The School of Social Welfare and the Child Welfare Training Program, an affiliated program within the school, hosted the Suffolk Summit on Access to Mental Health Services for Youth on October 13. It brought together a group of 25 key Suffolk County administrators and staff representing the Department of Social Services and Department of Health and Probation, as well as Stony Brook faculty, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, healthcare providers and community partners that provide services to youth.
The group convened to shine a light on the profound challenges that youth and families face when seeking mental health services. They discussed successes and challenges, and strategized ways to develop innovative solutions to increase access to and delivery of mental health services for children and families in Suffolk County. Many ideas were generated and new collaborations were formed. Attendees expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in an informative and stimulating afternoon with other professionals who are deeply concerned about the overwhelming need for access to mental health services.
The School of Social Welfare and the Child Welfare Training Program will continue to facilitate discussions with these stakeholders and will work collaboratively on concrete solutions to address these important issues on behalf of children and families in Suffolk County.
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