The mental well-being of our youth is a critical indicator of their overall health and future success. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges, leading to a growing mental health crisis among young people. Recent data reveals the alarming reality that over 2.7 million American youth are grappling with severe major depression.
While timely intervention and clinical care are crucial, many young people face significant barriers to accessing these services due to cost, waitlists, or other obstacles.
Nonprofits across New York City are rising to the challenge, developing innovative approaches to address the growing mental health needs of youth. However, the ecosystem of service providers, educators, healthcare systems, government agencies, and funders is complex and often fragmented.
This half-day convening will provide an in-depth exploration of this ecosystem, fostering connections and understanding among philanthropic leaders. Together, we will explore how philanthropy can play a pivotal role in supporting the well-being of young people in our city by fostering a thriving, interconnected youth mental health ecosystem.
Who should attend?
Anyone interested in learning more the about the mental health services youth are asking for and how philanthropy can partner with clinical practitioners, systems actors, and the youth themselves.
What will you learn?
- The gaps, challenges, and opportunities nonprofit service providers face in administering, sustaining, and resourcing youth mental health services.
- Career pathways in youth mental health care and how to build more workforce pipelines at the high school, post-secondary and employer levels.
- Where private philanthropic dollars make the most difference in a large and complex system of private insurance and public funding.
- How funders can be better allies in supporting positive mental health outcomes for youth in a way that centers youth voice.
Please see below for a breakdown of our three panels, followed by the agenda for the day:
Panel 1: The Practitioner Perspective on Funding and Delivery Challenges in Youth Mental Health Services: Nonprofit providers share firsthand experiences of the barriers and gaps they encounter in providing, funding, and sustaining mental health care for young people. We'll discuss which challenges can be tackled through private philanthropy and which require advocacy efforts.
Speakers:
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Asha Alexander, Assistant Director of Counseling & Case Management, Hetrick-Martin Institute
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Barbara DiGangi, Director of Community Wellness Initiatives, University Settlement
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Phoebe Richman, Director of Mental Health Services, The Door - A Center of Alternatives
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Marina Stolerman, Clinical Director, The Fostering Connection
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Jen Curry, Founder and CEO, Change Impact (moderator)
Panel 2: Building the Future Workforce- Pathways and Potential in Youth Mental Health Careers: System stakeholders examine career pathways in youth mental health, including earning potential. We'll delve into the gaps, barriers, and inequities in the workforce and highlight promising initiatives to create a pipeline of providers at various levels.
Speakers:
- Curtis Dann-Messier, Interim Dean for Workforce Development, Guttman Community College
- Wendy Wong, Director of the Healthcare Training Program, Project Renewal
- Sophia James, FutureReadyNYC Director of Education and Human & Social Services Pathways, NYC Public Schools
- Kelsey Louie, Chief Executive Officer, The Door & Broome Street Academy
- Sophie Pauze, Senior Director for Strategy & Impact, NYC Health + Hospitals Office of Behavioral Health
- Laurel Dumont, Senior Director, Grantmaking, the Solon E. Summerfield Foundation
Panel 3: Amplifying Youth Voices- Race, Mental Health, and Philanthropy's Role: Young people share their experiences shaping innovative mental health support approaches and discuss the challenges they face navigating race and mental health. We'll explore how funders can better support positive mental health outcomes for youth and their communities, and how to incorporate young people's wisdom into philanthropic decision-making.
- Desiree “Des” Armas, Youth and Young Adult Wellbeing Project
- Jimmie Cassamajor, Youth Speak Out- Elevating Youth Development
- Siara Chowdhury, Youth Ask Youth Census- Intergenerational Change Initiative
Convening Agenda
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12:30-1:00pm Check-in
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1:00-1:20pm Welcome
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1:20- 2:20pm Panel 1: The The Practitioner Perspective Perspective on Funding and Delivery Challenges in Youth Mental Health Services
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2:20-2:30pm PHIL Talk: Systemic Barriers to Mental Health Workforce Crisis by Hugh Hogan, Mental Health Workforce Crisis Group
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2:30- 3:45pm Panel 2: Building the Future Workforce- Pathways and Potential in Youth Mental Health Careers
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3:45-5:00pm Panel 3: Amplifying Youth Voices- Race, Mental Health, and Philanthropy's Role
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5:00-5:30pm Closing and Open Networking