A new state-funded initiative to grow New York’s youth and family peer advocate workforce will directly impact Ontario County, thanks to a local partnership led by the Mental Health Association of Rochester/Monroe County.
The organization is one of 10 across the state receiving $275,000 grants from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to recruit, train, and place individuals with lived behavioral health experience into peer advocate roles. Their coverage area includes Ontario, Monroe, and Livingston counties.
The goal: bring at least 150 new youth and family peer advocates into the workforce statewide. These trained advocates will support others facing mental health challenges—especially in historically underserved communities—by sharing their own experiences and helping navigate care systems.
State officials say the effort comes at a time of growing need…