Rep. Katko Announces $5 Million in Federal Funding for Liberty Resources Inc. to Expand Mental Health Services for CNY Students

SYRACUSE, NY - U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) today announced $5,000,000 in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has been awarded to Liberty Resources Inc., a provider of addiction treatment, behavioral health, and suicide prevention services in Syracuse.

This funding is available through SAMHSA's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Grant Program, and will be used by Liberty Resources Inc. to strengthen its School Based Mental Health Program. Through this program, Liberty Resources Inc. partners with nearly 50 Central New York schools to provide students with therapy, family counseling, and crisis intervention services. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, Rep. Katko has worked to robustly fund SAMHSA. Rep. Katko also recently introduced and passed through the House the Mental Health Services for Students Act, a bipartisan bill which would create $130 million in grant funding to expand school-based mental health services for students.

"I am glad to announce that $5 million in federal funding will be delivered to Liberty Resources Inc," said Rep. Katko. "For Central New York students, the pandemic has taken a significant toll and as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, I'm working to ensure local students have the support services they need. This funding will allow Liberty Resources to strengthen its school-based mental health programming as students readjust to in-person classes and other pandemic-related challenges."

"As a large provider of Mental Health and Substance Use treatment services in CNY and Rochester, the award of the Federal CMHC Grant is critical to supporting Liberty Resources in meeting the increased needs in communities we serve," said Carl Coyle, CEO of Liberty Resources, Inc. "Throughout Central New York we have seen suicide and overdoes rates increase to significant and alarming levels during the COVID pandemic. This grant will particularly strengthen our school-based programs within the 48 plus CNY schools we support, where so many children and youth have been severely impacted by the pandemic. This funding could only have happened with the support of committed bi-partisan Congressional members such as Congressman Katko, who has long been a champion of providing Federal support for these critically needed services."