NEWS RELEASE
The first New York State-funded Youth Safe Space opens in Albany Sept. 23, 2026.
NEW YORK STATE ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF THE FIRST STATE-FUNDED YOUTH SAFE SPACE
New Program at the LaSalle School to Provide Free, Voluntary, Peer-Led Programming for Youth and Young Adults Ages 12 to 24 in Albany
State Also Awards $7.5 Million to Expand Program in Four Additional Counties, Addressing Rising Behavioral Health Challenges Among Young People
The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced that the first state-funded Youth Safe Space has opened its doors on the LaSalle School campus in the city of Albany to address the evolving behavioral health needs of teens and young adults. The location is the first to open and is among seven that will provide peer-led, non-clinical services for youth and young adults 12 to 24, including locations in Suffolk, Tompkins, Ontario, and St. Lawrence counties that were recently awarded funding.
“As New York’s first mom governor, the mental health and wellbeing of our young people is a top priority,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “By funding Youth Safe Spaces in more communities across our state, we are ensuring that young people can make meaningful connections with peers in a supportive environment. Our young people face unique mental health pressures, and these safe spaces will help ensure they have access to the tools and supports they need to thrive.”
“Youth Safe Spaces offer a supportive environment during a pivotal period of a young person’s life that may present mental health challenges,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “The Landing will provide the opportunity for youth to build positive relationships and learn important skills. Supporting places where youth and families can access mental wellness resources and gather with peers reflects Governor Hochul’s ongoing investments in strengthening all aspects of our mental health care system.”
Youth Safe Spaces provide inclusive, peer-led environments designed to reduce isolation, promote positive relationships, and connect young people to both traditional and non-traditional support. These non-clinical programs complement clinical services and expand access to care by addressing cultural, financial, and systemic barriers.
State and local officials were on hand at the Conroy Building on the LaSalle School campus today to celebrate the opening of the new program called the Landing, which is expected to serve roughly 500 youth annually. The Landing will collaborate with local schools, social service agencies, healthcare providers, and culturally specific organizations to ensure youth receive comprehensive, inclusive support.
In addition to LaSalle, OMH-funded Youth Safe Spaces are expected to open this fall in Queens and in the Wayne County village of Newark. OMH provided funding to establish two new programs and support two existing community youth programs in adding core services, including:
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RiseWell Community Services, Inc.; $500,000 annually over five years to establish a new program at 18 South St., in Wyandanch in Suffolk County.
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St. John’s Community Services; $500,000 annually over five years to establish a new program in Tompkins County.
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Partnership for Ontario County; $250,000 annually over five years to enhance the OASAS Youth Recovery Clubhouse, EPIC Zone at 81 North St., in Geneva.
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Police Activities League of Massena, Inc.; $250,000 annually over five years to enhance an existing program located at 30 Bayley Rd, in Massena in St. Lawrence County.
Youth Safe Spaces are in accessible, community-based settings, including schools, youth centers, and other trusted spaces, where young people can access mental wellness resources, build positive peer relationships, and receive support in safe, comfortable environments. These programs foster leadership, peer connection, and cultural responsiveness while reducing stigma, building resilience, and advancing mental health equity in communities disproportionately impacted by systemic barriers.
The initiative to establish Youth Safe Spaces grew from feedback Governor Hochul received during her Youth Mental Health Listening Tour and at the Youth Mental Health Summit in June 2023. Members of the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board – a panel of middle and high school students established after the summit to advise on policies and initiatives – also strongly supported expanding Youth Safe Spaces statewide.
Senator Samra Brouk said, “We still have a mental health crisis in New York State, and our young people need environments that foster wellbeing. I applaud Governor Hochul for investing $7.5 million for Youth Safe Spaces to uplift and empower young people with supportive, inclusive support systems and peer-led care to help navigate mental wellness and build resilience.”
Senator Monica R. Martinez said, “Adolescence is an exciting time, but it also brings challenges as young people navigate the transition from childhood into adulthood. Youth Safe Spaces, including the one being established here in Wyandanch through RiseWell Community Services, provide the support they need to grow confidently into the people they will become. I thank Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of these programs and continuing to invest in programs that help young New Yorkers thrive.”
Senator Lea Webb said, “St. John’s Community Services provides important support to our youth with critical needs such as housing, mental health, employment opportunities and other development services. I am appreciative that Tompkins County will receive $500,000 annually over the next five years to establish a Youth Safe Space program here. When our youth population has the resources and support system they need, they can thrive and bring new life to our community. I am thankful that Governor Hochul has prioritized our area and look forward to seeing the great work this program will do.”
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “Wherever you talk with young people, they are asking for help with their mental health or that of their peers, but stigma and concerns about bullying remain significant barriers. Youth Safe Spaces give young people welcoming places to connect with each other and access support without stigma. By meeting young people where they are and building a trusted community space, these programs reach those who may otherwise struggle to access traditional mental health services. I commend Governor Hochul for listening to young New Yorkers and continuing to invest in their mental health and wellbeing.”
LaSalle School Executive Director Dave Wallace said, “We are so pleased to partner with Governor Hochul and the New York State Office of Mental Health to jointly meet a fundamental goal – meet young people where they are – in a non-clinical environment where they are emotionally and physically secure. Our aim is to reduce isolation, promote positive relationships, and connect young people with traditional and non-traditional support such as transportation, WI-FI, tutoring and job searches. Given the youth-led design of this project, LaSalle has consulted with young people from the very moment we began to craft our proposal to the New York State Office for Mental Health. Since late March, a core group of teenagers and young adults have served on a rotating advisory board, working side-by-side with agency leadership to provide insight, vision, and direction, as it prepared to welcome youth to The Landing.”
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