The Lyons Central School District has been awarded the federal Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grant, making Lyons one of only two lead school districts in New York State selected to receive this funding.
The three-year award will provide funding from 2026 through 2029 and will allow Lyons to lead a regional effort focused on strengthening school and community mental health supports.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our entire region,” said Lyons Superintendent Dr. Matthew Barr. “Being selected for this funding says a lot about the work already happening and the direction we continue to move in. More importantly, this provides resources to build sustainable systems that directly support students, families, staff, and our communities.”
Lyons will lead a consortium that includes Newark, North Rose-Wolcott, Palmyra-Macedon, Red Creek, Sodus, and Williamson school districts. By working regionally, the districts will expand access to high-quality training, strengthen referral systems, and develop greater capacity to respond to the mental health needs of students and families.
A major part of this funding supports a partnership with the Mt. Hope Family Center, bringing in dedicated clinicians to evaluate students and connect them with the right care. The project will also improve how schools handle mental health emergencies by coordinating directly with the 988 crisis line. Over the next three years, the initiative will train school staff on proven ways to support students, including programs like Mental Health First Aid.
The University of Rochester's Warner School of Education and Human Services will act as an expert guide for the participating schools. Warner faculty will coach district teams, help them choose the most effective support strategies, and manage the required data and reports. Their ongoing guidance will ensure the program continues to improve and effectively serve students across all eight districts.
The New York State Mental Health Alliance (NYSMHA) will lead the day-to-day work, ensuring these new mental health resources become a lasting part of the schools. NYSMHA will launch a leadership academy to train local educators and create dedicated teams in each district to quickly connect students with the help they need. Along with organizing community outreach and tracking the project’s overall success, NYSMHA will build local resource guides and create a specialized mental health leadership certificate for school administrators.
The work is designed to continue well beyond the three-year grant. Train-the-trainer certifications will develop local instructors, allowing participating districts to own and sustain much of the training capacity by the end of the grant period.
“This is about building capacity in our schools and communities, so we are better prepared to recognize when someone needs help, respond appropriately, and connect them with the right supports,” Barr said. “We continue to make health and safety a priority, and this award allows us to take that work further in conjunction with our neighboring districts.”
The award continues Lyons Central School District’s efforts to expand opportunities and supports for students while developing partnerships that benefit the greater community and surrounding region.
This project is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number 1H79SM092090, Mental Health Awareness Training Grants, totaling $200,000 for the first year of a three-year project period. One hundred percent of the project is financed with federal funds. Zero percent, or $0, is financed by nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit www.samhsa.gov.