaSalle also provides outpatient and community-based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment to youth and families through an Integrated OMH and OASAS Licensed Article 31 Clinic as well as Medicaid funded Children and Family Treatment Support Services (CFTSS). Services provided by LaSalle’s clinical team include:
- Complex Mental health and substance use concerns.
- Behavioral issues in the school, home, or in the community.
- Confirmed or suspected intellectual/developmental disabilities.
- Academic performance issues and school refusal.
- Family therapy.
- Peer conflict and social issues.
- Complex trauma.
- History of sexual behavior problems (both acting out and victimization).
- Fire setting.
- Risk factors associated with social determinants of health.
Additionally, LaSalle has a long history of providing prevention and aftercare services in collaboration with Ulster County’s Department of Social Services toward supporting youth and families in Ulster County.
This School Based Mental Health Program has been developed as a means of offering all the services mentioned above, without the restrictions and barriers to services that have historically hindered service delivery. Each middle school in the district will be assigned a team of consisting of a licensed mental health provider and case manager. The teams will each be assigned to two middle school and carry a caseload of 10 youth and families from each school. School administration will have the opportunity to determine the criteria for referral and collaborate with the LaSalle team regarding referral, treatment goals and progress. Participation in this program will remain voluntary to the youth and families. The team at LaSalle will work to engage families referred and develop a client centered services plan. The length of service is targeted for between four and six months with flexibility built for individual needs. For youth and families requiring ongoing services, the school-based team will assist with linkages for ongoing community supports, services, and resources to support long term success.