NYC Health + Hospitals of New York City has expanded a program to broaden access to mental health services within domestic violence shelters to a total of 41 shelters across the city, according to a July 28 news release.
The $5.9 million effort aims to decrease wait times and increase access to on-site, evidence-based mental health services for individuals and families in the city’s domestic violence shelters. The program offers services such as therapy, medication management, family screenings and group sessions. Since the expansion, program wait times have decreased significantly from one year to one week, according to the news release.
Launched in May 2023, the program initially operated in nine domestic violence shelters across the city. With this expansion, services will now reach a total of 41 shelters. Across the city’s 55 domestic violence shelters, over 400 staff members have been trained on topics related to mental health and trauma.
This program is a collaboration among NYC Health + Hospitals, the NYC Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration, the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health.
