East Hudson Valley News

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino has announced a collaboration with Family Services, Inc. to expand children's behavioral health services in Poughkeepsie and establish new programs in northern Dutchess County by 2025. The initiative, supported by the Dutchess County Department of Mental Health (DMH), includes developing a larger outpatient mental health clinic in northern Dutchess that will also serve adults.

Serino emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Every child in Dutchess County deserves access to quality mental health services, and I have made expanding access to these services a top priority for my administration. The County’s partnership with Family Services will bring this vital programming to northern Dutchess County.”

The expanded children's behavioral health program will offer comprehensive evaluation, crisis intervention, therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for children up to age 17. Earlier this year, Family Services received a $250,000 grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to enhance children's services at their Poughkeepsie location and other sites outside Dutchess County. In response to public discussions on mental health needs, Serino requested that Family Services extend these services to northern Dutchess.

To facilitate this expansion, Dutchess County will match the OMH funding with an additional $250,000 investment. The new facility is expected to open in late 2025 pending site finalization and construction. Additionally, DMH will provide $205,000 for the new location.

Family Services CEO Leah Feldman expressed gratitude for the partnership: “We thank Dutchess County for its willingness to partner and help us bring these important services to our northern communities.”

Family Services is part of DMH's network of community mental health providers offering high-quality behavioral health care regardless of insurance or income status. The new clinic follows meetings between Serino and DMH Commissioner Jean-Marie Niebuhr with local stakeholders discussing regional behavioral health needs.

Further initiatives include forming a "Rural Mental Health" subcommittee under the DMH Community Services Board and awarding a $5,000 Youth Wellness Support Microgrant to Red Hook Library for Youth Mental Health First Aid training.

Serino reiterated her commitment: “We are listening and responding to our communities’ needs. We are very proud to support the northern Dutchess community through this partnership with Family Services.”