Lyons Central School District will lead a regional effort to expand student mental health support after receiving $200,000 in first-year federal funding for a three-year project.
The district announced Monday that it received a Mental Health Awareness Training grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Lyons said it is one of two lead school districts in New York selected for the funding. The award covers 2026 through 2029; the district did not state the total amount for all three years.
More training and faster connections to care
Lyons will work with the Newark, North Rose-Wolcott, Palmyra-Macedon, Red Creek, Sodus and Williamson school districts. The regional effort is intended to expand mental health training, strengthen referral systems and improve how schools respond when students or families need help.
A partnership with the Mt. Hope Family Center will bring in clinicians to evaluate students and connect them with care, according to the district. The project also aims to improve school responses to mental health emergencies through coordination with the 988 crisis line.
School staff will receive training over the next three years, including Mental Health First Aid. Superintendent Matthew Barr said the goal is to help schools recognize when someone needs support, respond appropriately and connect that person with services.
Building support beyond the grant
The University of Rochester's Warner School will coach district teams, help them select support strategies and handle data and reporting requirements. The New York State Mental Health Alliance will manage the day-to-day work, the district said.
The alliance plans to create a leadership academy for educators and teams in each participating district to help students reach services quickly. Its work also includes community outreach, local resource guides, project tracking and a mental health leadership certificate for school administrators.
The project includes train-the-trainer certifications so local educators can continue providing instruction after the federal grant ends. Barr said the funding gives the region a chance to build systems that support students, families and staff over time.
The $200,000 first-year award is fully federally funded, according to the district. It did not provide a breakdown of how the money will be divided among the participating districts or partners.
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