Mental Health Navigator Program

Administered and supervised by Kids’ Minds Matter at Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Mental Health Navigator program was established to provide guidance and resources for families and children facing mental and behavioral health challenges. This is specialized program specifically for the most challenged children and families. The goal is to improve the educational outcomes and the functioning of these children and families.

Children who are struggling in school, the home, or the community who may benefit from the Navigator program are referred by the school staff with concern about a child’s mental and behavioral health. Generally, children who are referred to the program are struggling in multiple areas – behavior, attendance and grades – or some combination of these. They have not responded to typical school-based interventions for resolving these issues.

The approach includes “Wrap-around Services,” a team approach that can include connecting parents and children to mental health services, providing transportation, helping complete applications for housing, financial assistance, or school enrollment, helping families who are food insecure access local food resources, anything that helps increase the family’s access to the services and resources necessary for helping the child and family function in a healthy way. The wrap around approach also addresses the needs of the whole family not just the identified child.