New Mental Health Centers and Telehealth Services for RCSD Students
(June 22, 2023) The Rochester City School District is proud to announce a partnership that will fund advanced telemedicine units in all RCSD schools. Using telemedicine, students can access triage and assessment for acute care and chronic health issues, including mental health and follow-up at school. Funding for this comes from the RCSD, Monroe County, and ESL Federal Credit Union.
The District is also announcing the receipt of a grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health that will expand the number of student health centers in the District from 7 to 16. These new health centers will provide medical, social-emotional, and mental health services for students.
The new school-based mental health satellite clinics will be located at:
- Roberto Clemente School No. 8
- Enrico Fermi School No. 17
- Abraham Lincoln School No. 22
- Henry Hudson School No. 28
- Helen Barrett Montgomery School No. 50
- Dr. Alice Holloway Young School of Excellence
- NorthSTAR Program
- School of the Arts
- Wilson Foundation Academy/Rochester Early College International High School
“Together, this partnership recognizes the pressing need to address the mental health challenges our youth face. It is a stark reality that mental health issues among students are on the rise, and we must act decisively to provide the necessary support,” said Dr. Carmine Peluso, Superintendent of the RCSD. “The expansion of these student health centers represents our unwavering commitment to meeting our students' comprehensive healthcare needs. Through telemedicine, medical care, social-emotional support, and specialized mental health services, we aim to create a safe and nurturing environment where every student can thrive.”
“When we collaborate, we make a difference,” said Adam Bello, Monroe County Executive. “I believe this program will make a real difference in the lives of our children and their families. I’m proud to support expanding these health centers in the City School District with our American Rescue Plan Act dollars and am grateful to all of the organizations who’ve joined together for recognizing the importance of investing in mental health and health services for children, for investing in our vulnerable young people and for stepping outside of their silos to work toward a common purpose.”
“The mental health and well-being of our children must always be top of mind to ensure they are present and ready to learn,” said Faheem Masood, President and CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union. “At ESL, we invest in programs like this because we believe every child in our community deserves access to a high-quality education and we want to do our part to ensure they have the necessary resources available to them throughout their education journey. We extend a big thanks to the Rochester City School District, Monroe County, University of Rochester Medical Center, and Rochester Regional Health for collaborating to make this telehealth initiative possible.”
“We are responding together to the expressed needs of Rochester parents and family leaders and youth,” said Dr. Jeff Kaczorowski, Pediatric Health Partnership. “This is a long-term partnership in response to the needs of our kids and families, and it will be directed by them.”
“We will work together as one system in pediatrics across the community with our colleagues from RCSD and Monroe County, our philanthropic partners like ESL Charitable Foundation, and community-based organizations to affect a system change to improve access to healthcare and mental health prevention and services,” said Dr. LeKeyah Wilson, Pediatric Health Partnership. “This is how we must work — together and in coordination — to address the most pressing health needs for our children and families — now and in the future. I am very proud of this team, and I know we have a lot to do together over the next four years.”
Partners include the RCSD, Monroe County, ESL Charitable Foundation, the Pediatric Health Partnership, a collaboration across the community, including the University of Rochester Golisano Children’s Hospital and Rochester Regional Health, as well as community health centers and community-based independent primary care practices, Villa of Hope, Mt. Hope Family Center, Children’s Institute, ROC the Future Alliance, and Whole Child Initiative.
Media Stories:
RCSD Will Open New Student Health Centers and Partner to Support Telemedicine (News 10NBC)
New Plan to Improve Mental Health Care for Students in RCSD (13 WHAM)
RCSD to Expand Telehealth and Mental Health Services (WXXI News)
RCSD Adding New Health Centers and Telemedicine Services for Students (Minority Reporter)