New York officials announced a major expansion of maternal mental health services Thursday, including more than $18.4 million to grow an early childhood mental health initiative that screened more than 108,000 people for maternal depression last year.
The funding will support the continued expansion of HealthySteps, a statewide program that embeds behavioral health specialists into pediatric practices to identify mental health and developmental concerns in both children and caregivers during routine visits. State officials said the new funding will create 38 additional program sites, increasing statewide capacity by roughly 25%.
The announcement came during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and also included $350,000 in one-time grants to help OBGYN and family medicine practices integrate behavioral health care into patient services. Seven organizations across the state received $50,000 grants through the Office of Mental Health’s Collaborative Care program.
Among the Western New York recipients were Jericho Road Ministries in Buffalo, Neighborhood Health Center of WNY in Buffalo, and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in Niagara Falls. Additional awards went to organizations in the Hudson Valley and New York City.
Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said the state is focused on addressing longstanding inequities in maternal care and expanding preventative services for families.
“Initiatives like HealthySteps, Collaborative Care, Project TEACH and others are providing often life-saving screenings that are also connecting New Yorkers to both prenatal and postpartum supports,” Sullivan said.
HealthySteps places behavioral health specialists alongside pediatricians, who are often among the first medical professionals new parents regularly interact with after childbirth. Specialists help screen families for issues ranging from maternal depression and substance misuse to housing instability, food insecurity and transportation barriers.
According to the state, HealthySteps sites completed more than 500,000 screenings in 2025, including more than 108,000 for perinatal depression alone.
State officials also pointed to expanded support for Project TEACH, which provides maternal health providers access to reproductive psychiatrists and psychologists for training and consultation support. The expansion broadened eligibility to include doulas, midwives, therapists, lactation consultants, WIC staff and other frontline workers serving pregnant and postpartum patients.
The state cited national estimates showing roughly one in five mothers experience perinatal mood or anxiety disorders during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth, while approximately 75% go undiagnosed or untreated.
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