City of Norwalk Announces $20,000 Youth Mental Health Gap Analysis
City of Norwalk Announces $20,000 Youth Mental Health Gap Analysis
NPS Communications
On Sept. 19, Mayor Harry Rilling announced a new initiative for the City of Norwalk to fund Norwalk’s Youth Mental Health Gap Analysis in partnership with Norwalk Public Schools, Silver Hill Hospital, the Norwalk Community Health Center, and Norwalk ACTS.
The gap analysis will lay the necessary groundwork to help the city identify critical mental health barriers and needs within the community for our youth. Youth mental health continues to be a major priority for the City of Norwalk and Norwalk Public Schools.
The total budget for the analysis is $20,000. The City of Norwalk contributed $15,000 to conduct the analysis and Silver Hill Hospital Charitable Fund contributed the other $5,000.
The findings from this analysis will help inform the city’s actionable strategy, which will include securing additional funding from private, state, and federal sources to address identified gaps.
This project will collect data from behavioral health providers who serve youth, ages 13-25, to better understand the current landscape of mental health services and resources. From the information gathered, a service map will be created outlining existing mental health services for Norwalk youth, and a report will be developed to identify gaps in services.
In recent years, the City of Norwalk has invested over $1.5 million in youth mental health services. These efforts have expanded access to mental health support for young people across the city.
In 2019, Norwalk’s Community Services Department was awarded $400,000 to enhance mental health services for youth. This initial funding laid the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at improving access to mental health resources. In September 2022, an additional $50,000 was allocated to support structured youth drop-in activities. These activities focus on promoting social-emotional development and re-engagement for youth, offering safe spaces where they can connect with peers and grow emotionally since the pandemic.
In December 2022, the City invested over $500,000 in ARPA funding to increase mental health services for early learners, students, and families. This funding was part of a larger effort to address mental health challenges across multiple stages of development, ensuring that more children and families have access to necessary support. Most recently, in June 2023, the City allocated $550,000 to Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center to support Norwalk Public Schools’ Middle School Mental Health Initiative.
However, gaps in services remain.
The City of Norwalk is determined to meet all our youth’s needs. By funding this analysis, Norwalk aims to enhance the City’s capacity to serve youth city-wide through the creation of a comprehensive funding strategy and coordinated effort with Norwalk Public Schools, mental health providers and the larger community.
This work wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and collaboration of all the City of Norwalk’s partners:
- Mayor Harry Rilling and the City of Norwalk
- Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella and Norwalk Public Schools
- Lamond Daniels, Norwalk Department of Community Services
- Jennifer Barahona and Norwalk ACTS
- Kenneth Waller and Norwalk Community Health Center
- Margaret Watt with The Norwalk Partnership and Positive Directions
We also want to thank our local leaders for their support including Norwalk’s state delegation, the Norwalk Common Council and the Norwalk Board of Education.