Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $7.5 million in awards to four nonprofit community-based organizations to launch Youth Safe Spaces and address the evolving behavioral health needs of teens and young adults. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, these peer-led, non-clinical programs will serve youth ages 12 to 24 in welcoming, community-based settings, offering safe spaces, resources, and connections to help them navigate mental health challenges.
“Young New Yorkers today are facing significant mental health pressures that can push them to the edge of crisis,” Governor Hochul said. “By establishing Youth Safe Spaces throughout our state, we can help our children connect with one another and be supported in an environment that promotes positive mental well-being.”
Mayor Jonathan Taylor said, “The Village Board and I have always tried to engage and include Newark’s youth in our outreach and planning. They are the Village’s future and today’s decisions will affect them. We are grateful that this important service can be provided to the youth in our community so that they will feel engaged, appreciated, and safe.”
Braxton Guy, Alex Eligh Community Center Director commented, “At the Alex Eligh Community Center (AECC), we have been steadily expanding programs, events, and activities to keep our youth engaged, supported, and feel a sense of community. From out of school and recreation opportunities to special events that bring families together, we’ve worked hard to make the Center a place where young people feel like they belong. This investment in Youth Safe Spaces and partnership with Delphi Rise helps build directly on that foundation. It will help us provide even more resources, peer support, and safe environments for teens and young adults in Newark to thrive.
Jennifer Cathy, President and CEO of Delphi Rise stated, “We are truly honored to be selected to launch this important initiative in our community. Together with the Alex Eligh Community Center and our dedicated partners across Wayne County, we are excited to create a safe, peer-led space where young people will find hope, connection, and the support they need to thrive.”Safe Spaces provide inclusive, peer-led environments designed to reduce isolation, promote positive relationships, and connect young people to both traditional and non-traditional supports. These non-clinical programs complement clinical services and expand access to care by addressing cultural, financial, and systemic barriers.
The awards include:
Delphi Rise; $250,000 annually over five years to operate at the Alex Eligh Community Center in Newark
LaSalle School Inc.; $500,000 annually over five years to establish a program in the Conroy Building in Albany
AIDS Center of Queens County; $500,000 annually over five years to establish a program at 62-07 Woodside Ave. in Queens
Friends of the CanTeen; $250,000 annually over five years to operate the CanTeen of Central New York in Cicero
Youth Safe Spaces are located in accessible, community-based settings, including schools, youth centers, and other trusted spaces, where young people can access mental wellness resources, foster positive relationships with their peers, and receive support in a safe, comfortable environment. These programs foster leadership, peer connection, and cultural responsiveness while reducing stigma, building resilience, and advancing mental health equity in communities most impacted by systemic barriers.
