CVS Health & Northside Center Partner To Enhance Mental Health Clinic Program In New York City Schools

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and New York City Councilperson Corey Johnson, Chair of the Council's Health Committee, join to announce four-year partnership to help Northside expand much-needed services in low-income neighborhoods

NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, New York City Councilperson Corey Johnson and Northside Center for Child Development, today announced a new partnership with CVS Health to expand mental health clinics in public and charter schools across New York City. With a $200,000 corporate grant from CVS Health, the new partnership announced at P.S. 161 in Harlem one of several schools where the Northside Center operates satellite mental health clinics licensed by the Office of Mental Health will infuse $50,000 annually to expand the mental health clinics' footprint and serve more children in New York City over the next four years.

Since 2010, Northside Center has operated mental health clinics in Harlem and the Bronx, currently serving over 300 students in 11 schools. By bringing these clinics directly into school environments, it allows Northside to meet students where they are, and more effectively serve children with a variety of emotional and mental health issues.

"We are incredibly grateful to partner with, and have the support of, an organization like CVS Health, who has made it their mission to provide individuals with the resources, access to treatment, and medicine they need," said Dr. Thelma Dye, Hilde L. Mosse Executive Director and CEO of Northside Center. "This partnership and funding allows us to continue to sustain and expand our mental health satellite clinics in New York City schools, giving us the opportunity to provide counseling and therapy for children from underserved communities, who may otherwise not get the treatment they need."

The partnership will help build upon Northside Center's demonstrated record of success in improving mental health and academic outcomes for children living in the city's most underserved communities. To date, the program has successfully reduced "no-show" rates to therapy sessions from 30 percent to less than 10 percent.

"Northside Center's historic commitment to New York City's children is unparalleled, and we are proud to support their life changing work," said David M. Denton, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, for CVS Health. "These clinics serve students who need the most help, but often have the least access to critical mental health services. We look forward to continuing to work with Northside Center and city officials to expand quality and affordable health care so more children living in poverty can lead healthy and fulfilling lives."

Northside currently operates 11 mental health clinics in public and charter schools in Harlem and the Bronx.

Northside Center and CVS Health most recently partnered in May 2016 to host a health fair in East Harlem, which featured information from community health providers, free health screenings and services, along with gift giveaways.

About the Northside Center

Northside Center for Child Development is a non-profit organization that provides early childhood education, behavioral health, and enrichment services to low-income children and families across the New York City for over 70 years. Northside was founded by pioneering psychologists Drs. Kenneth B. and Mamie Clark. The Clarks' groundbreaking research, including the black-white doll studies, were critical to the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which legally ended the segregation of public schools. Today, Northside Center provides children and families the support they need to overcome adversity and thrive. Their high-quality outcome-driven behavioral, mental health and education services propel struggling children away from the ill-effects of poverty and racism; toward a future limited only by the scope of their dreams.

About CVS Health

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its nearly 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

SOURCE CVS Health